BIOL 5239. Spring 2019 Dissemination of Biodiscoveries and Virtual Reality in Medicine. (3 credits)

SYLLABUS Instructors: Antonio Giordano MD, Ph.D. Silvia Boffo, Ph.D.

Office hours: BioLife Sciences Bldg., Room 427A - by appointment. Phone: 215 204 1346, e-mail: [email protected]

Lecture location: Room 423 Biol. Life Sciences Bldg., 1900 N 12th Street, Main Campus Time: Thursdays, 5:30pm

Grading: 1. Midterm exam: 25% Take home assay and in class presentation. 2. In class presentations of assigned material: 20% 5 - 20min PPT presentations on subjects relevant to different topics of the course. 3. Class participation and attendance: 15% Participation in class discussions and critical review of the assigned material is encouraged. Expected attendance is at least 80%. 4. Final project: 40% A research proposal or an assay on the development of new technology bridging with biology, medicine, psychology or training. The project will be delivered as a 5-8 page long paper and a 10min PPT presentation.

Course description: The students will learn contemporary methods of effective dissemination of research findings and concepts to professional and lay audiences. Current real-life findings will be presented through slide development, oral presentations, press releases, and the use of social media. In addition, the students will learn the ways to communicate scientific data through abstracts, posters, and papers and will critically analyze the content and style of selected scientific material. Different types of funding proposals will be reviewed and grant development will be practiced. Furthermore, this course focuses on the review of latest concepts, technologies and models relevant in bioindustries, with particular focus to Virtual Reality technologies used in biological, medicine, psychology and training issues. Brief updates on the latest methodologies and applicability will be conducted every week to provide the students with a background on Virtual Reality and its application in medicine, laboratory research, training and education in bioindustry.

Academic ethics: Students are expected to abide by the policy regarding academic honesty. Suspected violations will be reported to the Academic Disciplinary Committee and proven serious violations will results in an F grade. Special needs: Any student who needs accommodation due to a disability should contact the instructors privately to discuss specific situations and consult with Disability Resources and Services at 215-204-1280. Academic freedom: The University has a policy on Student and Faculty and Academic Rights and Responsibilities (Policy #03.70.02). Follow the link http://policies. temple. edu/getdoc.asp ?policy no=03. 70. 02.

BIOL 5239. Spring 2019 Dissemination of Biodiscoveries and Virtual Reality in Medicine. (3 credits)

Antonio Giordano, MD, PhD is an Italian-American oncologist, pathologist, geneticist, researcher, professor and writer. Dr Giordano is the President & Founder of the Sbarro Health Research Organization (www.shro.org), Director and Professor of the Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine and Center for Biotechnology at Temple University, College of Science & Technology in . He is also “Chiara fama” Professor at the Department of Medicine, Surgery & Neuroscience at the in Italy. He discovered key players in cell cycle regulation and his seminal studies contributed to the understanding of some of the central mechanisms underlying cancer development in the field of cell cycle, gene therapy and genetics of cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. He has published more than 500 scientific articles. He received several national and international awards for his contributions to cancer research. He is a member of the editorial board of several international journals and is the holder of over 20 international patents and U.S. patents. In the past few years Giordano has devoted many efforts to the study of the relation between cancer and environmental pollution in the Italian region . He was among the first to report an increased incidence of various tumor types in the population living close by sites of illegal toxic waste dumping. On this theme he did not only publish scientific articles but also committed to make known these data through two books on the topic, by launching a petition to safeguard the environment, and through many other no-profit activities.

Silvia Boffo, PhD, a molecular biologist, has served as a Research Assistant Professor at Temple University (Philadelphia) since 2015. She is originally from Venice, Italy and she has been at SHRO for more than five years, where she completed her PhD in Pharmacological Science. She received her Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree from the in Italy. She also obtained a Master in Bioinnovation at Temple University in 2016. As a Postdoctoral Fellow at SHRO (Temple University, Philadelphia, PA), I carried out a project that focused on the in vivo study of the role of Pin1 in controls of tumor cell proliferation through the pRb and p53 proteins to develop a new drug that targets Pin1 and, in turn, affects tumor growth. In addition, she has administrated another in vivo project for Prostate Cancer (PC), which is a heterogeneous and multifocal disease characterized by pRB function inactivation in prostate epithelium cells.

BIOL 5239. Spring 2019 Dissemination of Biodiscoveries and Virtual Reality in Medicine. (3 credits)

Date Topic

Week 1 Introduction to the course. Structure, topics, grading, exams, student instructor interaction.

Week 2 Bibliography resources. Library services. Plagiarism detection. Authorship and sponsorship issues.

Week 3 Research paper: original, short communication, review, commentary content and structure. Scientific Abstract: content and structure Week 4 Scientific Poster Presentation: contents and structure Scientific Oral Presentation: slides contents and structures Week 5 Applications for research founding - Federal, State, non profit, commercial and private sources: Grants and Contracts (content and structure) White paper (contents and structure) Week 6 Communicating to lay audience - The use of social media for communicating discoveries: Press Release & Interview with a scientist (contents and structure) Week 7 MIDTERM EXAM

Week 8 Spring Break

Week 9 Introduction to Virtual Reality: Virtual Reality devices from the past to now, the continue evolution and application field.

Week 10 Virtual Reality and Health System. Genetics, Stress and Virtual Reality.

Week 11 Stress related biological outcomes: Psychological and physiological related outcome.

Week 12 Neuronal insights and biological links with application of virtual reality.

Week 13 Pitching scientific discoveries: elevator talk. Oral presentation of assigned materials. Week 14 Role Play Team work project – discussion on final project. Week 15 Study days

Week 16 FINAL PROJECT PRESENTATIONS