RADIATION BIOLOGY AND EXPERIMENTAL RADIATION THERAPY

I. Goal:

To prepare students for careers as independent investigators in all fields concerned with the biological effects of radiation.This includes radiobiological careers as Ph.D. or M.D., Ph.D. researchers in University Departments and Institutions, in clinical radiation oncology departments, in biotechnology industries, and with private and governmental bodies concerned with environmental issues.

II. Faculty:

N. Cacalano, R. A. Gatti, K. Iwamoto, S. Lee, W. McBride, C. Newton, A. Norman, F. Pajonk, J. Roseboro, R. Schiestl, and R. Withers.

III. Courses:

All students must demonstrate competence in the subject matter covered in the Core Courses (see also 5.1, 5.2 and 7.1 in the Program Overview). Because of the breadth of radiation biology and experimental radiation oncology it is not feasible to design a single curriculum for all students. Instead the faculty will recommend additional course work for each student in accordance with the student's specific needs.

IV. Ph.D. Written Qualifying Examination

The student must demonstrate knowledge both of the material presented in the basic radiation biology course and of current research in the field by passing a written qualifying examination.

V. The Dissertation Advisor will be Determined by Mutual Consent between the Student and the Faculty Member Selected

VI. First Oral Qualifying Examination

1. The Dissertation Advisor will chair and select the Dissertation Committee.
2. The Committee composition will be consistent with University regulations.
3. The First Oral Examination will be based upon a proposed dissertation topic.
4. When the student passes, he or she is then advanced to candidacy for the Ph.D.
5. Other regulations and procedures will be consistent with University policies governing the Oral Qualifying Examination.

VII. Research Topics

1. Normal tissue responses to radiation
2. Tumor biology with special reference to metastasis
3. High resolution image analysis techniques for the detection of tumors and radiation responses
4. Molecular and cellular responses to radiation and their role in tissue responses
5. Radiation- and hypoxia-induced promoters and gene expression
6. Gene therapy
7. Biomathematical modeling of radiation responses and tumor behavior

VIII. Dissertation and Final Oral Format Will Be Consistent With University Regulations

IX. Resources

Facilities include laboratories in the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, and in the Center for Health Sciences. Specialized facilities include a germ-free mouse colony with en suite irradiation capability for doing normal tissue and tumor studies in intact, immune-deficient and trangenic mice, fully equipped molecular and cellular laboratories, flow cytometer, digital image analyzer, and networked computers. The student will also be able to have access to and rotate through our clinical radiation oncology departments.

X. Financial Support

A number of graduate student research assistant and Ph.D. and M.D. post-doctoral positions are available.

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Revised 09/22/06