Learning outcomes

1. The Master is familiar with the common scientific and practical aspects of preclinical drug research and with the main concepts of molecular and cellular research techniques in the field of biomedical sciences.

2. The Master is able to combine clinical and diagnostic data for specific diseases with molecular and cellular data, through ‘state of the art literature’, to set a hypothesis concerning the involved molecular and cellular pathophysiological underlying mechanisms and is able to independently interpret correctly experimental data in the context of that hypothesis.

3. The Master is able to analyze and assess a biomedical problem critically and independently, is able to set up research strategies independently and meticulously, plan and execute experiments, collect scientific data and analyze these data (bio)statistically correct, interpret these data and draw scientifically sound conclusions from (own) experimental findings which enables the Master to rethink and redirect their research plan accordingly.

4. The Master can function autonomously in a research team, in multidisciplinary as well as in international research networks. The Master is able to plan their own future learning processes autonomously, is able to evaluate and adapt their own professional thinking and functioning and has an attitude of lifelong learning.

5. The Master can communicate, present and respond to questions about scientific literature data or own research data with correct scientific vocabulary and in a critical and clear way; and this for a broad audience or for fellow scientists.

6. The Master can accurately report on their scientific research in a lab notebook with a view to the preservation of the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and to the reproducing and tracing of the work by other researchers. The Master has basic knowledge about legislation considering innovation and patents and is able to take this into account when planning, executing and publishing their research.

7. The Master can assess and evaluate the societal, legal and ethical implications of the research they are involved in and make appropriate decisions accordingly. The Master can set up laboratory animal experiments for scientific research in a responsible and legally correct way.

8. The Master knows the underlying principles, the applications and the pro's and cons of contemporary used (1) molecular and biochemical techniques aimed at the quantification and functional analysis of cellular biomolecules, (2) techniques aimed at a global analysis of the molecular repertoire (genome, epigenome, transcriptome, proteome, metabolome...) of cells and tissues, (3) techniques aimed at the analysis of function in cell culture and in a tissue context. The Master can use these techniques and can correctly interpret the obtained results.

9. Based on clinical, cellular and molecular data, the Master can draw up therapeutical strategies and propose possibilities to develop new therapies. These can be classical pharmaceutical therapies as well as newer types of therapy such as (stem) cell therapy, gene therapy or regenerative medicine.