Translational Medical Research is research conducted at the frontiers between the bench (lab-based experiments), the bedside (clinical research and patient management) and the healthcare system (broad implementation and health economics) with the aim of improving the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease. Innovation, entrepreneurship and commercialisation play a key role in effective Translational Medical Research.

The Master’s degree programme in Translational Medical Research (TMR) focusses on the transfer of knowledge derived from basic molecular and cellular research into new approaches for the diagnosis and therapy of disease, and on the translation of unmet clinical needs into basic research questions that can be addressed through experiments. The importance of innovation and entrepreneurship for effective translation is also addressed. Accordingly, the Master’s degree programme provides students in the interdisciplinary field of translational medical research with the knowledge and skills necessary to participate in research at the frontiers between fundamental laboratory-based experimentation, clinical research and commercial exploitation.

Besides the “national track” of TMR which is currently a 1-year programme (60 ECTS), TMR can be taken as part of the EU-funded Erasmus Joint Masters (EMJM) programme “International Master in Innovative Medicine” (IMIM), a 2-year programme (120 ECTS). For the IMIM programme, scholarships are available for some students, and – in contrast to the national track of TMR – a bachelor degree of 180 ECTS or equivalent is sufficient as prerequisite.

For further information, please consult the website www.innovativemedicine.eu

Graduates of the Master’s degree programme in Translational Medical Research ...

• have a thorough understanding of disease processes at the molecular and cellular levels, and possess up-to-date knowledge of the latest research in the fields of molecular and cellular biology relating to medical disorders.
• have comprehensive knowledge of clinical study design, drug development, ethical issues and formalities relating to medical research, and of the cutting-edge methods and current problems in the diagnosis and therapy of medical disorders.
• have an understanding of the players involved in the translational process, and how intellectual property can be protected and commercialised, for example in a start-up company.
• are able to apply knowledge about the principles of translational research techniques to a broad range of medical questions.

They have acquired the ability to ...

• write review articles, create a research proposal and evaluate proposals from others.
• present and defend their research orally using a variety of different media.
• independently formulate research projects in translational medicine, including identification of a research question, development of a methodology for its solution, and analysis of the impact of results on practice and policy.
• work autonomously on a specific research project in a laboratory or clinical setting and participate actively in lab routines such as journal clubs, progress reports and academic discussions.

The Master’s degree programme in Translational Medical Research is a one-year programme which consists of two semesters of study. Courses start immediately on September 1.

TMR students can perform their Master thesis work locally or in an academic group or company elsewhere, as long as the topic and content is suitable (semester 2). Additionally, there is a bilateral agreement in the context of the Erasmus+ programme with the University of Naples, Italy (Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II) where students can spend up to 9 months taking courses in the programme “MSc in Medical Biotechnologies”. Early application and Italian language skills at B1 level are recommended.

Students from both the University of Naples (Italy) and Anhui Medical University (AMU) profit from cooperation agreements with the Medical Faculty Mannheim and can join the TMR programme if they are suitable candidates.

TMR Students which are part of the IMIM programme have to spend a 2^nd year in one of the partner universities (University of Groningen, The Netherlands; University of Uppsala, Sweden), and can in addition select to spend an internship at one of our Latin American partner universities.

As stated above, IMIM students participate in the TMR programme (in their 1^st year) and then join a partner university for the 2^nd year. In this EMJM programme, all courses and ECTS from the respective partner universities are mutually recognized, and students obtain a Double Degree at the end.

Similar recognition is in place for students from Naples University (see above).

For specific recognition of other external or internal achievements, individualized decisions have to be made based on the Heidelberg University Regulation of the Procedure for the Recognition and Crediting of Achievements/ Prior Learning. The TMR academic coordinator is responsible for all matters regarding recognition of achievements for the TMR program in consultation with the TMR Examination Board. Achievements from prior learning are evaluated according to required learning objectives.

Please be aware that there are no TMR programme scholarships. Scholarships are available for the IMIM programme for which applications are submitted to the main coordinator (University of Groningen) via the application portal (see www.innovativemedicine.eu).

In general, students need to fund their studies themselves and can search for and apply to opportunities such as the DAAD, general Erasmus funds or other funding schemes (www.uni-heidelberg.de/en/study/international-studies/studying-in-heidelberg/financing-your-studies).

Other resources include:

• www.studying-in-germany.org/scholarships/
• www.uni-heidelberg.de/en/friends-supporters/germany-scholarship/how-can-i-apply