Summer Program

Application Period (link):

• Opens Monday, April 6, 2026, due Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 11:59 pm

• Acceptances announced May 11 via email, mandatory orientation May 20.

7-Week Program

• June 16 - July 31, 2026

• Tuesdays: 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. via Zoom

  • June 16, June 23, June 30, July 7

  • July 14, 21 - no class, office hours - groups meet to complete research presentations

• Mon - Fri: In-person group meetings (day and time determined by individual groups)

• Projects are due Fri, July 24 for Mock Presentations

  • Five teams will present on July 31 at UCLA's Liquid Biopsy Lab.

Trip to UCLA Liquid Biopsy Laboratory

• Friday, July 31, 2026 12:00 - 6:00 p.m.

• Mandatory trip

• Students must arrange their own transportation to and from the site. No exceptions. 

• Signed field trip permission slips will be required.

1. Basic Principles of Oncology Biology

   • What is cancer?

     • Hallmarks of Cancer / Causes

     • Signal transduction / Cell cycle / Regulation / Apoptosis

     • Proto-oncogenes vs. tumor suppressors

     • Types, metastasis, and staging

2. Introduction to Oncology Medicine and Translational Research

   • Screening, diagnostics, prognostics, therapeutics, clinical trials

   • Development and application of novel therapies

   • Types of cancer treatment:

     • Chemical, radiation, immune, surgical, targeted

3. Conducting literature searching/reviews

   • Types of literature (primary vs. review)

   • Skills in literature review:

     • Dissecting paper title, abstract, introduction/background, discussion

     • Interpreting methods, figures, and conclusions

4. Create and present specific, directed, evidenced, and concise presentation

   • Writing specific slide titles

   • Good practices for presentation cleanliness and communication

     • Consistent appearances

     • Addressing all information displayed

     • Speaking clearly, confidently, and responding to / speculating on scientific questions