From Theory to Practice: IICD Workshop Series organized by the Irving Institute for Cancer Dynamics offers Columbia graduate students and postdoctoral scholars the opportunity to build research skills in a focused, hands-on setting. Each 3/4 hour in-person workshop covers a different topic and is led by IICD faculty, research scientists, or postdoctoral instructors. Limited to 15 participants, these interactive sessions combine concise lectures with practical exercises so participants can apply concepts immediately using current tools and methods.
Website: https://cancerdynamics.columbia.edu/iicd-workshops
Eligibility
Open to Columbia researchers only. Research scientists, postdoctoral research scientists, PhD/MSc students, and research staff are welcome to attend.
Registration Policy
Workshops take place in person and registration is first-come, first-served, limited to 15 participants. By registering, you agree to attend the workshop in full. If you can no longer participate, please email [email protected] as soon as possible so your spot can be offered to someone on the waiting list. Please register only if you are certain you can attend.
Upcoming Workshop: "From Theory to Practice: IICD Workshop Series – Inferring Cancer Clonality from DNA" (October 28, 2026 | 1-4 pm)
Instructor: Khanh Dinh, PhD
Outline: Intra-tumor heterogeneity (ITH) remains one of the most consequential biomarkers for cancer patient outcome. However, estimating ITH from single DNA samples remains challenging, due to the existence of subclones with similar frequencies and other confounders. We will review and experiment with existing genomic clustering software and compare them against DECODE, a method we recently introduced that additionally recovers the mode of ongoing tumor expansion.
Audience and Requirements: PhD students, postdocs, ARS with basic command of R and interest in DNA data analysis.
Key Learning Outcomes:
- Basics of population genetics
- Mutation clustering
- Bayesian inference and model selection
- Intra-tumor heterogeneity and implications in patient outcome
Workshop Agenda:
- Intra-tumor heterogeneity (ITH) and its impact on patient outcome
- Site Frequency Spectrum (SFS) and mutation clustering
- Review and experiment with existing mutation clustering methods
- Population genetics and characteristics of the neutral tail in the SFS
- Review and experiment with MOBSTER and DECODE
Registration Deadline: October 25, 2026
Registration Link: Registration will open soon.
