MRC Doctoral Training Partnership in Biomedical Sciences - Programme in Biomedical & Translational Science

We are committed to the development of the next generation of biomedical scientists and research leaders. The close partnerships of King’s College London with outstanding Hospitals, Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, will ensure all students benefit from an understanding of the wider context of biomedical research, and produce scientists with a strong translational ethos.

The MRC DTP will:

◾Equip students with the intellectual and technical skills that are needed for the future of research, and complement this with key transferable skills (including public engagement, entrepreneurship and linking with industry)

◾Position students at the core of our scholarship in biomedical research, while delivering bespoke personal development to support the specific training needs of each individual

◾Ensure that students emerge from the programme as rigorous, well rounded and intellectually nimble scientists, prepared for their next career stage

Programme Core (Year 1)

All students will undertake a common ‘Core Research Skills’ training programme. This will focus on quantitative (including statistical) skills, identified both internally and externally as a key gap in current provisions, but will also cover research ethics and integrity, critical interpretation of literature and related topics. Taught elements early in the course will be reinforced by more applied workshops through the year.

Depending on the training pathway (1+3 or 0+3.5), students will undertake 5 or 8 skills-based modules (each typically 2-3 days). These will underpin specialised training in our priority research areas. The following are examples of skills modules available, and the options will be reviewed annually with staff and student input: Genetics/Genomics, Quantitative/Statistical Genetics, Biology & Ethics of Stems Cells, Optical Imaging, Mass Spectrometry, Computational Biology, Flow Cytometry, Experimental Neuroscience, Animal Models & Behaviour, Electrophysiology, Medical Imaging Sciences.

Public engagement/ science communication, entrepreneurship & commercialisation (years 2 to 4): students will be trained in these important facets of biomedical research (later in their PhD studies for maximum relevance).

• Training

The training of PhD students in the DTP is designed to meet the ambitions of the “Statement of Expectations for Postgraduate Training” published by the Research Councils, British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, and the Wellcome Trust. This statement defines expectations of the research organisation and also of students.

In essence the expectation is that we should provide exceptional training opportunities while students should manage and direct their research and, importantly, develop higher-level capabilities.