CSHL Courses are intensive, running all day and often including evenings and weekends; students are expected to attend all sessions and reside on campus for the duration of the course.
Instructors
Jeremy Borniger, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Ece Eksi, Oregon Health and Science University
Simon Grelet, University of Oklahoma/Stephenson Cancer Center
Paola (Pay) Vermeer, University of South Dakota/Sanford Research
Assistant Instructor
Alexandria Battison, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY
Cancer neuroscience is a growing field that incorporates the study of malignancies, the nerves that infiltrate them and neuronal influences on disease initiation, its progression and the overall state of the host. The molecular, biological, immunological and neuronal understanding of these complex interactions requires multi-disciplinary approaches and methodologies that have historically been relegated to non-cancer fields. The Methods in Cancer Neuroscience is a short, intensive sixteen day hands-on course that will provide training in techniques necessary to define the complex influence of nerves in cancer. These techniques will span the areas of modelling cancer through orthotopic or systemic inoculation, viral injections and fiber optic placement for optogenetic, cranial window implantation and two photon video-microscopy, virus injections for neuronal tract tracing, behavioral assays, primary neuron and glia isolation and co-culture with cancer cells/ immune cell, and stable cell line generation, in vivo electrophysiology and data analysis, immunolabeling of co-cultures, functional assays (i.e., neurite outgrowth, clonogenic assays, and others), mouse brain organotypic cultures, advanced analysis of calcium reporters, scRNA-seq and data analysis, among other techniques. Lectures and techniques will be taught by the leaders in the field. Trainees will also benefit from interacting with and establishing fruitful collaborations with instructors.
Lecture Topics
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Neuroimmunology
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Mouse modeling
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2P microscopy
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Organoids
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Behavior and circuits
Hands-on Module Topics
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Inoculation of cancer cells
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Microbiome-neuroimmuneinteractions in cancer
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Measuringelectrical activity in cancer-neuron co-cultures
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Viral injections & fiber optic placement
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Viral injection for tracing
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In vivo electrophysiology and data analysis
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Optogenetics
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In vitro calcium reporter test
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Image analysis: fixed and dynamic data
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Single cell spatial omics in cancer-neuroscience
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Tissue clearing
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Schwan cell, DRG and SVZ isolation and culture
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BLI analysis and tissue processing of CNS tumors
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Immunolabelling of co-cultures
2027 Lecturers:
Ofer Yizhar, Weizmann Institute, Israel
Elizabeth (Betsy) Repasky, Roswell Park Cancer Center
Robert Dantzer, MD Anderson Cancer Center
Gustavo Ayala, University of Texas Health Sciences
Leanne Li, Francis Crick Institute
David Gutmann, Washington University in St. Louis
Isaac Chiu, Harvard University
Xiling Shen, MD Anderson Cancer Center
Hiro Furukawa, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Andreas Trumpp, Heidelberg University, Germany
Varun Venkataramani, Heidelberg University, Germany
Frank Winkler, Heidelberg University, Germany
Alex Birbrair, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Ekin Demir, Technical University of Munich, Germany
Erica Sloan, Monash University, Australia
Aditi Bhattacharya, New York University
Veena Padmanaban, Johns Hopkins University
Shawn Hervey-Jumper, University of California, San Francisco
Tobias Janowitz, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
2027 Module Leaders:
Karen Dixon, University of Basel, Switzerland
Sebastien Talbot, Queens University, Canada
Kathryn Taylor, Memorial Sloan Kettering
Alix Battison, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Manuel Valero, Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Spain
Chengcheng Jin, University of Pennsylvania
Yi Ye, New York University
Jami Saloman, University of Pittsburgh
Madeleine Oudin, Tufts University
The Methods in Cancer Neuroscience course is an intensive program designed to provide comprehensive training in the techniques necessary to study the interactions between the nervous system and cancer. Given the limited seats available, the ideal candidate should meet several criteria to ensure they can fully benefit from the program.
Current Position: The candidate should be a graduate student enrolled in a PhD or MD/PhD program or postdoctoral researcher. Indicate year when the position was initiated.
Personal Statement (500 words max) and Project Description (500 words max): The Personal Statement should be a well-articulated statement outlining the candidate's research interests, career goals, and how the course will benefit their interdisciplinary work in cancer neuroscience. The Project Description should briefly describe the candidate's current or proposed research project, clearly stating its relevance to cancer neuroscience and how it integrates aspects of both fields.
Curriculum Vitae (CV) (3 pages max): highlight academic achievements, research experience, and relevant skills in cancer biology and/or neuroscience. Although details are needed, the CV should not exceed 3 pages.
Letters of Recommendation (3 letters max): Principal investigators (required) and mentors (recommended; up to 2) who can attest to the candidate's potential for interdisciplinary research in cancer neuroscience.
We would like to acknowledge the following companies that provided invaluable support:
This course is supported by the National Cancer Institute.
Financial aid is available to help offset tuition costs as follows:
- Financial aid for domestic applicants may be provided by the National Cancer Institute (application pending)[up to 50% subsidy depending on need]
Please indicate your eligibility for funding in your financial aid request submitted when you apply to the course.
Cost (includes food and housing): $5,225 USD
No fees are due until you have completed the full application process and are accepted into the course.
Before applying, ensure you have:
- Personal Statement & Project Description (Upload as one document)
- Letter(s) of recommendation;
- Curriculum vitae/resume;
- Financial aid request (optional). Stipend requests do not affect selection decisions by the Instructors.
More details
If you are not ready to fully apply but wish to express interest in applying, receive a reminder two weeks prior to the deadline, and tell us about your financial aid requirements, click below:
For more on this course, read what former trainees said of their experience. Also, be sure to check out our growing online alumni presence.