Cancer short course offers world-class insights

Rob Lewis, PhD

The 32nd Annual Eppley Institute Henry M. Lemon Short Course in Cancer Biology was held virtually July 7-8 on the topic of “The Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT).”

The course director is elected by students in the cancer research graduate programs. Rob Lewis, PhD, Eppley Institute Edward and Lida Robinson Professor of Cancer Research, was selected as this year’s host.

The lead speaker was M. Angela Nieto, PhD, professor at the Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante. Dr. Nieto was joined by Roberto Mayor, PhD, professor at the University College London, and Thomas Brabletz, PhD, of the University of Erlangen.

Said Dr. Lewis, “While I had hoped that we would be able to gather together for the short course, moving to a virtual format gave us the freedom to invite the top names in EMT research from across the globe.”

To prepare students for the course, Dr. Lewis led the 50 registered students in a weekly journal club. That allowed students to explore the topic and gain a deeper understanding of the role EMT plays in disease development and progression.

The speakers commented on how impressed they were with the students’ understanding of the concepts presented.

“We all know that the students at UNMC are our best advertisement, but it was great to have each of the speakers speak so highly about the quality of discussion our students generated,” Dr. Lewis said.

The course director, topic and dates of the 2023 Eppley Institute Henry M. Lemon Short Course in Cancer Biology still are being determined. To receive information when it becomes available, email Misty Pocwierz-Gaines at misty.pocwierz@unmc.edu.

UNMC students can register for the course in the summer term to receive one credit hour; the course is in the Graduate Studies course catalog as CRGP 940. Registration is not required for attendance.