University of Erlangen-Nürnberg is a Bavarian state university. With its eleven faculties - nine of which are in Erlangen and two in Nürnberg -, with 250 chairs and a total staff of over 12,000, the University is the second largest in Bavaria and a major factor in research and teaching.
Erlangen (population: 100,000) is situated some 25 km north of Nürnberg, about 200 km north of Munich, and 180 km southeast of Frankfurt (Main). Direct fast train services (Intercity Express) are offered to Nürnberg, Munich, and Berlin. Nearest airport is Nürnberg (NUE, 20 km).
The Faculty of Medicine at the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg is a major player in the field of interdisciplinary research in Molecular Medicine in Germany. Starting with the academic year 1999/2000, the Faculty of Medicine in Erlangen implemented a four-year full-time degree programme in Molecular Medicine, leading to the 'Diploma' level qualification. The German 'Diploma' compares to the international Master of Science degree, and permits admission to a three-year doctoral programme. The Diploma programme was converted into a 3-year Bachelor of Science programme and a consecutive 2-year Master of Science programme in 2007.
The rapid development of biochemistry, molecular biology, and cell physiology has changed medicine within a few decades. The number of diseases for which the genetic and molecular mechanisms have been identified increases steadily. Clinically relevant examples include cystic fibrosis and Duchenne type of progressive muscle dystrophy. Taking advantage of DNA analysis of oncogenes, patients at risk for cancer can be reliably diagnosed and given precautionary treatment. The analysis of human neurotransmitter receptors by means of a recombinant expression of the relevant genes in cell cultures has made it possible to develop novel drugs. Our current understanding of viral and bacterial infections or of drug effects would not be possible without recent developments in genetics, biochemistry, cell physiology, and microbiology.
Through the impressive advances in DNA diagnosis and protein expression, Molecular Medicine has deeply influenced research in clinical medicine. This development extends more and more also into general medicine and has reshapened the pharmaceutical industry. Molecular genetics methods have changed the diagnosis of hereditary diseases As the combination of genetics and functional analysis of gene products allow a deeper understanding of pathogenesis, Molecular Medicine will be even more important in the future. Nevertheless, many procedures in therapy have not kept pace with the developments in molecular diagnosis. Precise genetic analyses is often confronted withtill insufficient knowledge about the basic mechanisms and influencea of pathogenic changes. Thus, a precise molecular diagnosis cannot always lead to successful treatment. There still is an immense need for research - from basic principles, to better diagnosis, to experimental therapies and clinical trials.
The Faculty of Medicine at the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg has grown into a German national centre for clinic-oriented molecular biology research. Besides the "Interdisciplinary Centre for Clinical Research" (IZKF) funded by the Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF), the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg operates four of the special national research centres, the so-called 'Sonderforschungsbereiche' supported by the German Research Council, Deutsche Forschungsmeinschaft (DFG). Once obtained, funds support these research centers for 12 years. In a nation-wide ranking of research funds recently published by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg's Faculty of Medicine was placed in a front position.
At most European universities, life sciences are distributed among the faculty of medicine and the science faculties. In practice, however, these traditional faculty borders between life sciences disciplines barely exist. At the same time, a significant share of the industrial job offers for biology graduates are in the area of medical or even clinical research. Nevertheless, this long-standing development of research needs and occupational demands has not been reflected in the structure of university courses offered. Rather, medical courses are mainly oriented towards the employment profile of a practising physician. Medical students who are nevertheless interested in research are forced to leave research during their postgraduate training due to its strict guidelines.
Graduates of biochemistry, biology, chemistry, and physics are often much better prepared for the methodology of Molecular Medicine than medically qualified doctors. On the other hand, such graduates frequently lack the conceptual approach appropriate to Molecular Medicine: for example, mechanisms of pathogenesis, infectology, and pharmacology are not offered within the syllabus in biology and biochemistry. Moreover, philosophy and working patterns are very different in clinics and research laboratories: The problem-oriented and practical thinking of clinicians contrasts the abstract, reductionist and highly focused approach of experimental researchers. Physicians without any experience in research techniques often have difficulties understanding the basic experimental principles of their colleagues who graduated in natural sciences. Molecular Medicine therefore finds itself in a dilemma: The study program of Molecular Medicine at the University Erlangen-Nürnberg accounts for this and teaches an interdisciplinary curriculum covering medical and natural science disciplines.
The innovative degree programme in Molecular Medicine tries to combine the methodology of molecular biology with the contents and topics of experimental medicine. The University of Erlangen-Nürnberg has introduced this new study programme in Molecular Medicine in the academic year 1999/2000. The program enable students to work academically and practically in medical research, laboratory diagnosis, and medical biotechnology. We offer a three-year full-time programme leading to a Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular Medicine and a consecutive two-year Master of Science program. Graduates are qualified to enter doctoral research after finishing the M.Sc. program. Each winter term 40 Bachelor of Science students are admitted.
Possible fields of occupational activities for graduates of Molecular Medicine include:
- In industry: Basic research, biomedical technology, production and quality control, specific administration in medicine, marketing, publishing
- Private laboratories: Molecular diagnostics in medicine and biotechnology, analyses in environmental questions
- Clinics: Molecular and biochemical diagnostics, clinical trials
- Authorities: Supervision in administration and laboratory diagnostics
- Research: Universities and research organisations
Undergraduate phase (Bachelor of Science programme)
In addition to the fundamentals of chemistry, physics and statistics, the undergraduate phase covers anatomy, histology, cell biology, biochemistry, physiology, microbiology, virology, pathology, pharmacology, human genetics and radiation protection. At the end of the undergraduate phase gather first experiences with independent research and finish with a two-months bachelor thesis
Graduate phase (Master of Science programme)
During the graduate phase, classes in Molecular Medicine are be taught in German and English. Course work largely focus on original research papers and projects. Ths following subjects are covered:
- Molecular Pathmechanisms:
Class work will cover general pathology, pathobiochemistry, pathophysiology and the molecular basis of disease. Practicals will introduce students into advanced laboratory methods in molecular diagnosis (including e.g., methodology in clinical chemistry, cell physiology methods, patch clamp techniques, indicator and radiology techniques).
- Molecular cell funcitons:
Structure of the cell, molecular regulation of cell functions, gene transfer, cell biology laboratory techniques covering cell culture, cloning, cell sorting, molecular morphology techniques such as in situ-hybridisations, confocal laser scanning microscopy, electromicroscopy.
- Bioanalysis / biotechnology:
Methodology of laboratory analysis, biological chemical and physical basics.
- Bioinformatics:
Algorithms of molecular biological and genetic data analysis, like BLAST, FASTA, structure of databases such as EBI, NCBI, OMIM.
- Embryonic development and reproductive biology
- Molecular human genetics.
- Neuroscience
Molecular and cellular components of the nervous system, its physiology and pathology.
- Microbiology and Immunology:
Systematic analysis of infectious diseases and the pathomechanisms involved, bacterio-logical and virological methods such as culture and cloning techniques. Normal and patho-logical mechanisms of immune reactions.
- Laboratory animal care.
- Molecular Imaging
In Erlangen, the academic year starts in October. Regular admissions to the Molecular Medicine programme are possible only at the beginning of the academic year, and the application deadline is July 15. Additional information is available from the University.
For admission details, please visit the Admission Department's homepage.
For further details on studies at Erlangen, please visit the homepage of the university in English.
For further information, please turn to:
Dr. Inga Ebermann
Coordinator of the study program Molecular Medicine
Institut für Biochemie
Fahrstraße 17, Raum 01.031
91054 Erlangen
Tel +49 - (0) 9131 / 85-24645
Fax +49 (0) 9131 / 85-22484
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Dr. rer. nat. Jürgen Gündel
Informations- und Beratungszentrum für Studiengestaltung und Career Service (IBZ)
Schlossplatz 3 / Corner Halbmondstrasse 6-8, Raum 1.032
91054 Erlangen
Tel. +49 - (0) 9131 / 85-24051
Fax.+49 - (0) 9131 / 85-22131
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