1
|
Bartlett B, Stitt-Bergh M, Kantar M, Bingham JP. A data science practicum to introduce undergraduate students to bioinformatics for research. Biochem Mol Biol Educ 2023; 51:520-528. [PMID: 37401749 PMCID: PMC10621008 DOI: 10.1002/bmb.21762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
An explosion of data available in the life sciences has shifted the discipline toward genomics and quantitative data science research. Institutions of higher learning have been addressing this shift by modifying undergraduate curriculums resulting in an increasing number of bioinformatics courses and research opportunities for undergraduates. The goal of this study was to explore how a newly designed introductory bioinformatics seminar could leverage the combination of in-class instruction and independent research to build the practical skill sets of undergraduate students beginning their careers in the life sciences. Participants were surveyed to assess learning perceptions toward the dual curriculum. Most students had a neutral or positive interest in these topics before the seminar and reported increased interest after the seminar. Students had increases in confidence level in their bioinformatic proficiency and understanding of ethical principles for data/genomic science. By combining undergraduate research with directed bioinformatics skills, classroom seminars facilitated a connection between student's life sciences knowledge and emerging research tools in computational biology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bjarne Bartlett
- The University of Hawaii at Manoa, Department of Molecular Biosystems and Bioengineering, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
| | - Monica Stitt-Bergh
- Assessment and Curriculum Support Center, The University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
| | - Michael Kantar
- Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences, The University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
| | - Jon-Paul Bingham
- The University of Hawaii at Manoa, Department of Molecular Biosystems and Bioengineering, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Hsu JL, Dudley L. Characterizing First-Year Biology Majors' Motivations and Perceptions of the Discipline. J Microbiol Biol Educ 2022; 23:e00134-22. [PMID: 36532213 PMCID: PMC9753663 DOI: 10.1128/jmbe.00134-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Understanding why students choose to major in biology provides important insight into the motivations of biology majors. It is similarly important to investigate how biology majors perceive the discipline, including associated activities, such as independent research, which can influence students' interests in the field and likelihood to persist in science, engineering, technology, and math. However, there has been little work done examining biology student motivations and perceptions, particularly at non-research-intensive universities or after the COVID-19 pandemic started. To address this gap, we surveyed the first-year cohort of biology majors at a private, comprehensive university. We found that students largely reported choosing the major because of interest in the field and/or the fact that the major would prepare them for specific careers. We also found that students had skewed conceptions of several major subdisciplines of biology (ecology and evolution; cell and molecular biology; and anatomy and physiology). Finally, most students reported not knowing what independent research is or presented naive conceptions of research. Our work offers a characterization of how first-year students at our university perceive the discipline, and we conclude by discussing changes that our program has made to address these results as well as implications for instructors and biology administrators.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy L. Hsu
- Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, California, USA
| | - Lauren Dudley
- Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Guazzelli A, Meysami P, Bakker E, Bonanni E, Demonacos C, Krstic-Demonacos M, Mutti L. What can independent research for mesothelioma achieve to treat this orphan disease? Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2019; 28:719-732. [PMID: 31262194 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2019.1638363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare neoplasm with a poor prognosis, as current therapies are ineffective. Despite the increased understanding of the molecular biology of mesothelioma, there is still a lack of drugs that dramatically enhance patient survival. Area Covered: This review discusses recent and complete clinical trials supported by the NIH, other U.S. Federal agencies, universities and organizations found on clinicaltrials.gov. Firstly, chemotherapy-based trials are described, followed by immunotherapy and multitargeted therapy. Then we introduce drug repositioning and the use of drug docking as tools to find new interesting molecules. Finally, we highlight potential molecular pathways that may play a role in mesothelioma biology and therapy. Expert Opinion: Numerous biases are present in the clinical trials due to a restricted number of cases, inappropriate endpoints and inaccurate stratification of patients which delay the finding of a treatment for MPM. The most crucial issue of independent research for MPM is the lack of more substantive funding to translate these findings to the clinical setting. However, this approach is not necessarily scientific given the low mutational load of mesothelioma relative to other cancers, and therefore patients need a more solid rationale to have a good chance of successful treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alice Guazzelli
- a School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford , Salford , UK
| | - Parisa Meysami
- a School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford , Salford , UK
| | - Emyr Bakker
- b School of Medicine, University of Central Lancashire , Preston , UK
| | | | - Constantinos Demonacos
- d Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester , Manchester , UK
| | | | - Luciano Mutti
- e Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University , Philadelphia , PA , USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Negrouk A, Lacombe D, Cardoso F, Morin F, Carrasco E, Maurel J, Maibach R, Aranda E, Marais R, Stahel RA. Safeguarding the future of independent, academic clinical cancer research in Europe for the benefit of patients. ESMO Open 2017; 2:e000187. [PMID: 29021919 PMCID: PMC5634488 DOI: 10.1136/esmoopen-2017-000187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2017] [Revised: 06/27/2017] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a complex disease that is constantly evolving. It is now the most common cause of death in Europe after cardiovascular diseases. There are inequalities among European countries, potentially unsustainable healthcare systems impacting quality of cancer care and increasing number of patients with cancer with rare conditions. Clinical and translational research are the backbone in establishing scientific advances as novel treatments and advancing progress to the benefit of patients. Commercially sponsored clinical trials are responsible for developing new medicines that can treat various disease areas, including cancer. It is important to note, however, that these clinical trials only assess the viability of compounds that are chosen by a commercial entity that funds the entire process. By their design and focus, these trials need to fulfil commercial interests and market expectations, which do not always coincide with patients' needs. As soon or even before novel treatments and compounds obtain formal market authorisation, academia will take these existing and new medicines to further conduct research in order to optimise their use, develop new combinations and with a strong focus on the patients and their needs. Established standard of care most commonly relies on clinical cancer research stemming from non-commercial entities, cooperative groups or academic clinical research. This article provides a consensus on the definition of academic research, illustrates its added value and suggests and calls to European Union institutions to support this type of research for the benefit of patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anastassia Negrouk
- International Policy Office, European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC),Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Denis Lacombe
- Director General, European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Franck Morin
- French Cooperative Thoracic Intergroup (IFCT) – Groupes Cooperateurs en Oncologie (GCO), Paris, France
| | - Eva Carrasco
- Grupo Español de Investigación en Cáncer de Mama (GEICAM), Scientific Director and CEO, Madrid, Spain
| | - Joan Maurel
- Grupo Espanol Multidisciplinar en Cancer Digestivo (GEMCAD), Medical OncologyDepartment, Hospital Clínic, Translational Genomics and Targeted Therapeuticsin Solid Tumors Group, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rudolf Maibach
- International Breast Cancer Study Group (IBCSG) Coordinating Center, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Enrique Aranda
- Spanish Cooperative Group for the Treatment of Digestive Tumors (TTD), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), InstitutoSanitario de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Medical OncologyDepartment, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Richard Marais
- European Association for Cancer Research (EACR), Department of Molecular Oncology at the University of Manchester and Directorof the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, Manchester, UK
| | - Rolf A Stahel
- European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), Clinic of Oncology,University Hospital, Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Wood WB. Inquiry-based undergraduate teaching in the life sciences at large research universities: a perspective on the Boyer Commission Report. Cell Biol Educ 2003; 2:112-6. [PMID: 12888846 PMCID: PMC162190 DOI: 10.1187/cbe.03-02-0004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2003] [Revised: 04/16/2003] [Accepted: 04/17/2003] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The 1998 Boyer Commission Report advocated improvement of undergraduate education at large research universities through large-scale participation of undergraduates in the universities' research mission. At a recent conference sponsored by the Reinvention Center, which is dedicated to furthering the goals of the Boyer Commission, participants discussed progress toward these goals and recommendations for future action. A breakout group representing the life sciences concluded that independent research experience for every undergraduate may not be feasible or desirable but that transformation of lecture courses to more inquiry-based and interactive formats can effectively further the Commission's goals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William B Wood
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, 347 UCB, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0347, USA.
| |
Collapse
|