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.