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(Previously Medical and Pharmaceutical Drug Innovation)
How can we make use of the immune system in order to target cancer? How does early life nutrition impact metabolic health in adulthood? How can microorganisms help fight against infectious diseases?
In this selective two-year master programme, research-minded students are trained to become the next generation of successful scientists in academia and private section environments. Students will be challenged with exciting cutting-edge research and methodologies and will learn how to critically read the literature, design novel research questions, translate hypotheses into testable research plans, and write scientific essays.
As a student you can focus on your interests and ambitions by participating in one of the following specializations after the first semester:
If you choose to study MMIT at the University of Groningen, this is what you can expect:
To get an impression of the courses offered, go to https://www.rug.nl/ocasys/rug/vak/showPos?opleiding=5147
Courses |
---|
Extension Research Project I or Elective course (5 EC) |
Introduction to Research Project I (2 EC) |
Research Project I (30 EC) |
Topclass I: Mechanisms of disease and innovative therapies (11 EC) |
Topclass II: Experimental techniques in research (9 EC) |
Topclass III: Fit for Practice (3 EC) |
To get an impression of the courses offered, go to https://www.rug.nl/ocasys/rug/vak/showPos?opleiding=5147
Courses |
---|
Elective courses (10 EC) |
Extension Research Project II or Elective course (5 EC) |
Introduction to Research Project II (2 EC) |
Research project II (30 EC) |
Topclass IV: Design of research projects (5 EC) |
Topclass V: Writing and defining your own PhD proposal (8 EC) |
40 hours of class and self-study per week on average
Embedded in both the University Medical Center Groningen and the Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, MMIT offers excellent facilities for (pharmaco)genomics, proteomics and in vivo(animal) and in vitro(cell) imaging. This direct interplay of the clinical, medical, and pharmaceutical sciences is what makes MMIT unique as well as the possibility to choose a specialization after the first semester. At the end of the second year, you will write and defend your own research proposal.
Programme options |
---|
Neuroscience (specialization) How do neurodevelopmental disorders arise and are they reversible? How is organismal or central nervous system ageing involved in neurodegenerative disorders? In this specialization, students will be exposed to a range of topics in the field of neurobiology, ranging from fundamental neurobiology, basic research, to more (pre)clinical translational research. We aim to unravel the (epi)genetics basis of the central nervous system (CNS) disease and the underlying cell biological defects in the context of various conditions and disorders are addressed in animals and humans. For detailed information on neuroscience-associated research, please go to the Department of Neuroscience and the Department of Cell Biology: http://neuroscience.umcg.nl/en/ http://cellbiology.umcg.nl For information and guidance on Neuroscience research, please contact the Neuroscience specialization coordinator dr. Bart Eggen (b.j.l.eggen umcg.nl). |
Oncology (specialization) How is cellular and/or organismal ageing involved in cancer development? What are the long-term adverse effects of treatment in cancer survivors and how can we prevent this? In this specialization, students will focus on a range of aspects in the field of cancer biology, spanning the entire scope from rather fundamental basic research to (pre)clinical translational research and ultimately clinical trials. We aim to unravel the molecular mechanisms that determine malignant transformation of solid and hematological tumors and to translate these fundamental insights into improved early detection and treatment of cancer. For detailed information on oncology-associated research, please go to the Cancer Research Center Groningen: https://www.umcg.nl/EN/Research/InstitutesProgrammes/CRCG/Programmes/Paginas/default.aspx For information and guidance on Oncology research, please contact the Oncology specialization coordinator prof. dr. J.J.Schuringa (j.j.schuringa umcg.nl). |
Infection and Immunity (specialization) What are the detrimental and beneficial roles of microorganisms in human health and disease? How can we exploit this knowledge in the prevention and fight against infectious diseases? In this specialization, students can unravel the mechanisms underlying immune-mediated chronic diseases by translation of basic immunological concepts into clinical practice (and vice versa). Students become involved in contributing to personalized and precision medicine for infectious and immune-mediated diseases. Students will address a wide variety of research topics ranging from the roles of microbes in the etiology of major autoimmune disorders to the genetics of celiac disease. For detailed information go to the Groningen University Institute for Drug Exploration, Microbes in Health and Disease. https://www.umcg.nl/EN/Research/InstitutesProgrammes/GUIDE/Paginas/default.aspx https://www.umcg.nl/EN/Research/InstitutesProgrammes/GUIDE/Programmes/Paginas/MHD.aspx |
Nutrition and Metabolism (specialization) Is every calorie the same? Does healthy obesity exist? Via which pathways does an unbalanced diet lead to diseases? What is the best nutrition during health and illness? The prevalence of metabolic disorders increases with age and changes in lifestyle. Metabolic disorders have a causal role in liver, digestive and cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and other age-related chronic diseases, and are therefore an important cause of morbidity. In this specialization, students are involved in basic and (pre)clinical translational research in the field of nutrition and metabolic diseases. Students learn to understand the physiological, pathophysiological, and developmental basis of metabolic diseases with the aim to identify interventional targets and to design new evidence-based strategies to prevent, treat or deal with the consequences of these diseases. For detailed information go to the Center for Liver, Digestive, and Metabolic Diseases and the Groningen Kidney Center. https://www.umcg.nl/EN/Research/InstitutesProgrammes/GUIDE/Programmes/Paginas/LiverDigestiveMetabolicDiseases.aspx https://www.umcg.nl/EN/Research/InstitutesProgrammes/GUIDE/Programmes/paginas/Khis.aspx For information and guidance on research within the UMCG and GRIP, contact the Medical Nutrition and Metabolic Disease specialization coordinator Dr. Janine Kruit (j.k.kruit umcg.nl). |
Systems Medicine (specialization) What is the central role that computational methods play in all biological and medical fields? Computational methods are as diverse as the questions and problems which they tackle. In this specialization, the students gain an overview of a broad spectrum of computational methods and strategies including top-down approaches to analyze and model genome scale data, and bottom up approaches to study the detailed dynamics of molecular networks, from basic biology to clinical studies. In doing so we will cover multi-scale data across the genome, transcriptome, proteome and metabolome. The needs and constraints for acquisition of quantitative data at all scales will be covered, as much as the differences in computational approaches used to analyze different data types. For detailed information go to the Section of Systems Medicine of Signaling and Metabolism: https://www.umcg.nl/EN/Research/Researchers/institutes_programmes/paginas/default.aspx For detailed information on bioinformatic and systems research and guidance on where to conduct your computational research of choice, contact the Medical Systems Biology and Bioinformatics specialization coordinator prof. dr. Kathrin Thedieck (k.thedieck umcg.nl). |
Drug Innovation (specialization) Are you interested in finding new and innovative drugs and therapies and do you wish to improve the use of existing drugs? The disciplines covered in this track circle around the theme: 'molecules for patients'. Students are encouraged to bridge the gap between the fundamental natural sciences (such as chemistry and physics) and the medical/clinical sciences in the field of medicinal products. This specialization contributes to the entire field of the pharmaceutical sciences, from basic areas such as chemical analysis and synthesis to pharmaceutical practice and patient-oriented research. Knowledge from different research disciplines is combined in the design and evaluation of optimal drugs, products and therapies that are being made available to society. Research in this specialization is of high societal impact with several drugs or related products developed in-house on the market or in clinical trials, several spin-offs, a strong portfolio of patents and research that contributes directly to healthcare policymaking. For detailed information go to the Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy: http://www.rug.nl/research/grip/ For information and guidance on Drug Innovation research, please contact the Drug Innovation specialization coordinator prof. dr. Frank Dekker (f.j.dekker rug.nl ). |
Students are encouraged to perform their second research proposal abroad, further enhancing their international experience. Previously students have done this at:
Study programme | Organization | Transition |
---|---|---|
Biomedische Wetenschappen | All Research universities | Additional requirements |
Pharmacy | All Research universities | Additional requirements |
Pharmaceutical Sciences | All Research universities | Additional requirements |
Life Science and Technology | All Research universities | Additional requirements |
Biology | All Research universities | Additional requirements |
Molecular Life Sciences | All Research universities | Additional requirements |
Study programme | Organization | Transition |
---|---|---|
Biology | University of Groningen | No additional requirements |
Pharmacy | University of Groningen | No additional requirements |
Life Science and Technology | University of Groningen | No additional requirements |
Medicine | University of Groningen | No additional requirements |
Specific requirements | More information |
---|---|
assessment interview |
The selection committee makes a first evaluation and decides which students will be invited for an interview. During the interview students will be asked to:
|
language test |
Students who hold a VWO level high school diploma including English, meet the English language requirements. |
reference letter |
Students will need to submit one academic reference. |
written request |
After you complete your application, the selection committee will assess whether your educational/academic background meets the specific programme requirements. If so, students are required to submit a letter of motivation and one letter of recommendation from an academic. After evaluating these documents, the selection committee decides whether a student is invited for an interview.
Please consult our detailed description of the application and selection procedure.
For enrollment, please note that you have to apply for the programme via Studielink. Students with a Dutch degree should, after applying via Studielink, send an email to mmit umcg.nl for further instructions about the application procedure.
Scholarships
The Graduate School of Medical Sciences offers scholarships to excellent non-EU/EEA students under the Abel Tasman Talent Program. You can read more about the scholarships here.
Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
---|---|---|
Dutch students | 01 May 2021 | 01 September 2021 |
01 May 2022 | 01 September 2022 | |
EU/EEA students | 01 May 2021 | 01 September 2021 |
01 May 2022 | 01 September 2022 | |
non-EU/EEA students | 01 March 2022 | 01 September 2022 |
Specific requirements | More information |
---|---|
assessment interview |
The selection committee makes a first evaluation and decides which students will be invited for an interview. During the interview students will be asked to:
|
language test |
Students must meet the English language requirements stated below:
Please note:
|
previous education |
Bachelor's degree in the fields of biology, pharmacy, life science and technology or (bio)medical sciences. |
reference letter |
One letter of recommendation from an academic must be submitted. |
written request | |
other admission requirements |
Non-EU students may apply for a scholarship for MMIT. The process of obtaining a scholarship is highly selective and non-EU students will need to indicate within their letter of motivation whether they depend on a scholarship in order to be able to enrol in MMIT or not. Furthermore it is wise to motivate why we should select you for a scholarship. |
Exam | Minimum score |
---|---|
C1 Advanced (formerly CAE) | C1 |
C2 Proficiency (formerly CPE) | C2 |
IELTS overall band | 6.5 |
TOEFL paper based | 580 |
TOEFL computer based | 237 |
TOEFL internet based | 92 |
After you complete your application, the selection committee will assess whether your educational/academic background meets the specific programme requirements. If so, students are required to submit a letter of motivation and one letter of recommendation from an academic. After evaluating these documents, the selection committee decides whether a student is invited for an interview.
Please consult our detailed description of the application and selection procedure.
For enrollment, please note that you have to apply for the programme via Studielink. Students with a Dutch degree should, after applying via Studielink, send an e-mail to mmit umcg.nl for further instructions about the application procedure.
If you are applying with a foreign (non-Dutch) degree, please finalize your application in our Online Application System. More information about which steps to take as an international student can be found here.
Scholarships
The Graduate School of Medical Sciences offers scholarships to excellent non-EU/EEA students under the Abel Tasman Talent Program. You can read more about the scholarships here.
Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
---|---|---|
Dutch students | 01 May 2021 | 01 September 2021 |
01 May 2022 | 01 September 2022 | |
EU/EEA students | 01 May 2021 | 01 September 2021 |
01 May 2022 | 01 September 2022 | |
non-EU/EEA students | 01 March 2022 | 01 September 2022 |
Nationality | Year | Fee | Programme form |
---|---|---|---|
EU/EEA | 2020-2021 | € 2143 | full-time |
non-EU/EEA | 2020-2021 | € 17500 | full-time |
EU/EEA | 2021-2022 | € 2168 | full-time |
non-EU/EEA | 2021-2022 | € 18500 | full-time |
Practical information for:
Upon completion of this programme you are fully prepared to become a successful scientist. Most graduates continue with PhD research. In fact, you will have the opportunity to obtain a PhD scholarship at the University Medical Center Groningen. Others find a PhD position at other prestigious universities or start to work as a scientist in industry or the private sector.
The educational programme has six specializations, which are associated with the research institutes of the UMCG. Each specialization covers the entire spectrum of the research process. At the end of the programme, students write their own grant proposal and the most successful proposals will be awarded funding to conduct their PhD research.
The six specializations are:.
Here's what our students say about their research projects during the MMIT programme:
Lisette van Os (21)
- ‘I chose somewhat of my own path within the master programme. While completing the bachelor Life science & technology I got intrigued by regenerative medicine, which deals with the self-healing of organs and cells. Ultimately, this led me to want to research the role that cells and the extracellular matrix play in the lung disease Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, or IPF.'
Wellington Candido (28)
- ‘I am focussing my research on kidney transplantations and the way we can decrease the damage that occurs when the kidney is outside of the body. That can run up to hours since donor organs can come from any one of the other European countries. As it is on its way to the receiving patient, the kidney starts to deteriorate. What is going on in that time in the cells?’
Jolanda Smit, programme director
- With the six different specializations, students are given freedom to focus on the fields of their interest. Each specialization will be presented at the beginning of the programme and students can decide if they want to participate in a specialization or follow a general programme. Students are assigned a mentor who helps them with decision making. Before students enter their first research project, they are asked to arrange a personal interview with three UMCG/GRIP professors of their choice. ‘That is where your motivation and independent decision making comes in again. You have to argue –via an oral presentation- which of the three laboratories suits your research ambitions the best.’
Read more'The right combination of proteins can save lives'
Lisette van Os (21) just finished her first year of the Molecular Medicine and Innovative Treatment (MMIT) master programme with top marks. Now she is ready for the next step. 'I'm going to California to research the forces and interactions between cells and proteins in fibrosis.'
The master student emphasises that she’s somewhat off the beaten track, considering that within the six specializations MMIT offers, her research does not exactly fit any of them. ‘I chose somewhat of my own path within the master programme. While completing the bachelor Life Science & Technology I got intrigued by regenerative medicine, which deals with the self-healing of organs and cells. Ultimately, this led me to want to research the role that cells and the extracellular matrix play in the lung disease Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, or IPF.'
Cells and health
Lisette explains: ‘This disease of the
respiratory system causes lung tissue to indurate, eventually
filling up the lungs until breathing is impossible. Modern science
doesn’t know what exactly causes IPF, only that the matrices
surrounding the cells cause them to overproduce proteins, which
form scar tissue. Ideally, we would discover a protein to influence
the disease so that the cells stay healthy and
supple.’
Pauline van Wachem-award
Her supervisor during the research projects is
Principal Investigator Janette Burgess, who is specialized in lung
disease and regenerative medicine. They already met during
Lisette’s bachelor years, and met again in the first period
of the master programme. She was the one that urged Lisette to send
in an abstract of her research for the annual congress of the Dutch
Matrix Biology Society. Not only was Lisette invited to speak to
researchers and PhD-students from all over the world, she was also
awarded best junior speaker.
California
‘I will continue the research, but expanded to
fibroses in general,’ Lisette states. Her visa for the United
States just came through. In November she starts working with
Elliot Botvinick, professor in Biomedical Engineering at the
university of California Irvine. ‘He has high tech
microscopes that can measure the forces and interactions between
cells and proteins.’
Choose your track
Does she have any advice for future MMIT students?
‘In the first semester the Principal Investigators introduce
the specializations and their specific research interests within
these specializations. Oncology, Neuroscience, Infection and
immunity, Nutrition and Metabolism, Systems Medicine, and Drug
Innovation. Choose the specialization that sparks your interest and
aspirations, or find a way to follow your interests outside of the
beaten paths. Being “specializationless” worked out
great for me.’
Read more'MMIT is in many ways science without borders'
Back home in Brazil, Wellington Candido studied Medicine. An exchange year led him to the Netherlands, where he spent most of his days in the laboratories of the University Medical Center Groningen. In 2016 he returned to participate in the top-master Molecular Medicine and Innovative Treatment (MMIT). 'I loved the days in the lab, it is fascinating what happens on a molecular level.'
The last couple of week were busy ones for the 28-year-old. ‘I have just started my second internship,’ Wellington says. ‘I am focussing my research on kidney transplantations and the way we can decrease the damage that occurs when the kidney is outside of the body. That can run up to hours, since donor organs can come from any one of the other European countries. As it is on its way to the receiving patient, the kidney starts to deteriorate. What is going on in that time in the cells?’
Science is team effort
This second-year research is one of the main components of the
master’s programme. Ultimately, it will lead to the student
writing a PhD-proposal. ‘The programme asks a lot of
self-study and hours in the lab. Ultimately, you learn how to be a
scientist. But,’ Wellington emphasizes, ‘you
don’t make science alone. During classes, students are
stimulated to be pro-active and to present their research methods,
facts and figures to top-researchers and fellow students. Everyone
thinks along, asks questions and offers a new perspective. Because
when you only take your own opinions in mind, chances are that your
research is too restricted.’
Molecules
The focus of the study is molecular biology and the unravelling of
the molecular mechanisms that determine health and illness. With
the internships, students are free to follow their aspirations,
even to perform the second research proposal abroad and further
enhancing their international experience. For the first internship
Wellington worked in the characterization of mutations in breast
and ovarian cancer. Currently he is doing his second project in the
Experimental Nephrology, about kidney transplantation. Wellington
chose to stay in the Netherlands since he is planning to combine
research with clinical work: ‘MMIT has definitely changed the
way I see and make science, and I will carry this with me in
whatever I do in my future.’
Some advice
‘Make sure you are willing to put in the time and
effort. In the online course descriptions you can read all the
information on each class and specialization. It is also important
to keep organized and look up what deadlines are coming. And if you
have any questions, the professors and other students are always
willing to help.’
Read more'You can only find this specific combination of (bio)medical and pharmaceutical sciences here'
Ambitious, motivated and talented: according to programme director Jolanda Smit, these words perfectly describe the students of the master programme of Molecular Medicine and Innovative Treatment (MMIT). 'The vast majority of our students aspire to an academic career and continue as a PhD student after graduation.'
Prof. dr. Smit is responsible for the content, organisation and quality of the master’s programme and its different specializations. ‘MMIT is embedded within the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) and the Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy (GRIP), combining (bio)medical and pharmaceutical sciences. Emphasis is on the field of (bio) medical sciences but students also learn the fundamentals of drug research. This unique combination allows students to not only obtain a thorough understanding of the mechanisms of diseases, but also gain an understanding into the development of novel innovative therapies.’
Research skills
The lectures are top-researchers from the UMCG and GRIP and teach
students all indispensable research skills for the future. From
critical reading and scientific writing to presenting, debating and
making well-thought decisions. ‘Crucial for future top
researchers is to be able to make decisions independently and in a
well-reasoned manner. Students are guided in every step of the
process,’ the professor says. ‘That way they learn to
ask critical questions before deliberating on the next step, to
formulate hypotheses and use these to perform experiments and
gather evidence. In my personal experience and that of the other
professors, there is nothing more fun than teaching MMIT students;
they are highly motivated and eager to learn.’
Which track to choose?
With the six different specializations, students are given freedom
to focus on the fields of their interest. Each specialization will
be presented at the beginning of the programme and students can
decide if they want to participate in a track or follow a general
programme. Students are assigned a mentor who helps them with
decision making. Before students enter their first research
project, they are asked to arrange a personal interview with three
UMCG/GRIP professors of their choice. ‘That is where your
motivation and independent decision making comes in again. You have
to argue –via an oral presentation- which of the three
laboratories suits your research ambitions the best.’ For the
second-year research project, students are encouraged to go abroad.
All the knowledge and skills that you have obtained culminate at
the end of the programme where students write and defend their own
research proposal. The best students will be offered a PhD
scholarship and have the ability to execute their own proposal.
This is quite unique and obviously lots of fun.’
Biologists, medics and pharmacists
Fact: MMIT students come from different cultural and educational
backgrounds. That shapes the master programme in a good way, prof.
dr Smit adds. ‘This year we have welcomed students of 14
nationalities and different bachelor degrees. Yet they form a
tight-knit community and learn a lot from each other. Looking at
issues from different perspectives, they complement and strengthen
each other’s knowledge.’
Some advice
‘Yes, we have a selection procedure but do not be intimidated
by this,’ prof. dr. Smit says. Students are screened on the
basis of their CV, motivation letter and a letter of
recommendation. Students that pass the requirements will be
interviewed by the Admission board. During this interview - either
in person or via Skype - applicants are asked to present a research
project from their BSc study and an article. ‘The pressure is
on, but just remember that you can prepare yourself well. Your
motivation and talent for research are most important. Show them
that you are a serious candidate.’
MMIT offers research minded students with diverse educational backgrounds a multidisciplinary teaching and research environment. Are you driven to become a top (bio)medical researcher? Do you like to solve problems and are you a creative thinker? Do you feel at home in an international setting? Then the ambitious master Molecular Medicine and Innovative Treatment is just the right programme for you!