Training
Master’s in Molecular Biology, Systems Biology option
Program description
The Master’s Program in Molecular Biology, Systems Biology option, offers an intensive one-year training program (with two laboratory rotation internships), and a two-year training (thesis-based) focusing on cancer research. The main objective of this competitive program is to prepare you for a Ph.D. program in biomedical research.
The program’s special feature is that it involves all of IRIC’s Investigators, as well as its state-of-the-art core facilities. It offers an original, innovative and interactive teaching approach that integrates molecular biology, cell biology, biochemistry, immunology, bioinformatics, genomics, medical physics, and the more clinical aspects of biomedical research.
Master’s in Research with internships
By opting for one-year training with internships, you will have the opportunity to carry out two research projects in the form of laboratory rotations as part of two IRIC research teams. The rotations, both lasting 4 months, take place during the fall and winter semesters. The year closes out with an intensive semester of Summer School in Systems Biology.
Still little known in Quebec, the concept of laboratory rotations is currently being used in several major universities. They are an integral part of the Master’s Program in Systems Biology because of the many advantages that they provide to students. Thus:
- You benefit from the expertise, experience and guidance of two Professors-Investigators;
- You broaden your scientific horizon by exploring various aspects on a given research topic;
- You adopt various experimental approaches in the context of a given research topic;
- You use a wide range of laboratory techniques;
- You work with a variety of model organisms (e.g., mouse, yeast, nematode word, fruit fly, frog, human);
- You guide your choice of research topic or research team, with your Ph.D. in mind.
Upon completion of each rotation, you prepare a report in the form of a scientific manuscript and you make an oral presentation of your work during a seminar.
The courses are concentrated during the summer semester as part of the Summer School in Systems Biology.
Master’s in Research with thesis
By opting for the two-year training with thesis, you carry out a research project as part of an IRIC research team, covering aspects as varied as the molecular genetics of cancer and stem cells, signalling pathways, the immune system, proteomics, bioinformatics, structural biology, etc.
The courses are concentrated during the summer semester as part of the Summer School in Systems Biology.
Upon completion of your Master’s, you make an oral presentation of your work during a research seminar and you prepare a research paper.
Summer School in Systems Biology
The Summer School in Systems Biology offers a series of theoretical and practical courses unique to the Institute and available for Master’s and Ph.D. programs in systems biology. Its particularity is that it is centered around IRIC’s students and that it is ensured by the Institute’s Investigators.
The courses are subdivided into two categories: theoretical courses involving topics related to fundamental and translational cancer research and laboratory courses that will enable you to put the knowledge acquired into practice.
Through its rich and dynamic programming, the Summer School makes it possible to put directly into practice the knowledge passed along by distinguished Investigators, to develop autonomy in the laboratory and to become familiar with the scientific equipment and resources offered at IRIC. As a result, you can begin or continue your research activities with confidence.
The theoretical courses cover a variety of topics related to the cell and molecular biology of cancer, the molecular genetics of eukaryotes, immuno-oncology, model organisms and experimental approaches based on systems biology such as biophysics, nanotechnologies, proteomics, etc.
A good knowledge of English is required to attend to Summer School.
Summer School - Theoretical courses
The theoretical courses cover a variety of topics related to the cell and molecular biology of cancer, the molecular genetics of eukaryotes, immuno-oncology, model organisms and experimental approaches based on systems biology such as biophysics, nanotechnologies, proteomics, etc.
BIM6064A – Cellular and Molecular Biology of Cancer (required)
The BIM6064A course offers theoretical training in cellular and molecular cancer research making it possible to understand the mechanisms of gene expression and cell cycle control by signalling pathways and their dysregulation in cancer. This course includes the following presentations:
- Transcriptional regulation and cancer (by Sylvie Mader)
- Epigenetic regulation of gene expression and cancer (by Julie Lessard)
- Biology of miRNAs (by Gerardo Ferbeyre)
- Gene expression: post-transcriptional regulation and cancer (by Katherine Borden)
- Signalling pathways (by Gregory Emery)
- Signalling and cell cycle progression (by Sylvain Meloche)
- DNA replication and chromosomal integrity (by Lea Harrington)
- Molecular genetics of cancer (by Trang Hoang)
BIM6064B – Molecular Genetics of Eukaryotes (elective)
The BIM6064B course offers theoretical training on the molecular genetics of eukaryotes and the use of biological models for the study of cell signalling and cancer. It makes it possible to understand the contribution of the genetics of biological model systems in studying cancer. This course includes the following presentations:
- Thinking like a geneticist (by Alain Verreault)
- Yeasts: genetics of unicellular eukaryotes (by Martine Raymond)
- Eukaryotic cells in culture: genetics of cancer (by Guy Sauvageau)
- Working like a biochemist (by Benjamin Kwok)
- Fundamentals in light and fluorescence microscopy (by Etienne Gagnon)
- Caenorhabditis elegans: signalling in multicellular organisms (by Jean-Claude Labbé)
- Drosophila melanogaster: genetics of higher eukaryotes (by Marc Therrien)
- The mouse: analyzing the function of genes in mammals (by Philippe Roux)
BIM6064C – Approaches in Systems Biology (required)
The BIM6064C course offers theoretical training on system biology approaches for the analysis of cell signalling and molecular genetics. It makes it possible to know the approaches in systems biology and their contribution to the advancement of knowledge in cancer biology and molecular genetics. This course includes the following presentations:
- Functional approaches by loss of function (by Sébastien Carréno)
- Post-translational modifications (by Philippe Roux)
- Genetic screens (by Vincent Archambault)
- Biophysical analysis of the structure of macromolecules (by Kathy Borden)
- Proteomics (by Pierre Thibault)
- Structural biology (by Matthew Smith)
- How to write a scholarship application (by Sylvie Mader)
- Nanotechnology in biology (by Delphine Bouilly)
- Synthetic biology (by Mike Tyers)
BIM6064D - Immuno-oncology: From the Laboratory to the Clinic (elective)
The BIM6064D course offers theoretical training on therapeutic targeting, drug development, clinical research in leukemia and breast cancer, the use of stem cells in cancer therapy, and immunotherapy. It makes it possible to acquire basic concepts in immunology and oncology and presents various examples of applications of laboratory research in the clinical and drug discovery fields. In addition to the visit of IRIC’s Histology and High-Throughput Screening Core Facilities, this course includes the following theoretical presentations:
- Malignant hemopathies (by Jean Roy)
- Chromosomal aberrations/Laboratory tests in clinical hematology (by Josée Hébert)
- How to set up clinical trials in cell therapy (by Denis-Claude Roy)
- Drug development and high-throughput screening (by Benjamin Kwok)
- Stem cells and cancer treatment (by Guy Sauvageau)
- Breast cancer, clinical tests and histology (by Louis Gaboury)
- Pharmacological modulation of cell signalling: membrane receptors (by Michel Bouvier)
- General concepts of immunology and antigen presentation (by Claude Perreault)
- Function of T cell and cancer immunotherapy (by Etienne Gagnon)
- Innate immunity (by John White)
Summer School - List of practical courses
Laboratory courses present various techniques related to molecular biology, cell analysis, protein expression and purification, analysis of the biochemical and biophysical properties of proteins, functional genomics, bioinformatics and the use of model organisms. During these practical courses, you carry out several research projects requiring the use of IRIC’s core facilities.
BIM6065A – Practice in Molecular Biology (required)
The BIM6065A course offers laboratory training and its goal is to teach basic techniques in molecular biology in order for them to be used simply, quickly and effectively. Its main objectives are hands-on training involving in vivo-directed mutagenesis, DNA sequencing and bioinformatics techniques and gene-targeting approaches by Gibson assembly and CrispR-Cas9 technologies.
BIM6065B – Genetic Models of Cancer (elective)
The BIM6065B course offers practical laboratory training in cell analysis by flow cytometry and microscopy using model organisms (e.g., transgenic mice, Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster). Its goal is to teach you 1) cell analysis techniques using various model organisms, 2) mouse transgenesis, 3) basic flow cytometry methods and data analysis, and 4) basic methods in confocal microscopy and dissection microscopy. This course includes training using various IRIC Core Facilities, (e.g., Flow Cytometry, Bio-Imaging, transgenesis), lectures (e.g., bio-imaging software), theoretical presentations and practical work leading to various assignments and written reports.
BIM6065C – Bioinformatics Analysis (required)
The BIM6065C course offers theoretical and practical training in bioinformatics analysis and its goal is to familiarize you with 1) databases, 2) network analysis techniques, and 3) modelling of the structure of macromolecules. It includes theoretical presentations and tutorials leading to various assignments.
BIM6065D – Functional Genomics (elective)
The BIM6065D course offers theoretical and practical training in functional genomics, DNA microarrays, gene expression analysis and large-scale chromatin immunoprecipitation. Its goal is to teach you 1) high-throughput sequencing techniques, and 2) DNA microarray hybridization techniques and data analysis, and the analysis of large-scale chromatin immunoprecipitation. This course includes theoretical presentations and practical work leading to various assignments.
BIM6065E – Biochemistry of Proteins (required)
The BIM6065E course offers practical laboratory training in the field of biochemistry of proteins. It follows course BIM6065A and its goal is to teach you 1) techniques to express and purify proteins (FPLC chromatography) and 2) techniques to study the chemical and biophysical properties of proteins (mass spectrometry, circular dichroism and ultracentrifugation). This course includes practical work using IRIC’s Proteomics and Biophysics Core Facilities, theoretical presentations, group discussions and written assignments.
A Université de Montréal program
This collaborative program allows you to benefit from not only the expertise and support of over thirty professors, Investigators and scientific professionals from IRIC, but also of Investigators from various departments of the Université de Montréal, the CHUM Research Centre (CRCHUM) and the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Centre (CRHMR).
Why study at IRIC?
To study at IRIC is to gain access to unique and personalized guidance, a team of experts in fundamental, translational and applied research, as well as state-of-the-art infrastructures that make it possible to optimize cancer research efforts.