COURSE:

Microbiology of Cancer

A GRADUATE LEVEL CERTIFICATION TRAINING PROGRAM

Lectures, workshops & clinical case presentations designed for Master’s, PhD, PharmD, MBBS, MD students.

REGISTRATION OPENING SOON FOR THE FIRST LECTURE!

Lectures are hosted on Zoom, free to participants and begin
August 25, 2026, at 8:00AM EST/ 2:00PM CET/ 5:30PM IST

LIMITED SEATING FOR LECTURES SO EARLY REGISTRATION IS RECOMMENDED.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The objective is to deliver a microbial perspective of cancer.

By delving into the pathogenesis and epidemiology of cancers associated with microorganisms, molecular biology of the infective agents, screening tools and procedures, prevention and therapeutic approaches in clinical oncology involving both conventional and experimental strategies to treat these tumors.

There will be discussions of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) tools and models that are integral for connecting the microbiome with cancer onset, progression, and treatment response.

Curriculum Overview

Distinguished speakers will deliver lectures in this course. The lectures and clinical case presentations will be held remotely via Zoom.

Each talk is expected to be for 50-minutes with additional 10 minutes for Q&A.

MODULE ONE:
General Overview, Pathogenesis & Epidemiology

August 25, 2026
 - Course Objectives, Importance & Outline
- Oncogenic Viruses

September 1, 2026
- Microbe- induced Transformation and Oncogenesis
- Host-Pathogen Interaction (Immune Response/ Inflammation/Immune Editing to Cancer/Specific and Non-specific host defense mechanisms)

September 8, 2026
- Epidemiology of Cancer
- Role of Microbiome in cancer initiation, promotion & progression

MODULE TWO:
HPV and Cancer

September 22, 2026
 - Module Introduction
- Historical Perspective and Epidemiology of HPV

September 29, 2026
- HPV- mediated Oncogenesis & Host-Pathogen Interaction
- Invasive & Non-invasive Screening modalities for HPV

October 6, 2026
- Treatment of HPV associated Cancers, including Precision Management
- HPV Vaccination

Upcoming Modules: Role of HCV, HBV, EBV, other viruses, bacteria and microbiome in cancer.

Dates for online clinical case presentations and in-person Workshops will be announced later.

COURSE DETAILS

  • The course will comprise of:
    A foundational module providing a general overview of microbial pathogens and oncogenesis, their epidemiology and how their composition differs across various tissue sites, as well as their epidemiology, prevention, treatment, and control. Each subsequent module will be dedicated to an in-depth description of oncogenic viruses, such as Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), Hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV, HCV), and Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), and their contribution to cancer.

  • The curriculum will also cover:
    The role of bacteria such as Helicobacter pylori and other microbes, including the microbiome in cancer development, examining how microorganisms can alter the host’s immune system and influence the effectiveness of immunotherapies.

  • Additional concepts covered:
    Dysbiosis and the tumor microenvironment, as well as microbiome modulation by dietary modifications, probiotics, and microbiota transplantation and emerging microbe-based therapies involving oncolytic viruses and engineered bacteria will be covered.

  • Course modules include workshops, clinical case presentations, seminars by invited experts in the field and clinical case presentations.
    These varying modalities for learning allow the course participants to hear from clinicians involved in patient care and connect the concepts to clinical practice by bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application.

Have Questions?

Please get in touch through the contact form.

Course Copyright

The lectures are delivered online and remain the intellectual property of the faculty member who delivered them. Access is provided only to those who register for the course. Individuals enrolled in the course may use the original content for their learning and completion of course requirements. Course recordings may not be reproduced, shared with anyone, or uploaded to other online environments. Trainees are not permitted to re-record the video and audio recordings of the course material. Downloading, copying, photographing or distributing them is prohibited. Trainees registered for the course are expected to maintain the security of their internet accounts used to access the recorded course materials.