Immuno-oncology in the era of spatial omics

The third Summer school "Immuno-Oncology in the spatial omics era", entirely in English, will enable international PhD and Masters students to explore the field of spatial omics to study the complexity and organization of tissues at different levels using transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolic imaging to better understand tumor immunity.

The Institute Cancer and Immunology is pleased to open registration for the 3rd edition of its Summer school in immuno-oncology, whose theme is "Immuno-oncology in the era of spatial omics". The program will place particular emphasis on the interaction between theory, research and practice, using a problem-based approach. It will include tutorials, theoretical and technical courses, taught by local professors, and practical workshops organized in small groups in local laboratories to enable students to carry out experimental manipulations and analysis of experimental data. Internationally-renowned lecturers will punctuate the program, giving both state-of-the-art spatial omics seminars and in-depth research seminars in the various modules.

The program will place particular emphasis on the interaction between theory, research and practice around the problem-based approach. It will include:

  • Tutorials
  • Theoretical and technical courses, given by local professors, and practical workshops organized in small groups in local laboratories to enable students to carry out experimental manipulations and analysis of experimental data.
  • Guest lecturers will punctuate the program by giving both seminars presenting the state of the art in spatial omics and in-depth research seminars in the various modules.
  • History and development of spatial omics in the context of cancer and immunology research
  • General introduction module
  • Principles and techniques to be developed in practical workshops
  • General technology module
  • Spatial transcriptomics
  • Spatial proteomics
  • Spatial metabolism
  • Computer science and statistics module

This Training will enable students to:

  • Develop or deepen technical and theoretical knowledge in advanced spatial omics for the study of questions in oncology and immunology.
  • Develop critical thinking skills to support the choice, development and validation of spatial omics techniques
  • Develop skills in spatial omics data creation (experimentation)
  • Develop skills in spatial omics data analysis (bioinformatics analysis)
  • Organize, analyze and promote a scientific project based on experimental spatial omics approaches.
    In addition, this program will provide students with a solid foundation that can be used throughout their Master's and PhD studies, either in experimental work or when reading the scientific literature. Practical workshops and mini research projects will provide invaluable experience.

The physical mobility component will take place from July 7 to 11, 2025 in Marseille. The intensive 5-day Summer school will present, in the form of modules, space omics technologies and how they are shaping the future of immunotherapy:

  • A general introductory module that will provide participants with an overview of the history and development of space omics in the context of cancer and immunology research.
  • A general technology module presenting the principles and techniques that will be developed during the practical workshops
  • A module on spatial transcriptomics
  • A module on spatial proteomics
  • A module on spatial metabolism
  • A computer science and statistics module
    These technologies bring together different techniques for superimposing omics data on tissue images to study and analyze biological molecules and their localization in tissue, while preserving the original spatial context.

The virtual part of the program will run from February 1 to July 6, 2025, and will consist of a European module "New techniques in proteomics, genomic imaging and cytometry" with an asynchronous format. Students will be able to follow the courses remotely via Zoom before July 6, 2025.

Also, for a period of 15 days prior to the physical part, a Moodle platform will be made available to students to set up mini research projects, the "Spatial omics Challenges", as part of the active pedagogical implementation, which students will present during the physical part once the courses and workshops have been completed.

Students will work in groups of 5, with research articles provided by the teachers. Each group will be led by an AMU or CIVIS teacher-researcher. Together, they will answer "How to design an experimental plan using a given omics technique to answer a given biological question".

The training is open to Master's and PhD students from CIVIS member universities, with some experience in immunology, oncology, cell and molecular biology and/or biophysics.

In addition, participants must have excellent English language skills (B2) and provide a letter of recommendation from a familiar professor and/or research supervisor.

To be eligible for the CIVIS program you have selected, you must be a fully enrolled student at your home CIVIS university at the time you undertake the program.

Students from CIVIS strategic partner universities in Africa are not eligible to apply for this course.

Send your application by completing the online application form before October 31, 2024, including:

  • CV
  • Letter of motivation
  • Letter of recommendation from a professor and/or research supervisor
  • Applications will be evaluated on the basis of the above documents.

Program

                                            Affiche