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MRes Cancer Biology

The MRes in Cancer Biology ran for the first time in 2010. The course offers outstanding research-focused teaching from internationally-renowned scientists and clinicians from the University of Dundee. The programme is full time and runs from September to August. In its first year the course attracted students from the UK, Ireland and India.

MRes Cancer Biology

 Why study Cancer Biology at the University of Dundee?

Dundee University is internationally renowned for the quality of its cancer research and has over 50 cancer research groups: current funding for cancer research is about £40 million from Research Councils and Charities.This funds a wide range of projects from the basic understanding of cancer biology to translational studies.

Cancer researchers in the College of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing

Cancer researchers in the College of Life Sciences

Strength in cancer research

Areas of particular strength at the University of Dundee are in surgical oncology for breast and colon cancer, radiation biology and clinical oncology, skin cancer and pharmacogenomics. Areas of strength in basic cancer biology are DNA replication, chromosome biology and the cell cycle, cell signalling and targets for drug discovery

The University of Dundee became the first approved Cancer Research UK Centre in Scotland in February 2010. The Dundee Cancer Centre aims to enhance cancer research and apply discoveries to improve patient care. Amongst its goals is training the next generation of cancer researchers.

What does the course lead to ?

The MRes in Cancer Biology prepares students for academic or industrial research careers.Graduates will be ideally-positioned to pursue PhD training.

Course Content

The next course will run full-time from September 2011 to August 2012.

The course starts with an 11 week programme of in-depth teaching and directed study on the molecular biology of cancer .This is made up of  four compulsory modules, an integrated research methodology and techniques course plus an introduction/orientation week.

Students will also take part in a journal club to develop critical review skills.

Compulsory modules:

Exams are held at the end of the taught programme. There will be the opportunity for students to exit with a PGCert in Cancer Biology at this point after successful completion of the four taught modules.

After successful completion of the taught modules students will select a research project .

The research project will be based in laboratories with state-of-the-art facilities, under the leadership of world-class researchers in the College of Medicine Dentistry and Nursing or in the College of Life Sciences.

A wide range of topics will be available to all students for the research project part of the MRes Cancer Biology.

 In 2010-2011, topics offered were;

Course Lecturers

Programme and Module Leaders : Dr Sam Crouch, Senior Lecturer, Division of Molecular Medicine
                                                     Professor Mike Stark , Professor of Yeast Molecular Biology
Module Leaders:                           Dr Frances Fuller- Pace, Reader , School of Medicine
                                                     Dr Lesley McLellan , Senior Lecturer, School of Medicine and Head of Graduate School

Teaching on the MRes also draws on the depth of cancer research expertise research at the University of Dundee - 27 cancer researchers and clinicians contribute additional teaching to the MRes offering students current insight into the wide field of cancer biology and translational cancer research.

Entry requirements and how to apply

Applicants should have a first or upper second class honours degree ( lower second honours will be considered in exceptional circumstances), or equivalent , in a scientific discipline in the field of biological, biochemical or biomedical sciences.

An IELTS score of 6.5 with no individual score of less than 6.0 is required from applicants whose first language is not English

Link to application form (UKPASS)

Financing your studies

Further guidance on finance and possible funding for applicants is available here

Specific scholarships which may be available include the Carnegie-Cameron Scholarships, Saltire Scholarships