Cardiovascular Science

Master

In Oxford

Price on request

Description

  • Type

    Master

  • Location

    Oxford

About the course
This DPhil programme is for basic science graduates who want to undertake advanced research into cardiovascular disease. The programme provides you with a solid grounding in the study of cardiac and vascular biology through the provision of taught courses, advanced level seminars and tutorials predominantly in the first year.

Facilities

Location

Start date

Oxford (Oxfordshire)
See map
Wellington Square, OX1 2JD

Start date

On request

Questions & Answers

Add your question

Our advisors and other users will be able to reply to you

Who would you like to address this question to?

Fill in your details to get a reply

We will only publish your name and question

Reviews

Subjects

  • Project
  • Biology
  • Supervisor
  • IT
  • School
  • Medical
  • Medical training

Course programme

You are provided with a co-ordinated programme of post-graduate teaching in your first year and the possibility of experiencing research in more than one laboratory. This is followed by a three-year research project, under the supervision of a named supervisor. You will gain a greater understanding of the cardiovascular research field and can bring a broader perspective to your research project than is possible under the standard three-year DPhil.

The taught components in the first year include attendance at final year undergraduate lectures in the following areas:

  • Option A: Pharmacology and signalling
  • Option B: Endocrinology and metabolism
  • Option C: Cardiovascular science
  • Option D: Molecular pathology
  • Option E: Development and disease
  • Option F: Infection
  • Option G: Immunity
  • Option H: Cellular neuroscience
  • Option I: Systems neuroscience
  • Option J: Cognitive and behavioural neuroscience

You may take first- and second-year BM courses in pathology, immunology, pharmacology and integrated systems physiology. You will have the opportunity to write an extended essay at the end of each period of advanced study.

You will have access to a wide range of training in generic research skills provided through seminars and short courses. Examples of the courses that may be available to you include:

  • proteomic methodologies
  • genomics and bioinformatics
  • confocal microscopy and image analysis
  • statistics and experimental design
  • information technology/computing skills
  • written and oral presentation skills
  • laboratory experience

In your first term of graduate study in Oxford you will attend a series of seven two-day mini-rotations where you will meet graduate students and principal investigators working in seven broad areas of areas of cardiovascular science:

  • atherosclerosis, diabetes and inflammation (academic lead Charis Antoniades)
  • cardiac biology and imaging (academic lead Manuela Zaccolo)
  • developmental biology and regenerative medicine (academic lead Nicola Smart)
  • endothelial cell and vascular biology (academic lead Kim Dora)
  • epidemiology, genetics and big data (academic lead Colin Baigent)
  • target discovery and therapeutics (academic lead Shoumo Bhattacharya)

Typically you will experience research in two laboratories during your first year mini-rotations, to expose you to techniques and research modalities. You will be expected to design and execute experimental protocols, critically appraise research methods and experimental results, and communicate research results and their implications to a wide audience.

You will be encouraged to develop DPhil projects that bridge the work of two separate laboratories or that involve two complementary experimental approaches. The first year of your graduate studies will be overseen by an academic mentor who will monitor your academic progress and be available to offer advice and support throughout the course of your graduate studies. The department aims for you to be associated with one host laboratory for the first nine months of your graduate studies under the supervision of a laboratory mentor who will ensure you receive appropriate training in laboratory methods and in planning, executing and analysing experiments.

You will attend graduate tutorials, to present your latest results and discuss a range of research methods as well as journal clubs where you can discuss papers directly relevant to current lab projects. These regular small group meetings and social interactions help foster a distinct cadre of graduate students who share a common interest in, and enthusiasm for, cardiovascular science.

From the second year onwards, you will spend the remainder of the programme carrying out a specific research project.

You are expected to attend regular lab meetings and take part in all departmental graduate student training and assessment sessions. Your first year is monitored by presentations on your laboratory rotations, typically in the ninth week of each term, ie three times in the first year.

Your progress in the laboratory will be monitored formally via supervisor feedback forms submitted three times per year. You will discuss the report with your supervisor and draw up a list of research goals for the next three or four months.

Supervision

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Medical Sciences Doctoral Training Centre, and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the Medical Sciences Doctoral Training Centre.

Applicants are advised to visit the course page on the centre's website for further information about supervisors associated with this course (see Further Information and Enquires).

Graduate destinations

The majority of the students that graduate from this scheme go on to undertake postdoctoral research in laboratories in the UK or overseas.

Changes to this course and your supervision

The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. In certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.

Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.

For further information, please see our page on changes to courses.

Other courses you may wish to consider

Applicants are strongly advised to visit the Medical Sciences Graduate School website to help them identify the most suitable course and supervisors.

If you're thinking about applying for this course, you may also wish to consider the courses listed below. These courses may have been suggested due to their similarity with this course, or because they are offered by the same department or faculty.

Courses suggested by the centre

Medical Sciences DPhil
Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics DPhil
Pharmacology DPhil
Molecular Cell Biology in Health and Disease DPhil
Clinical Medicine DPhil

All graduate courses offered by the Medical Sciences Doctoral Training Centre

Biomedical and Clinical Sciences DPhil

Cancer Science DPhil

Cardiovascular Science DPhil

Cellular Structural Biology DPhil

Chemistry in Cells: New Technologies to Probe Complex Biology and Medicine DPhil

Computational Discovery DPhil

Genomic Medicine and Statistics DPhil

Ion Channels and Membrane Transport in Health and Disease (OXION) DPhil

Neuroscience combined MSc and DPhil

Next
Entry requirements

Cardiovascular Science

Price on request