Trinity College Dublin and Eurolife Partners Launch New European Postgraduate Programme in Molecular Medicine

Posted on: 23 February 2009

The School of Medicine at Trinity College Dublin, in collaboration with its partners in the Eurolife Network of European Universities in Life Science launched an innovative European postgraduate programme in molecular medicine at Leiden University Medical Centre on February 16^th last.

The new Eurolife Joint Programme in Translational and Experimental Medicine (JPTEM) is a research driven programme for postgraduate students which will promote exchange between six prestigious European institutions, which are partners in the Eurolife Network. The participating institutions in the programme are:

• Trinity College Dublin , Ireland ; 
• University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom ;
• Leiden University Medical Centre, the Netherlands ;
• Karolinska Institutet, Sweden;
• University Medical Centre, Goettingen, Germany;
• Universitat de Barcelona , Spain .

TheEurolife JPTEM represents an innovative postgraduate research and training programme which provides students with the opportunity to perform part of their research for their postgraduate degree at Masters level at one of six premier European institutions. Through this initiative, postgraduate students are provided with a tailored programme and a unique teaching and learning experience, reflecting the strengths and the international nature of the partner institutions. In the initial phase of the JPTEM, postgraduate students will spend between three and six months at one of the Eurolife universities, performing a research project and taking specialised modules in areas of molecular medicine that will add to their range of expertise.

Members of the Eurolife Network of Universities at the launch of the Eurolife Joint Programme in Translational and Experimental Medicine, Leiden University Medical Centre

Launching the programme, Head of the School of Medicine at Trinity College Dublin and current Chairperson of Eurolife, Professor Dermot Kelleher said: “There is a significant need to produce graduates with the necessary skill set to understand the science associated with clinical medicine and implement it for better patient outcomes. This is achieved by providing scientists and doctors with high quality integrated training that allows them to develop in unison to become the future leaders in biomedicine.  This initiative, within the Eurolife Network of Universities, will enhance excellence in research across the partner institutions through the mobility created in a combined Masters programme“.

Welcoming the launch of the programme, the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Leiden University Medical Centre, Professor Eduard Klasen said: “This signing of an agreement for the exchange of masters students between Eurolife partners represents the first stage in a series of initiatives that will also underpin the development of joint  PhD programmes and academic exchange programmes between our partner institutions, thus providing a European benchmark that will benefit students, educators and researchers”.

“The JPTEM will provide postgraduate students with a unique experience, exposing them to the best research and training in high quality laboratories within premier European Institutions with significant reputation in life sciences research. It will allow students to add to their knowledge and expose them to new areas of excellence, while offering an international dimension to their research experience,” explained Chairperson of the JPTEM Committee, Professor Mark Lawler of TCD’s School of Medicine .

Notes to Editors

The School of Medicine at Trinity College Dublin has been competitive in postgraduate education and training at international level. This is exemplified by the commitment that has been made to education and training in molecular medicine.Molecular medicine is a key discipline for scientists and doctors aiming to pursue a career in the life and health sciences in the 21st century. Recognising this need, the School of Medicine at TCD has, over the last decade, developed a structured training programme in molecular medicine at diploma, MSc and PhD levels. The MSc in Molecular Medicine was founded in 1997 when it was the first of its type in Europe . It is a unique course on the Irish biomedical landscape, attracting medical doctors and scientists from around the world.