Physicians for science

Something new in medical studies: from October onwards students of human medicine in Münster can gain an additional qualification for biomedical research. Now the new master’s degree course in “Experimental Medicine” was accredited at the Faculty of Medicine of Münster University. “In Germany this is unique,” says Prof. Rupert Hallmann, one of the coordinators of the course and a member of the Cells-in-Motion Cluster of Excellence (CiM), “that medical students are trained in a recognized degree course and, at the same time, are introduced to experimental basic science.” The Cluster of Excellence is one of the principal elements of the course, with its working groups making a large contribution to the teaching done at the Medical Faculty.

In setting up the master’s degree course the initiators are responding to the increasing demand for well-trained physicians who can undertake experimental research work. Traditional physicians often consult natural scientists for basic research. However, each group of experts works from different perspectives: biologists carry out research, for example, into how cells and pathogens are structured. Physicians use the results to draw up therapies for their patients. “Our overriding aim is to train specialists who speak both languages,” explains Rupert Hallmann.

In the new course students learn how they can meaningfully incorporate methods and findings from biomedical basic research into clinical practice. They focus on building up scientific experiments and dealing with research questions in the laboratory. “What we want to do with the master’s course is incorporate into the study of human medicine even more elements slanted towards natural sciences,” says Prof. Wilhelm Schmitz, Dean of the Medical Faculty at Münster University.

Both doctors and patients will benefit from this training in later hospital life – for example, when certain methods of treatment have to be aligned with the personal requirements of patients. Rupert Hallmann is certain that “individualized medicine can only function by means of basic research.” Potential employers of such highly qualified students are likely to be not only larger hospitals and research institutes, but also industrial companies which carry out research. “We are sure that there will be a big demand for graduates,” says Prof. Ulrich Mußhoff from the Institute of Training and Study Matters. Mußhoff, Rupert Hallmann and biologist Dr. Sarah Eligehausen form the team of coordinators of the degree course.

Another special feature of the programme is that the basic experimental training begins parallel to the conventional degree course in human medicine, with the six-semester “Junior Class”. The first cohort started in the summer of 2015. In every semester up to 15 new students are added. Anyone who has completed the Junior Class can apply to enrol for the accredited Master of Science course. One further requirement for enrolling is the second state examination in human medicine. For the master’s course there are also up to 15 places per semester.

The content of the master’s course is geared strongly towards the research foci of the Faculty of Medicine. Students deal with biomedical research questions using a traditional scientific approach. For example, they observe mechanisms of cell behaviour in model organisms, or look to see how inflammations and tumours develop. In addition they carry out experiments on questions of molecular cell and developmental biology. Anyone who has gained their master’s degree in “Experimental Medicine” can apply for a place in a graduate school to work towards a PhD in natural sciences.

The initiators first had the idea for the course as far back as 2011, when they made the application for the Cells-in-Motion Cluster of Excellence. The reason was that one of the overriding aims of the Cluster is the transfer of the results of experimental research into hospital practice. This makes the new degree course part of the structural changes which the Cluster of Excellence is designed to achieve at Münster University. Students are already enthusiastically embracing the new course.