Medical Life Sciences

To lay the foundation for molecular disease research, Medical Life Sciences provides knowledge in human biology, pathology and systems biology. Genomic diagnostics, bioinformatics, medical statistics, molecular biology, clinical cell biology and human genetics make the interfaces between medicine and the sciences visible. Please note that you need bioinformatics, statistics and maths for everything you do in molecular disease research. Sound foundations in maths and statistics are essential. Evolutionary Medicine investigates how interrelations between humans and their environment have led to current disease susceptibility. Why do we suffer from chronic diseases? Why are certain genetic variants maintained in populations despite their disease risk?  Inflammation takes you into the molecular mechanisms of chronic inflammatory diseases, the causal network between inflammatory processes and disease, genetics and environment. Oncology leads you into molecular research of malignant diseases, the interplay of genetics and environment, cell biology of tumours and many other aspects. Experts in their fields guide you through lectures and seminars. Lab practicals and project work as well as the Master's thesis provide opportunities to be involved in research projects. Genomic diagnostics, bioinformatics and medical statistics revolve around programming to analyse big data. You choose electives that complement your focus area. Tracing Disease through Time looks at disease aetiology by analysing biomolecules, diets and pathogens in archaeological specimens. Imaging in medical research is also on the menu. MolOcular provides insights into disease mechanisms at a molecular level, focusing on the eye. Molecular Diagnostics, Tissue Engineering, Neurosciences, Epithelial Barrier Functions, Cardiovascular Epidemiology explore the interface between medicine and the sciences. Soft skills such as project management, career orientation and English scientific writing are integrated into the curriculum to prepare you for working life. For an overview of courses, examinations and credit points, check the information pages about the modules. First semester (summer semester): lectures in molecular biology, human biology, pathology, clinical manifestations of diseases, medical statistics, immunology, systems biology seminars in career orientation tutorials in medical statistics, molecular biology, systems biology practicals in human biology, molecular biology, clinical manifestations of diseases career day with guest speakers / alumni of MedLife to learn more about biomedical job perspectives, application training Second semester (winter semester): lectures in molecular pathology, bioinformatics, focus areas (inflammation / oncology / evolutionary medicine) and electives (tracing disease / imaging/MolOcular) seminars in genomic diagnostics, bioinformatics, English scientific writing, project management, focus areas and electives tutorials in bioinformatics lab practicals in genomic diagnostics, inflammation / oncology / evolutionary medicine Third semester (summer semester): lectures in your elective (tracing disease / imaging / MolOcular), human genetics, scientific studies and biobanking seminars in electives, English scientific writing, focus areas, scientific studies and biobanking lab project in focus areas seminars and "New Technologies in Biomedical Research" video workshop Fourth semester (winter semester): Master's thesis (no curricular classes scheduled, the entire fourth semester is reserved for working on the thesis) and Master's thesis presentation