Certificate of Advanced studies in Lung Cancer (CASLu)

Overview

Collaborating university: University of Zurich

The Certificate of Advanced Studies in Lung cancer (CASLu) was launched in 2018 and is the first competence programme which focuses on both the clinical and the scientific competence of improving quality in the management of patients with lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies.

This programme, which is offered on a part-time basis over 14 months, is divided into three attendance seminars and four online modules.

Upon successful completion of the programme, participants will obtain an academic certificate issued by the University of Zurich assigning 14 European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System Points (ECTS), equalling a work load of 420 hours, and a diploma supplement by the University of Zurich.

Curriculum

Download full CASLu curriculum here

	Seminar 1	Module 1	Module 2	Seminar 2	Module 3	Module 4	Seminar 3	Total
Timeline	2021 24-27 March	2021 Apr/ mid-Jul	2021 mid-Jul/ mid-Oct	2021 17-21 Sept	2021-22 Nov/ Jan 2022	2022 Jan/mid -April	2022 23-26 May	14 months
Content	Reading materials (5 hrs) + CASLu course (4 hrs) + ELCC (VIRTUAL) (21 hrs)	Epidemiology, prevention, biology and pathology of lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies	Principles of lung cancer research	Reading materials (5 hrs) + CASLu course (2 hrs) + Selected sessions of the ESMO Congress (VIRTUAL) (23 hrs)	Principles of NSCLC diagnosis and treatment	Principles of treatment of SCLC, MPM, thymoma & thymic cancer	Pre-seminar preparation of a clinical case presentation (5 hrs) + CASLu course Zurich, CH including final exam (25 hrs)
Workload	25 hrs in-person + 5 hrs reading materials	26 units 78 hrs Distance learning + test	24 units 72 hrs Distance learning + test	25 hrs in-person + 5 hrs reading materials	30 units 90 hrs Distance learning + test	30 units 90 hrs Distance learning + test	25 hrs in-person + 5 hrs preparation of a clinical case incl. certificate exam	90 hrs seminars + 330 hrs distance l. 420 hrs
Credits	1 ECTS	5 ECTS		1 ECTS	3 ECTS	3 ECTS	1 ECTS	14ECTS

Admission and Eligibility

Admission

Admission to the Certificate of Advanced Studies in Lung Cancer is by competitive application only and the selection will be based on the eligibility criteria and on the selection procedure.

Applications will be considered if received completed with all required documents and within the deadline. Attendance is limited to 25 participants.

The following documents are to be included in the application:

•	Curriculum vitae outlining previous education and professional experience
•	Copy of Master degree or equivalent degree in medicine or natural sciences or any other study programme covering the same contents
•	The above document should be submitted as a certified English translation
•	Copy of transcript of records of the examinations taken during the Master degree programme
•	The above document should be submitted as a certified English translation
•	If the point above is not applicable, record of all study achievements and examination results obtained in the course of studies until the application deadline
•	Employment verification/reference letters accounting for professional experience in oncology
•	Personal statement, which explains why you believe you are eligible for this programme and how and why it will further support your intended career
•	Supporting documents to verify additional qualifications

Attendance

To obtain the Certificate of Advanced Studies in Lung Cancer, a participant has earned at least 14 ECTS credits. Active participation is required.

Eligibility

The programme is designed for medical doctors (medical oncology, radiation oncology, thoracic surgery, radiology, nuclear medicine, pathology), but it is equally accessible to graduates in natural sciences, who are engaged in the field of oncology, especially in the field of thoracic malignancies.

Medical Doctors:
Master degree from an accredited college or university [1] in medicine or an equivalent degree at the level of state examination in medicine and have had at least two years' residency training in a relevant institution.

Natural Scientists:
Master Degree from an accredited college or university in a course of studies in natural sciences or an equivalent degree at the level of at least three years of studies or in a course of studies with essentially the same contents [2] at an accredited college or university and at least two years of professional experience in oncology.

The following additional achievements will increase the assessment rate of the application:

Further professional experience related to the course of studies
Completion of an additional qualification in oncology (specialist training as a physician or international equivalent, e.g., board certified oncologist)
Publications, as evidenced by cumulative impact factors greater than 10
At least one year of relevant oncological experience in a foreign country

(1) e.g. State examination in medicine
(2) Examples of courses of study with essentially the same contents are biology, molecular medicine, biochemistry and pharmacology (state examination)

Application

This programme takes place every two years and the 2021/2022 edition of this programme is already underway.

The next cohort will take place from 2023/2024, with applications opening in summer 2022.

Tuitition Fee

The tuition fee is EUR 5,400. A discounted fee of EUR 3,000 is implemented and made available to participants from low, lower middle and upper middle-income economies as defined by The World Bank.

The tuition fee includes access to seminars, modules, materials and exams as foreseen by the programme as well as accommodation, lunches and coffee breaks during the seminars. The tuition fee does not include travel to the seminars.

The fee will be payable to the University of Zurich in two deposits representing the 50% of the total fee.

Editorial Board

Chairs

Alessandra Curioni, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland
Enriqueta Felip, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
Matthias Guckenberger, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
Rolf A. Stahel, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland

Module Scientific Directors

Module 1:

Keith Kerr, UMS Aberdeen, UK
Lukas Bubendorf, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland

Module 2:

Christian Britschgi, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland
Solange Peters, CHUV Lausanne, Switzerland

Module 3:

Isabelle Schmitt-Opitz, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland
Suresh Senan, VU Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Module 4:

Alessandra Curioni, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland
Martin Früh, St. Gallen Cantonal Hospital, Switzerland

Conceptual Development and Organisation

Moira Marzo, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland
Alexandra Zampetti, ESO Bellinzona, Switzerland