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Module Handbook
Heidelberg University
Medical Faculty Mannheim
Master of Science “Translational Medical Research”
Period of Study: Two semesters full time; yearly intake (winter term)
Type of Study: consecutive; research oriented
Start: Sept. 2009/
Areas of Study: Molecular Biology; Clinical Research
Location: Medical Faculty Mannheim/ UMM
ECTS-credits: 60
Modules: 4 teaching modules plus a research/thesis module
Target Group: Graduates in health sciences/life sciences with 1st degree equivalent
to 240 ECTS
Latest revision: 26.06. 2017
Index
Index ........................................................................................................................... 2
Quality objectives and overview .............................................................................. 3
Overview of the programme ..................................................................................... 6
Module 1 ..................................................................................................................... 7
Module 2 ..................................................................................................................... 9
Module 3 ................................................................................................................... 10
Module 4 ................................................................................................................... 12
Module 5
TMR
Module 5
IMIM
Study chart ............................................................................................................... 17
can apply their thorough knowledge about the principles of translational research
techniques to a broad range of medical questions.
They have acquired the ability to
write a review article, create a research proposal and evaluate proposals from others.
present and defend their research orally with a variety of different media
independently formulate research projects in translational medicine, including identifying
the research question, the methodology for its solution, and the impact of the results at a
practice and policy level.
autonomously work on a specific research project in a laboratory or clinical setting and
participate actively in lab routines such as journal clubs, progress reports and academic
discussion.
In all of the above topics students have a deepened knowledge in the areas from which they
have chosen practical courses.
MSc TMR graduates have a clear appreciation of the interdisciplinary action needed and the
competence to communicate in such a way as to bridge the gap between basic science and
clinical research, diagnosis and therapy.
Trans- and Multidisciplinary qualification objectives
Graduates of the MSc in Translational Medical Research (TMR) have the ability to:
Acquire knowledge independently and apply this knowledge in practical situations
Seek, process and critically analyze information from different sources in order to
develop innovative and creative solutions to research problems
Write research proposals and review articles that demonstrate independent thinking
Communicate questions and findings with others in their field as well as in an
interdisciplinary setting using a variety of media
Select the relevant practical tools to answer research questions and work with these
tools in a collaborative setting
Design and manage projects
Work in an international, multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary team, actively
participating in discussion
Provide, accept and consider constructive criticism
Graduates have also gained awareness of relevant international health issues and have
developed an overview of the key players involved in the global field of health.
3. Possible career options
There are a broad and high range of employment opportunities in academia and industry for
the students successfully completing the translational medical research programme. Progress
in diagnosis and therapy in medicine, in particular concerning diseases such as cancer,
vascular disorders, or nervous system disorders, are no longer achievable without the
competent integration of know-how and knowledge at the levels of molecular biology,
systems biology and clinical pathophysiology. Additionally, when it comes to developing a
new diagnostic tool or therapeutic from the bench to the clinical application, the students
graduating from the MSc in Translational Medical Research programme will have decisive
advantages over students qualified in classical study tracks such as biology, engineering or
medicine. Therefore our graduates have good perspectives both in academia as well as in
industry. They are well-prepared to continue with an MD or PhD programme in a basic or
applied research or clinical setting. Qualified researchers with at least a Masters degree are
also needed in other areas e.g. for validation of translational safety biomarkers, surrogate
markers for vascular endpoints, pain research, new tools for the development of novel
therapies in psychiatric disorders and neurodegenerative diseases etc.
Examples for employers in academia include Universities, biomedical research organizations
such as those found in the Helmholtz Gemeinschaft, Blaue Liste institutions and Max-Planck
institutes. Examples in the pharmaceutical industry include Bayer Schering, Merck, Roche,
Sanofi Aventis, Novartis and many more. Similar openings are available to TMR graduates in
academic and industrial research organizations abroad.
4. The International Master in Innovative Medicine
A small number of students from the EACEA-supported Erasmus Mundus Joint Master
Degree “International Master in Innovative Medicine” (IMIM) study the two semesters of the
TMR programme as their first two semesters of a 120 ECTS (four semester) international
masters programme. After relocating to Uppsala Universitet (Sweden) or Rijksuniversiteit
Groningen (The Netherlands) for semesters three and four and finishing their master thesis
work and master thesis, they will receive a double degree from the respective universities that
they studied at. This track is only open to students who have applied for and have been
accepted to the international programme “IMIM” at the main partner, Rijksuniversiteit
Groningen. For details of IMIM, please see https://www.innovativemedicine.eu/ and the
specific handbooks of this study programme. Differences in the study tracks are detailed
below.
Module
Number
Module 1
Module Title
The biological basis of disease
ECTS Credits
Student Investment Time (SIT)
240 hours
Teaching-Learning Activities (TLA)
Module
Offered
Annually in
September/
October
Duration
Five weeks
Lectures, seminars,
workshops & tutorials
Lectures, workshops, presentations, tutorials
and a practical laboratory course to provide
theoretical and methodological foundations.
Self-study time includes the time required to
prepare for and complete all module
assessments and to write an essay in the form
of a review article.
Practical courses 50
Self-study 100
Topics Covered/
Courses
Compulsory courses:
1.1 Scientific key competences:
Literature research, critical paper reading and scientific ethics
Presentation skills workshop
Review writing
1
1.2 Advanced laboratory methods:
Hands-on lab course in which students learn and practice laboratory methods and write protocols about
them.
1.3 Cellular and molecular basis of disease processes
The course provides an overview of general disease processes. The main focus is on the identification
and understanding of alterations in biological pathways and processes responsible for a certain disorder
as well as on biological pathways associated with certain diseases.
1.4 Disease processes lab (compulsory elective course)
Laboratory course in small groups: students choose from a variety of topics from molecular oncology,
neurobiology, vascular medicine and others
1.5 Biostatistics 1
Statistical methods specific for laboratory research. Tutorials will provide the necessary practical
support for the students as they begin to use the various statistical methods. Topics include statistical
analysis, processing of selected examples with SAS, , demonstration of examples via e-learning
1
Review writing:
The course provides students with an opportunity to perform literature research around a timely topic in
translational research, then to write an extended essay in the form of a referenced review article (length
around 3000 words). The essay should give an overview of the field in question, but also give more detail
about research results in a subsection of the field. The experimental evidence supporting important
conclusions should be discussed. The essays will be judged according to the following scheme: Presentation
and organization of the essay (including use of figures), understanding of the subject, completeness of the
overview, detail and discussion of experimental evidence, use of literature, analysis of what the literature
means/open questions remaining to be answered.
Learning
Outcomes
On completing the module students:
(1) Understand the basis of good scientific practice and ethics
(2) Independently research and critically evaluate scientific literature
(3) Autonomously write a scientific review article
(4) Deliver oral presentations independently with a variety of media
(5) Understand and reproduce the basis and functions as well as the latest research of disease-relevant
molecular and cellular biology
(6) Understand the cellular and molecular basis of disease processes.
(7) Identify and analyse the possible cellular or molecular reason for a certain disease, and summarize and
present their conclusions in small teams.
(8) Similarly, identify and analyse the possible diseases that can arise from a molecular or cellular
malfunction, and summarize and present their conclusions in small teams.
(9) Handle basic molecular laboratory techniques.
(10) Decide what should be included in a laboratory protocol and formulate such a protocol independently.
(11) Determine which laboratory methods should be used for a certain research question related to the
biological basis of disease and apply them in a laboratory setting of their choice from one of the
Medical Faculty’s foci.
(12) Choose the appropriate biostatistical method for a laboratory experiment, apply it and interpret the
result
Prerequisites
Basic laboratory skills
Basic principles of molecular biology and biochemistry and basic principles of clinical medicine
Basics of literature research, critical paper reading and writing
Useful Prior
Knowledge
See above
Assessment
Methods
Students’ achievement of the learning outcomes of the module will be assessed through a combination of:
extended essay grade, assessment of laboratory protocols for the practical course 1.2, colloquia for other
courses and examinations of theoretical content in the exam weeks at the end of module 3.
Registration
Requirements
Enrolment in the M.Sc. programme Translational Medical Research
Module
classification
To be taken in semester one of TMR, prerequisite for Module 2
Module
Number
Module 3
Module Title
Research in practice
ECTS Credits
Student Investment Time (SIT)
300 hours
Teaching-Learning Activities (TLA)
Course Offered
Annually from
November until
December. Course
3.2 extends until
February for TMR
students and is done
during the summer
term by IMIM
students
Duration
5 weeks (up to 1 4
weeks for extended
project 3.2)
Lectures, seminars,
workshops & tutorials
Individual practical project to
experience hands-on experience in the
laboratory supplemented with
theoretical background. Individual
research proposal-writing and -
reviewing project. Self-study time
includes the time required to prepare
for and complete all course
assessments.
Practical courses 20
Self-study 270
Topics Covered/
Courses
Compulsory courses:
3.1 Individual laboratory research project (6 ECTS)
Over a five-week period each student will be embedded in a research laboratory and will undertake a project
of relevance to the ongoing work in that laboratory. Results will be presented with different methods
3.2 Research proposal project (4 ECTS)
In course 3.2, project planning, research proposal writing and evaluation, over a 14-week period, the students
will have to carry out the following tasks in a long-term project that will develop a variety of soft skills:
(i) define a meaningful interdisciplinary translational research health problem
(ii) discuss the research problem with an interdisciplinary team
(iii) write a research proposal to address the identified health problem
(iv) review the completed research applications of other students
(v) improve the research proposal taking the review into account and write a rebuttal to the review
These tasks will be supported by lectures and tutorials.
At the beginning of the programme students have been presented with documentation about the research
interests of potential future thesis supervisors. The students can choose one of these topics (or one that they
have defined themselves) and develop their research proposal as the basis of their future Masters thesis
(TMR) or research internship (IMIM).
1
1
TMR students have to finish their research proposal during semester 1, IMIM students postpone the proposal to
semester two due to other IMIM specific obligations in semester one (BBB1 and Spring School). The research
proposal is equivalent to the IMIM BBB2 module.
Learning
Outcomes
On completing the module students:
(1) Independently work on a small research project (five weeks) in a research laboratory or clinical setting,
handle the relevant laboratory methods and summarize their project in a written protocol/ small research
report.
(2) Actively interact with the research group they are working in, usually in an international and
interdisciplinary environment
(3) Present and explain their research project using a variety of techniques (written, oral)
(4) Discuss their and others’ research project/s within a group of peers and give constructive feedback on
topics in similar and other research fields
(5) Independently research all relevant information for writing a practice research proposal to support their
research work and write such a proposal
(6) Understand research proposals written by their peers and independently research all relevant information
to constructively review other’s research proposals
(7) Create a written review of other’s research proposals
(8) Receive constructive written criticism from their peers
(9) Improve their research proposal while taking the criticism of their peers into account and write a rebuttal
to the criticism
Prerequisites Participation in Modules 1 and 2
Useful Prior
Knowledge
Basics of literature research, critical paper reading and writing
Presentation skills
Laboratory methods
Assessment
Methods
Students’ achievement of the learning outcomes of the course will be assessed through a written protocol
describing the experiments, the rationale behind them and some background information of an individual
five-week laboratory research project (3.1) and the evaluation of a written research proposal, written review
and rebuttal of the reviewer’s criticism (3.2)
Registration
Requirements
Enrolment in the M.Sc. programme Translational Medical Research
Module
classification
To be taken in semester one of TMR or two of IMIM
Prerequisites Participation in Modules 1 – 2 and course 3.
Useful Prior
Knowledge
Laboratory methods
Biological basis of disease
Current challenges in diagnosis and therapy
Assessment
Methods
Students’ achievement of the learning outcomes of the course will be assessed through a combination of
colloquia and evaluation of examinations of theoretical content at the end of module 4
Registration
Requirements
Enrolment in the M.Sc. programme Translational Medical Research
Module
classification
To be taken in semester one of TMR, prerequisite for Module 5
Module
Number
Module
5 TMR
(TMR students
only)
Course Title
Master thesis research project with written master thesis
and oral presentation
ECTS Credits
Student Investment Time (SIT)
900 hours
Teaching-Learning Activities (TLA)
Module
Offered
continually
Duration
Five to seven
months
Lectures, seminars,
workshops & tutorials
Individually supervised research project Practical courses N. A.
Self-study 840
Topics
Covered
Defined on an individual basis
Parts
TMR
.1 Master thesis research and writing
TMR
.2 Master thesis presentation and defence
Learning
Outcomes
On completing the module students:
- Independently research and evaluate the quality of a research group and interview the PI/project supervisor
to determine if the research fits with their interests and career management
- Formulate a research project in translational medicine and identify the methodology for the solution of the
research question in collaboration with their supervisor
Autonomously work on a specific research project in a laboratory, industry or clinical setting
Participate actively in lab routines such as journal clubs, progress reports and academic discussion.
Acquire knowledge independently and apply this knowledge in practical situations
Seek, process and critically analyze information from different sources in order to develop innovative and
creative solutions to research problems
- Communicate questions and findings with others in their field as well as in an interdisciplinary setting
using a variety of media
- Select the relevant practical tools to answer research questions and work with these tools in a collaborative
setting
Design and manage projects
Work in an international, multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary team, actively participating in discussion
Provide, accept and consider constructive criticism
Write a detailed scientific manuscript in form of a thesis
Present and defend scientific information
Demonstrate their assimilation and critical reflexion of the topics covered in the Masters degree course
“Translational Medical Research”
Prerequisites Participation in Modules 1 - 4 Successful passing of examinations in the TMR course of at least 30 ECTS
Useful Prior
Knowledge
Laboratory research experience
Recommended
literature
Individually defined according to research project and supervisor
Assessment
Methods
The students’ progress and development will be monitored through a combination of:
Evaluation of written master thesis, individual supervision, results obtained in informal lab meetings and final
presentation of the research project.
Registration
Requirements
Enrolment in the M.Sc. programme Translational Medical Research
Module
classification
Usually taken in semester two of TMR, prerequisite for course graduation
Prerequisites
Participation in Modules 1-2 and 4, and course 3.1. Successful passing of examinations in the TMR course
of at least 26 ECTS
Useful Prior
Knowledge
Laboratory research experience
Recommended
literature
Individually defined according to research project and supervisor
Assessment
Methods
The students’ progress and development will be monitored through a combination of:
Evaluation of written report of 5IMIM.1 and presentation during 5IMIM.2. Evaluation of written experimental
protocols and experimental results as well as written report, individual supervision, results obtained in informal
lab meetings and final presentation of the research project (5IMIM.3).
Registration
Requirements
Enrolment in the M.Sc. programme Translational Medical Research and IMIM
Module
classification
Compulsory course for semester two of IMIM, includes semester one BBB1 and IMIM Spring School
Study chart
Module 1
Module 2
Module 3
Module 4
Module 5
Research lab can be done in
a laboratory of choice, also
outside the University.
Research project and writing
can be performed in a
laboratory of choice, also
outside the University
and/or abroad.
Semester 1
Semester
2
