Learning outcomes

Learning of scientific approach

Training of scientific language

Developing creativity

Goals

This course unit aims to:

  • Present research projects from their design to their publication in a scientific journal
  • Develop students’ creativity and critical thinking
  • Train students in scientific communication


Content

This course unit aims to explore the mechanisms involved in:

  1. the formation of specific cellular organelles,
  2. the adaptation of cellular structures to mechanical forces,
  3. the intracellular transport of proteins,
  4. interactions with pathogens.

To achieve this goal, students will have the opportunity to listen to and interact with international researchers specialized in these various fields. For example, in previous years we welcomed: Cédric Delevoye and Étienne Morel from the Institut Necker Enfants Malades in Paris, Cédric Blouin from the Institut Curie (Paris), Francesco Baschieri from the Medical University of Innsbruck, Clarisse Berlioz from the Institut Cochin (Paris), Pascale Zimmermann from KU Leuven, among others.

These researchers will present their respective research projects. Topics covered in past years included: ciliogenesis, the role of caveolae in cellular mechanosensing, formation of recycling endosomes, the involvement of clathrin in cancer cell migration, capture of HIV-1 virions by a non-canonical autophagy mechanism, formation and uptake of exosomes, and more.

Additional topics—such as the intracellular transport of the matrix metalloproteinase MT1-MMP in cancer cells, or clathrin-independent non-conventional endocytosis—will also be discussed by the course co-coordinators (I. Hamer and H.-F. Renard, respectively). All these subjects are currently of great interest in the scientific community.

Note: The program evolves from year to year, and the researchers and topics listed above are provided as examples.

Table of contents

Typical example of a table of contents (based on a previous year):

  • Introduction on intracellular transport machinery in health and disease (I. Hamer).
  • Intracellular transport of the membrane type 1-matrix metalloproteinase MT1-MMP in cancer cells (I. Hamer)
  • Role of caveolae in the mechanosensing of muscular cells (C. Blouin, Institut Curie, Paris)
  • Non-canonical role of autopahgy machinery during ciliogenesis (E. Morel, Hôpital Necker, Paris)
  • Role of clathrin in migration of cancer cells on a solid support (F. Baschieri, Université Médicale de Innsbruck)
  • Non-conventional endocytosis of CD166 in cancer cells (H-F. Renard)
  • Formation and fonction of recycling endosomes (C. Delevoye, Institut Curie, Paris)
  • Discovery of a intracellular pathway induced by HIV-1 infection (D. Berlioz, Institut Cochin, Paris)
  • Extracellular vesicles in physiopathology : biogenesis and capture (P. Zimmermann, KULeuven)

 

 

Teaching methods

This course is a module wherein most of the lessons are given by international researchers. In these cases, the presentations are preceded by an introduction and followed by a question and Answer session. Two or three lessons are given by the co-titulars of this module. At this occasion, the student will have to brainstorm on a research project.

This teaching unit implies an active participation of the students.

 

Assessment method

Continuous assessment based on:

  • Introduction to a speaker’s research work presented to the group (by pairs of students)
  • Active participation in seminars (questions asked and answers provided by students)
  • Design of a mini research project and its presentation to the group (by pairs of students)


Sources, references and any support material

PubMed, slides, videos (available on Webcampus).

Language of instruction

French