At undergraduate level, there is a strong commitment to teaching of the BMedSci 3 year undergraduate course with contributions from the Institute to all three years; genetics in the first year, cell biology of cancer in the second year and the final year options and 10 week laboratory projects in year three. One of the final year module options is entitled ‘Cancer: Pathogenesis and Treatment’ which is organised by and taught within the Institute. Members of staff also contribute to final year modules organised by other Departments in the Medical School.

Intercalated BMedSc Clinical Sciences

The Institute contributes significantly to the intercalated BMedSc in Clinical Sciences, which is open to medical students after their third or fourth year of studies. The course provides teaching in six disciplines of clinical sciences, and gives students the opportunity to work on an 8-month laboratory-based research project.

MBChB

There are a very large number of medical (MBChB) undergraduates at Birmingham.

The Institute is responsible for a 4th Year MBChB module in Oncology, both academic in days and hospital based teaching.

We also participate in the New Biological Sciences Course (1st and 2nd years of the MBChB), organising a 2nd year course entitled ‘Cancer: Causes to Cures’. This module has run for the first time in 2007/2008 and introduces the scientific basis of cancer and current research with emphasis on clinical examples.

MSc

At postgraduate level, the Institute runs a prestigious MSc course (~35 students) in Clinical Oncology for postgraduate students from a diverse range of cancer related backgrounds.  Students study taught modules on a modular block basis for two years and complete a piece of independent research.  Much of this research has been presented at international and national conferences and some published.  The Institute has over 50 PhD students and supervision of these students is an important part of our teaching.

Continuing Professional Development

In terms of Continuing Professional Development all of the specialist optional modules offered on the MSc course are also offered as stand-alone modules. In addition, the Institute offers a number of specialist training courses.  The Birmingham Oncology programme (BOP) provides up to date medical knowledge for staff from the pharmaceutical industry in an intensive, yet comprehensive programme, combining formal teaching, one to one tutorials and experience in a clinical environment.  A number of large pharmaceutical companies have availed themselves of this course over the years and found it both professionally run and very informative.  The National Cancer Research Network (NCRN) accredited course “Understanding Cancer” is a two-day training course designed to help recently appointed NCRN members understand a little more about cancer and how we treat this disease.  Other specialist training events include specialist courses in Clinical Trials, Breast Cancer.

The Molecular and Cellular Basis of Cancer and an MRCP training course in Haematological malignancies