Courses

A five day course covering the biology, science and mechanisms behind the diverse range of targeted drug treatments and new immunotherapies for cancer with an overview of how they work – focusing on the science behind them – and describing which treatments are relevant to the most common solid tumours and haematological cancers.

Dr Elaine Vickers – a leading independent educator on the science of new cancer treatments – uses demystifying jargon to explain the resistance mechanisms to many new treatments – including the way cancer cells diversify, evolve and avoid destruction by the immune system.

Course delivery

The course comprises a series of five morning sessions delivered online via Microsoft Teams:

Delegates will be given access to recordings of all sessions for six months after completion of the course. If you are unable to attend a session the recording will ensure you can review any content you have missed.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this comprehensive 5 day programme delegates will gain a greater understanding of:

• Cancer genetics, how cells work, the causes of cancer, how it spreads and how cancer cells evolve, types and patterns of DNA damage found in cancer cells and their consequences
• Targeted cancer treatments for solid tumours, antibody-based and small molecule drugs, their uses and mechanisms of action, and the rise of antibody-drug-conjugates
• Immunotherapy for solid tumours, including the relationship between cancer and the immune system, immune checkpoint inhibitors and the future of immunotherapy for solid tumours
• The biology and genetics of haematological cancers, and the consequences of common chromosome translocations and other mutations, the unique properties of B cell-derived cancers and why they account for >80% of all haematological cancers diagnosed in the UK
• Targeted treatments for leukaemias and lymphomas, such as FLT3 inhibitors and Bcr-Abl inhibitors, and immunotherapies including T cell engagers and CAR T cell therapy.

In closing there is an overview of the results so far, the lessons learned, and what the future might look like.

Course lead

Dr Elaine Vickers, PhD, of Science Communicated Ltd, has worked as a cancer educator for over twenty years. She has previously worked as a science communicator for three of the UK’s leading medical research charities, including four years in the Science Information team at Cancer Research UK.

Elaine is passionate about demystifying the science behind cancer biology and the latest cancer treatments such as kinase inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies and immunotherapies.

She is experienced in teaching people with any level of scientific or medical knowledge from cancer patients through to medical oncologists translating complex and often overwhelming topics into easily digestible and understandable knowledge, using colourful illustrations to explain scientific concepts.

Her book, A Beginner’s Guide to Targeted Cancer Treatments, was commended by the British Medical Association. A second edition is due out in 2024.

Audience

This course is ideal for experienced cancer nurses, clinical trials staff or other professionals involved in the delivery of cancer care who want to update and expand their existing knowledge, whilst developing deeper confidence when discussing treatment options with colleagues and patients.

Financial information

If you are employed by Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, you can use the coupon code NUTH at the checkout to make a provisional booking and you will need to arrange access to in-house development funding. Your booking will remain provisional until your request has been validated with a funding/study leave reference.

If you are not employed by the Newcastle Hospitals an online card payment is required at the point of booking.

Alternatively, if you are to be funded by your employer an invoice can be requested by using the coupon code Invoice.

Please see Coupons for further information relating to coupon codes and how to use them at checkout.