Decisions and guidelines

The Master programme in Molecular Medicine has been established according to a decision taken by the Vice Chancellor at Uppsala University.

The general objectives stated in the Higher Education Ordinance for advanced level education applies.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen, from an internationally recognised university. The main field of study must be in biomedicine, medicine, pharmacy, engineering, biology, or a similar field of study that gives relevant knowledge in chemistry, biochemistry, cell and molecular biology and molecular genetics.

Also required is previous experience of laboratory work.

Language requirements

Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6. This requirement can be met either by achieving the required score on an internationally recognised test, or by previous upper secondary or university studies in some countries. Detailed instructions on how to provide evidence of your English proficiency are available at universityadmissions.se.

Aims

Theme of the programme

Genomic, Epigenomic and Proteomic Medicine

• Molecular mechanisms causing diseases
• Genetic, epigenomic and proteomic technologies, their use and applications
• Development of diagnostics and therapies in research, health care and industry

Overall objectives of the education

The Master programme aims to offer in-depth knowledge in molecular and cellular mechanisms causing diseases, including genetic and epigenetic factors. The students should demonstrate an ability to independently analyse and evaluate data or research results generated from current methods and techniques as well as practical experiences in methods for the development of novel molecular diagnostics and therapies with applications in research, health care and industry or other functions of research and development activities, emphasizing current technologies in the the field. The teaching is given at the frontiers of research in molecular medicine.

Learning outcomes

In addition to the general objectives stated in the Higher Education Ordinance, the student should have gained a deep theoretical knowledge within the field as well as advanced knowledge and practical experience of a large number of current techniques and methods used at the very frontiers of science.

With this knowledge the student should

• be able to independently formulate and process scientific questions within the field, both theoretically and practically. Through an advanced knowledge of novel techniques and methods the student should be able to apply and execute these on relevant problems.
• be able to independently and critically analyse as well as evaluate and compile relevant research findings both in writing, as reports or scientific articles, and in oral presentations.
• have acquired skills to individually plan and execute projects, at the same time be able to interact and collaborate in larger groups.
• have achieved an intellectual independence and maturity and to have gained solid knowledge and a significant insight into the current research, new methods and their possible applications as well as an insight into the method development within heath care and industry.

Layout of the programme

All courses are at an advanced level and are given entirely in English. The courses aims to provide both broaden and in-depth knowledge into the field molecular medicine as well as offer the student practical experiences of current and future techniques in diagnostics and therapies, of interest for research, health care and industry. The students are trained to independently approach scientific problems both theoretical and experimentally. The first year's courses are in most parts compulsory.

The first semester offers advanced knowledge in molecular and cellular mechanisms causing genetic diseases and cancer. A special emphasis is given to epigenetic mechanisms. Practical experience of methods to analyse genetic and epigenetic variation in clinical genetics, forensic medicine and cancer diagnostics. More in-depth knowledge of molecular medicine will be provided, focusing on relevant research problems approached in shorter laboratory projects, after which results are presented in a written article as well as in seminars.

The second semester offers in-depth knowledge of medical applications for new sequencing technologies, with emphasis on genetic and genome analysis, as well as epigenomics and comparative genomics, including practical experience of analysis of epigenetic drugs effect of chromatin and gene expression. Advanced knowledge in proteomics and current methods for protein analysis with practical application of the Human Proteome project (HPR). Diagnostics by detection of protein through "Proximity Ligation Assay" as well as methods for the identification of new biomarkers.

Year 2 includes education in bioimaging, discussing analysis and diagnostics using imaging methods, spanning from detection of single base pairs mutations to whole body analysis. The course "Regenerative medicine" provides in-depth knowledge about the new technologies in stem cell therapies as well as cell- and immune therapies. Generation of biomaterial to repair injured tissues or organs, i.e. Tissue engineering, will be discussed and in vitro differentiation of neuronal and myeloid stem cells will be performed experimentally. An elective period offers possibilities to select other relevant courses or to undertake a short independent research project, alternatively start a Master's degree project of 45 credits. Semester 4 comprises an independent Master's degree project of 30 credits, undertaken at an academic department, authority or in industry; in Sweden or abroad.

Instruction

The teaching is given in the form of lectures, seminars, demonstrations, web-based exercises, experimental and theoretical sessions as well as assignments, project work, site visits and symposia. The programme is taught entirely in English.

Participation in all scheduled activities is compulsory.

Degree

The programme leads to a Master of Medical Science (120 credits) with Molecular Medicine as the main field of study.