Executive committee

Christine Varon  -  Program director

Sandrine Poglio  -  Teaching coordinator

Jose-Eduardo Gomes  -  International-liaison coordinator

Nicolas Larmonier  -  Research-liaison coordinator

Research departments

Biological and medical sciences

Health sciences and technologies

Doctoral schools

Main doctoral school (École doctorale, ED in French): ED n°154 Health and life sciences

Partner schools:

• ED n°209 Physics and engineering
• ED n°40 Chemical sciences
• ED n°39 Mathematics and computer science
• ED n°545 Society, politics, and public health

Affiliated laboratories

Our teams and partners have diverse and complementary expertise that includes cellular and molecular biology, genetics, immunology, biochemistry, biophysics, etc. The program takes place within the laboratories of the dynamic Oncosphere network, whose research teams include:

• 11 units working on fundamental and translational biology in oncology (Inserm BRIC project)
• 12 CNRS teams in cellular biology and genetics (IBGC), and one in immunology and immunotherapy
• 34 teams in science and technologies, engineering, computer science and mathematical modeling applied to the study of cancer (OncoSTIM)
• labs in epidemiology and public health (BPH research center)
• one clinical investigation centre (Euclid platform)
• the Bordeaux University Hospital Centre
• the Bergonié Comprehensive Cancer Centre

International partners

• US: University of Arizona, Stanford University, City of Hope Medical Center
• Canada: McGill University
• Brazil: University of Porto Alegre
• Portugal: University of Lisbon
• Spain: University of Saragossa, University of Seville
• … among other international partners of the University of Bordeaux in oncology labs.

Duration

2 years (MSc) + 3 years (PhD, optional), full time.

Overview

The program covers the bases of molecular and cellular mechanisms driving oncogenesis, the complex cellular and molecular-interacting networks with the tumor microenvironment dictating cancer development and metastatic dissemination, the clinical aspects of cancer pathology and therapeutic possibilities. The development of critical analysis and creative skills that must be applied in the conception of research proposals, accessing and processing experimental data, and literature searches are also important components of the program.

A detailed training-offer of the Master’s degree is available on its dedicated webpage, and includes a 2-month internship in the first year and a 5-month internship in the second year.

The international PhD-training includes:

• Monthly seminar series in oncology
• Participating in various research projects within the Oncosphere labs and their partners worldwide
• 100hrs of additional courses, balanced between disciplinary (cancer biology) and complementary training (including ethics and entrepreneurship)
• Access to high-quality research-facilities
• Conferences, seminars, workshops on cancer organized by the Biological and medical sciences department, the Oncosphere research network, and/or the SIRIC BRIO lab
• Participating in the Great South-West Canceropole annual congress
• Participating in the Scientific Doctoral-School Day
• Organizing and participating in the Graduate-Program Cancer-Biology Scientific-Day (for graduate students and junior researchers), within the frame of the Oncosphere yearly-symposium

Strengths

• Close connections to the Oncosphere network of research laboratories, dealing with all current issues in oncology (CNRS, Inserm, and various University of Bordeaux and international labs)
• State-of-the-art technologies for cancer modeling, diagnosis and treatments
• A strong, interdisciplinary, research dynamic and learning environment, providing students with the possibility to interact with not only biologists, clinicians and other health-professionals, but also physicists, mathematicians, chemists, computer scientists and philosophers of science working in the field of cancer

And after?

The Graduate Program in Cancer Biology prepares students for various career paths (research, teaching, project management, scientific mediation, etc.) in the academic as well as the private sector.

Master’s program (MSc)

For more information on the Master’s application procedure, please visit its dedicated website.

Doctoral program (PhD)

• Hold a Master’s degree in Biology or a relevant Life-sciences field ;
• To be admitted in one of the doctoral schools mentioned above (main or affiliated) ;
• Please note that a very high English-proficiency is mandatory, as the program is exclusively taught in this language (minimally C1-level, based on the CEFRL) ;
• Demonstrate an excellent academic and scientific level ;
• Demonstrate previous experience in a research laboratory.

Tuition fees

Annual registration fees are calculated according to the University of Bordeaux regulations (approx. 400€/year).

Funding

• Funding for PhD positions are available upon application to the Life and Health Sciences doctoral school, or through the other affiliated doctoral schools of the University of Bordeaux;
• International mobility grants may be available based on the program’s academic collaborations;
• For more information on PhD funding-opportunities, please visit the Graduate Research School website.