Cancer Genomics. Current concepts and clinical applications
Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences at University of Copenhagen
This course is free of charge for PhD students at Danish universities (except Copenhagen Business School), and for PhD Students from NorDoc member faculties. All other participants must pay the course fee.
Anyone can apply for the course, but if you are not a PhD student at a Danish university, you will be placed on the waiting list until enrollment deadline. This also applies to PhD students from NorDoc member faculties. After the enrollment deadline, available seats will be allocated to applicants on the waiting list.
Learning objectives
A student who has met the objectives of the course will be able to:
1. Identify types of variation and consequences in the cancer genome
2. Describe and discuss how epigenetics can drive cancer
3. Demonstrate knowledge of concepts in tumor evolution
4. Understand how cancer genomics can be used in the clinic
5. Ability to identify current limitations and future directions in cancer genomics
Content
“Cancer Genomics. Current concepts and clinical applications” will familiarize students with current concepts and approaches in cancer genomics research and how it is being applied in the clinic. The three-day intensive course will integrate lectures with case-work, where the students will engage directly with international experts in the field to discuss and identify the challenges and approaches to analyze and synthesize information from cancer genomics data. Students will be expected to have read 2-3 scientific papers as preparation for each of the three days.
After a general introduction to cancer genomics on Day 1, the course will cover the following topics:
Day 1. Wed Oct. 29th. Topic: Mutational processes and heterogeneity in cancer genomes.
Overview of types of genomic alterations in cancer and how they can be used to make inferences on the aetiology of the tumour. How to detect tumour heterogeneity, what does it reveal about the tumour evolution and how does it impact on possible treatment options.
Day 2. Thursday Oct 30th. Topic: Epigenomic alterations in cancer.
- Current methodologies to identify epigenomic alterations in cancer. What are the types of alterations and how can they drive cancer?
Day 3. Friday Oct 31st. Topic: Precision oncology approaches.
- How is cancer genomics being used in the clinic today, what are the opportunities, obstacles and promises of precision oncology.
Participants
Participants should have a basic understanding of tumor biology and genetics. Prior hands-on experience with bioinformatics and/or genomics data is an advantage but not requirement.
Relevance to graduate programmes
The course is relevant to PhD students from the following graduate programmes at the Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences, UCPH:
Molecular Mechanisms of Disease
Clinical Cancer Research
Biostatistics and Bioinformatics
Cellular and Genetic Medicine
Language
English
Form
Lectures, case-work in groups and discussions
Course director
Jesper B. Andersen, professor, BRIC, UCPH, DK: jesper.andersen@bric.ku.dk
Joachim Weischenfeldt, professor, BRIC, UCPH, DK: joachim.weischenfeldt@bric.ku.dk
Teachers
External invited speakers:
Edwin Cuppen, Prof, PhD, Director of Hartwig Medical Foundation, NL
Mathieu Lupien, Prof, PhD, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, CA
Jens U Marquardt, M.D., University of Mainz, DE
Marco Donia, M.D., Ph.D., Herlev hospital, DK
Kristoffer Staal Rohrberg, M.D. Ph.D. Rigshospitalet, DK
Internal lecturers:
Francesco Favero, Ass. Prof, PhD, BRIC
Colm J O’Rourke, Assoc. Prof, PhD, BRIC
Alessio Locallo, PhD, BRIC
Sachin Pundhir, PhD, BRIC
Dates
29 – 31 October 2025
Course location
Mærsk Tower, 7.15.152
Registration
Please register before 28 September 2025
Expected frequency
Every 2nd year
Seats to PhD students from other Danish universities will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and according to the applicable rules. Applications from other participants will be considered after the last day of enrolment.
Note: All applicants are asked to submit invoice details in case of no-show, late cancellation or obligation to pay the course fee (typically non-PhD students). If you are a PhD student, your participation in the course must be in agreement with your principal supervisor.