Scientific project design in translational oncology

THIS WEEK'S CLASS WILL START AT 8:30 AM

ALL PRESENTATIONS START AT 8:45 SHARP. 

A GOOD PRESENTATION:

- TITLE/AUTHORS OF THE PAPER (1 slide)

- MAIN QUESTION OF THE PAPER (1 slide)

- INTRODUCTION OF THE TOPIC(S) (2-5 slides). Use illustrations and limited text. The title of the slide doesn't have to be a message, but a topic (e.g.: Macrophages; Tumor-associated macrophages; etc.)

- MAIN METHODS (ONLY IMPORTANT ONES, LIKE MOUSE MODELS OR SPECIAL TECHNIQUES). (1-3 slides)

- RESULTS. Each dataset (a figure, chart, etc.) should be anticipated by a specific question above and be associated with a specific conclusion/message (to be indicated in the title of the slide). Do not write much text in the slide, except when necessary; rather, use illustrations/schematics where helpful in association with the actual figure (for example to make a schematic of the experiment on the left part of the slide). Only select KEY DATA that address specific and fundamental questions (necessary to the paper's conclusions). You can include the illustration of a method, but ideally in the same slide (on the left) where the related results are reported (5-10 slides)

- SUMMARY OF THE KEY RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS (1 slide)

-DISCUSSION. Include general perspectives (what are the implications of the paper?); limitations of the paper; new questions; etc. (3-5 slides)

• ALL PRESENTATIONS START AT 8:45 SHARP. 

  A GOOD PRESENTATION:

  - TITLE/AUTHORS OF THE PAPER (1 slide)

  - MAIN QUESTION OF THE PAPER (1 slide)

  - INTRODUCTION OF THE TOPIC(S) (2-5 slides). Use illustrations and limited text. The title of the slide doesn't have to be a message, but a topic (e.g.: Macrophages; Tumor-associated macrophages; etc.)

  - MAIN METHODS (ONLY IMPORTANT ONES, LIKE MOUSE MODELS OR SPECIAL TECHNIQUES). (1-3 slides)

  - RESULTS. Each dataset (a figure, chart, etc.) should be anticipated by a specific question above and be associated with a specific conclusion/message (to be indicated in the title of the slide). Do not write much text in the slide, except when necessary; rather, use illustrations/schematics where helpful in association with the actual figure (for example to make a schematic of the experiment on the left part of the slide). Only select KEY DATA that address specific and fundamental questions (necessary to the paper's conclusions). You can include the illustration of a method, but ideally in the same slide (on the left) where the related results are reported (5-10 slides)

  - SUMMARY OF THE KEY RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS (1 slide)

  -DISCUSSION. Include general perspectives (what are the implications of the paper?); limitations of the paper; new questions; etc. (3-5 slides)

• ALL PRESENTATIONS START AT 8:45 SHARP. 

  A GOOD PRESENTATION:

  - TITLE/AUTHORS OF THE PAPER (1 slide)

  - MAIN QUESTION OF THE PAPER (1 slide)

  - INTRODUCTION OF THE TOPIC(S) (2-5 slides). Use illustrations and limited text. The title of the slide doesn't have to be a message, but a topic (e.g.: Macrophages; Tumor-associated macrophages; etc.)

  - MAIN METHODS (ONLY IMPORTANT ONES, LIKE MOUSE MODELS OR SPECIAL TECHNIQUES). (1-3 slides)

  - RESULTS. Each dataset (a figure, chart, etc.) should be anticipated by a specific question above and be associated with a specific conclusion/message (to be indicated in the title of the slide). Do not write much text in the slide, except when necessary; rather, use illustrations/schematics where helpful in association with the actual figure (for example to make a schematic of the experiment on the left part of the slide). Only select KEY DATA that address specific and fundamental questions (necessary to the paper's conclusions). You can include the illustration of a method, but ideally in the same slide (on the left) where the related results are reported (5-10 slides)

  - SUMMARY OF THE KEY RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS (1 slide)

  -DISCUSSION. Include general perspectives (what are the implications of the paper?); limitations of the paper; new questions; etc. (3-5 slides)

TWO PRESENTATIONS THIS WEEK!

We start at 8:45 but continue until 10:45 or so.

DISCUSSION OF THE PROJECTS

The four groups will present their initial ideas about the project (group A --> D order).

Group A will start at 8:45 sharp. Please verify before the start that your laptop projects well. 

Each group will present 2-4 slides. If not interrupted, each group should speak for about 5 minutes. With our suggestions and discussion, each group will take a maximum of 15-20 minutes. 

How to explore and present ideas:

- There should be a medical need (new approach to fill a therapeutic gap) and disease focus (type of cancer or disease stage).

- There can be a "new" target molecule or cell type (e.g., an oncogenic protein, a metabolic pathway, a tumor-promoting immune cell, etc.). In some projects, there is no such target available to begin with, as the project may involve screening for new targets.

- You should present the general goal of the project (is it diagnosis, monitoring, or treatment of cancer? In which respect it differs from previous approaches?). You should also present the key steps of the project (the main methodology, e.g., from screening/validation, to mouse or ex vivo experiments, to the design of a first clinical trial).

We look for new ideas, but you can use available approaches to be fine tuned/modified. The project should be feasible, so you will have to document the steps that you will make to experimentally test your approach.

The four groups will present their more advanced/alternative ideas about the project (group A --> D order), according to the discussions from the previous week.

Group A will start at 8:45 sharp. Please verify before the start that your laptop projects well. 

Each group will present a few slides. If not interrupted, each group should speak for about 5 minutes. With our suggestions and discussion, each group will take a maximum of 15-20 minutes. 

• ZOOMS (note the switch between Miki and Freddy!)
  
  Group C: 8:45-9:25  https://epfl.zoom.us/j/4673993147?pwd=aDlUcmdtUEpqazlzNWU4eDJpRmJ4QT09
  Group D: 9:30-10:10  https://epfl.zoom.us/j/4673993147?pwd=aDlUcmdtUEpqazlzNWU4eDJpRmJ4QT09
  Group A: 8:45-9:25  https://epfl.zoom.us/j/8427472371?omn=69637608517
  Group B: 9:30-10:10  https://epfl.zoom.us/j/8427472371?omn=69637608517

• ZOOMS on Dec 10
  
  Group A: 8:45-9:25  https://epfl.zoom.us/j/4673993147?pwd=aDlUcmdtUEpqazlzNWU4eDJpRmJ4QT09
  Group B: 9:30-10:10  https://epfl.zoom.us/j/4673993147?pwd=aDlUcmdtUEpqazlzNWU4eDJpRmJ4QT09
  Group C: 8:45-9:25  https://epfl.zoom.us/j/8427472371?omn=69637608517
  Group D: 9:30-10:10  https://epfl.zoom.us/j/8427472371?omn=69637608517

INSTRUCTIONS: FINAL PRESENTATIONS IN THE CLASSROOM (Dec 17)

Each presentation should last 20-30 min maximum if not interrupted. Discussion (Q/A) may last 5-10 min maximum. So, we will have a presentation every 30-40 mins (with a 5 min break between presentations).

We start with first presentation (group A) at 9:30, but please check your computers and connections well before 9:30!

Do not forget to start with a first slide with your picture and name below, reflecting the presenters left-to-right in order of appearance.

We aim to conclude the presentations by 12:30. 

Finally, it would be great if you could give feedback on the course, which we and EPFL value a lot!

Thanks, Miki & Freddy