Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute

2022 Pediatric Cancer Nanocourse

Registration form heading

August 8-10, 2022 at the Portland area cc-TDI Lab

What is a nanocourse, anyway?


A nanocourse is a dynamic approach to teaching advanced scientific topics in a condensed fashion. Put simply: our nanocourse is a crash course in pediatric cancer. 

The goal of the Pediatric Cancer Nanocourse is to train members of the public to act as informed liaisons between childhood cancer researchers and the community. Features of the course will include:

  • A didactic overview of childhood cancer treatment, biology, pathology, and clinical trials
  • An introduction to the scientific research process: how research works, what barriers exist, and how to overcome challenges and make progress on rare childhood cancers
  • Lectures on EWSR1-related tumors including SEF (sclerosing epithelioid sarcoma) and MEC (myoepithelial carcinoma).
  • August 8 and 9 are MEC focused.
  • August 10 in SEF and MEC focused. 
  • Daily mentorship and hands-on opportunities to shadow our research scientists in the laboratory
  • A self-selected group research project, with the opportunity to collaborate with fellow participants 
  • The opportunity to build network of informed and empowered advocates who can drive the cure of rare cancers
Previous course members have had their findings published in the peer-reviewed scientific literature. There is no cost to attend the course, but participants are required to cover their own travel, lodging, and meals.  A virtual attendance by videoconference is possible, but we ask you be present for all presentations.  

We believe that liaisons like you are critical to speeding the development of new and effective treatments for rare pediatric cancers. We look forward to learning with and from youPlease contact scientific director Charles Keller, MD with questions at charles@cc-tdi.org.

Read published findings by our previous course graduates