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 internationally renowned researchers specialized in these various fields.

This year, we will be welcoming :


Prof. Francesco BASCHIERI (Medical University of Innsbruck): Plasticity of cell adhesions in cancer cell migration. 

Dr. Marie-Louise FREMOND (Paediatric Immunology-Rhumatology - Hôpital Necker/Enfants Malades, Paris): COPA syndrome: autoinflammatory disease linked to mutations in the COPA gene encoding a subunit of the COPI complex.

Prof. Patrik VERSTREKEN (KULeuven/VIB) : Role of Endophilin A in synaptic endocytosis and autophagy.

Prof. Maud MARTIN (ULB) : Secreting at the right place : regulation of the molecular machinery responsible for transporting constitutive secretion vesicles. 

Dr. Etienne MOREL (Institut Necker-Enfants Malades, Paris): Role of recycling endosomes in phagophore formation during macroauytophagy.

Dr. Kristine SCHAUER (Institut Gustave Roussy, Paris): Role of the myosin MYOC1 in the intracellular survival of Chlamydia.


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.

Table of contents

Dr. Isabelle HAMER (UNamur): Intracellular transport of the matrix metalloproteinase MT1-MMP in breast cancer cells.

Prof. Henri-François RENARD (UNamur): Unconventional clathrin-independent endocytosis.

Prof. Francesco BASCHIERI (Medical University of Innsbruck): Plasticity of cell adhesions in cancer cell migration. 

Dr. Marie-Louise FREMOND (Paediatric Immunology-Rhumatology - Hôpital Necker/Enfants Malades, Paris): COPA syndrome: autoinflammatory disease linked to mutations in the COPA gene encoding a subunit of the COPI complex.

Prof. Patrik VERSTREKEN (KULeuven/VIB) : Role of Endophilin A in synaptic endocytosis and autophagy.

Prof. Maud MARTIN (ULB) : Secreting at the right place : regulation of the molecular machinery responsible for transporting constitutive secretion vesicles. 

Dr. Etienne MOREL (Institut Necker-Enfants Malades, Paris): Role of recycling endosomes in phagophore formation during macroautophagy.

Dr. Kristine SCHAUER (Institut Gustave Roussy, Paris): Role of the myosin MYOC1 in the intracellular survival of Chlamydia.

 

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