This course gives you an overview of the drug discovery and development processes where disease-targeted research leads to clinical treatments. Recent advances within medical biotechnologies and the latest treatment approaches are introduced, including stem cell technology, immunotherapies, and modern vaccine development, such as those created to combat SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19.
You will visit European pharmaceutical and biotechnology communities, university/hospital labs and start-up companies and get an insight into the business aspects of drug development and the many job niches of the field.
One year each of biology and chemistry at university level.
Travel on Study Tour
You only take one Core Course per semester, and each Core Course includes two Study Tours: one Short Study Tour to a nearby destination for three days, and one Long Study Tour to another European country for six days.
Led by your faculty, Study Tours take you into real-world settings where you will apply what you’ve learned outside the classroom.
MSc (Pharmacy, Copenhagen, 1985), Ph.D. (Biotechnology, Denmark Technical University, 1987), MBA (Sophia University, Tokyo, 1992). International Marketing, Novo Nordisk, 1994-2008. Project VP, Novo Nordisk, 2008-2014. Head of Commercial Haemophilia, Sobi Stockholm, 2014-2017. Head of Commercial Operations, Sobi Brussels/Paris, 2018-2022. Head of Commercial, Zealand Pharma, Copenhagen, 2022-2023. With DIS since 2024.
Jeanette Erbo Wern
Postdoc (Inst. of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark, 2006-2009). Ph.D. (Immunology, Inst. Of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, 2005). M.Sc. (Inst. Of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, 2001). Senior Scientist, Immune Targeting Group, Bioneer, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2010-2013. Senior Scientist, Dept. of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2013-2016. With DIS since 2016.
Reza Yarani
Ph.D (Cellular and Genetic Medicine, Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Copenhagen, 2016). Assistant Professor, Translational Type 1 Diabetes Research, Department of Clinical Research, Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, 2021-Present. With DIS since 2023.
Long Study Tour
About this tour
This week-long Study Tour is designed to show you different aspects of the biomedical profession and illustrate the connections between industry and university research, as well as the transfer of information and knowledge into the business side of pharmaceuticals. The Madrid region hosts a major pharmaceutical and biotechnology cluster that brings together industry companies, research centers, universities, and hospitals. This concentration of stakeholders creates an environment conducive to collaboration, innovation, and knowledge sharing.
On the other hand, world-class research institutes and university hospitals, a culture of groundbreaking science and a thriving investment ecosystem make Barcelona a rising star in the life sciences industry. Therefore visiting these two cities by touring labs, visiting start-up and biotech companies, and engaging with other stakeholders will help you get a good insight into the biomedical world and introduce you to the various careers in biotechnology that await after graduation. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions and engage in discussions to further develop your understanding of how classroom theories translate into a professional context.
In addition, the Study Tour program is supplemented with relevant cultural visits and events to help you learn more about Portuguese culture and contextualize your studies.
Learning outcomes
Learn about the newest and upcoming biotechnology-based methods for diagnosis and treatment of diseases
Observe the dynamics of drug discovery and development through visits to biomedicine and biotech research facilities
Meet some of the active players in the transfer of technology from university to business and explore their work
Possible activities
Visit the National Centre for Biotechnology, a leading research hub with 70 multidisciplinary groups focused on molecular biology, genomics, and infectious diseases. Their animal facility supports preclinical drug development studies.
Learn about novel drug modalities and regulatory challenges in the biotech industry at Sylentis, a company specializing in RNA interference (RNAi) therapies for ocular diseases.
Speak with researchers at the Institute of Biomedical Research of Barcelona and hear about their work on translational biomedicine, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular therapies, and AI-driven drug design.
About this tour
This week-long Study Tour is designed to immerse you in the biomedical and biotechnological landscape of Paris, a rapidly growing hub of innovation in Europe. You will explore the intersections of academic research and the biotech industry, learning how cutting-edge science moves from the laboratory to the marketplace. Paris is home to renowned research institutes, biotech companies, and university hospitals, making it an ideal destination for observing the latest advancements in biotechnology and drug development.
While on tour, you’ll explore the world of biomedicine through visits to distinguished laboratories, biotech organizations, and research facilities. You’ll meet industry experts, engage in discussions, and deepen your understanding of how the theoretical concepts learned in class are applied in professional settings. The tour also provides valuable insights into the variety of careers in biotechnology that await you after graduation.
In addition to the academic focus, you will experience some of the French capital’s rich cultural history, allowing you to contextualize your studies within a broader European framework.
Learning outcomes
Discover emerging biotechnology-based diagnostic and therapeutic methods
Observe the process of drug discovery and development in action
Understand the flow of knowledge and technology between academia, research, and industry
Possible activities
Engage with researchers at the Pasteur Institute to examine advancements in infectious disease research and vaccine development, followed by a tour of the Pasteur Museum
Visit Keyrus Biopharma, a leader in clinical trial management, where you’ll gain insights into the critical considerations of ongoing clinical trials and their impact on drug development
Explore the innovative research at Sanofi, a global biopharmaceutical company, where you will learn about their efforts in developing new therapies and their impact on patient care.
Meet with cancer researchers at the Curie Institute to learn about the latest advances in the field of oncology.
About this tour
This week-long Study Tour is designed to show you different aspects of the biomedical profession and illustrate the connections between industry and university research, and how the transition from academic research to business development occurs. London is one of the largest biotechnological clusters in Europe, home to a variety of research institutions, university hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and established and start-up biotech companies.
You will step inside the world of biomedicine by touring labs, visiting biotech companies, and research labs, and hearing from experts in the field. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions and engage in discussions to further develop your understanding of how classroom theories translate into a professional context. The biomedicine study tours will introduce you to the various careers in biotechnology that await you after graduation.
In addition, the academic program is supplemented with some of London’s cultural highlights, giving you the opportunity to learn more about British history and contextualize your studies.
Learning outcomes
Learn about the newest and upcoming biotechnology-based methods for diagnosis and treatment of disease
Observe the dynamics of drug discovery and development
Explore how knowledge and technology are transferred among universities, researchers, and businesses
Possible activities
Discuss with professionals at Spirogen, a clinical stage biotechnology company involved in developing DNA-targeted therapeutics
Meet with the Department of Biochemical Engineering of UCL to learn about careers in biomedicine
Take a tour of the Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology (LMCB) to see the equipment specialists use everyday up close and speak with laboratory engineers
About this tour
This week-long Study Tour is designed to show you different aspects of the biomedical profession and illustrate the connections between industry and university research, as well as the transfer of information and knowledge into the business side of pharmaceuticals. You will step inside the world of biomedicine by touring labs, visiting start-up and biotech companies, and hearing lectures from various researchers from both Institutes located in Lisbon and Porto. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions and engage in discussions to further develop your understanding of how classroom theories translate into a professional context. This tour will introduce you to the various careers in biotechnology that await you after graduation.
In addition, the Study Tour program is supplemented with relevant cultural visits and events to help you learn more about Portuguese culture and contextualize your studies.
Learning outcomes
Learn about the newest and upcoming biotechnology-based methods for diagnosis and treatment of diseases
Observe the dynamics of drug discovery and development through visits to biomedicine and biotech research facilities
Meet some of the active players in the transfer of technology from university to business and explore their work
Possible activities
Visit to the i3S consortium in Porto, a new institute where four institutions and researchers from six universities and three hospitals work together in several collaborative projects
Visit Biocant park, a Science and Technology Park specialized in Biotechnology which aims to promote, develop and apply advanced knowledge in Life Sciences, supporting business initiatives of great potential
Visit the Champalimaud Centre for The Unknown and experience the Champalimaud Research, where research groups apply, among others, advanced molecular, physiological and imaging tools to elucidate pathways and systems involved in disease, and systems in animal models that include Drosophila, mouse, rat, and zebrafish
Short Study Tour
About this tour
Core Course Week, including short Study Tour, provides you with the opportunity to explore the research field of biomedicine and biotechnology in Denmark. The aim is to introduce you to active players in the drug and development process and to bring the course material to real-life applications. Activities include lectures on basic and applied research, visits to start-up and large pharmaceutical companies, and technology transfer from academia to business. By the end of Core Course Week, you will be familiar with some of the advances occurring in the biotech field as well as some of the challenges facing biotech professionals.
The program is supplemented with cultural visits and events to help you learn more about Danish history and culture, and additionally, give you insight into life outside the capital. Some cultural visits include touring art museums, visiting historical sites, and enjoying traditional Danish food.
Learning outcomes
Gain insight into the transfer of technology and knowledge from university-based research units to the biotech business
Learn about the newest and upcoming biotechnology-based methods for diagnosis and treatment of disease
Observe the dynamics of drug discovery and development through visiting biotech and pharmaceutical research facilities
Possible activities
Visiting the Center for Clinical Proteomics and laboratory tour of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark
Visiting AROS Applied Biotechnology and meeting with the CEO, CSO, and several of the researchers of the company who specialize i n gene expression profiles and genomic identification
Visiting Novo Nordisk, the biggest pharmaceutical company in Denmark and producer of recombinant insulin, and hearing about its research focus and strategy by the Vice-President for Corporate Research Affairs
