The Program provides training opportunities in the field of biomedical sciences, accepting graduates from the Departments of Health and Biological Sciences as well as from other related scientific fields (Chemistry). The aim of the Program is to promote translational research by bridging the gap between basic scientists and clinical doctors. In order to pursue this aim, the Program is organized to provide basic and translational science training, emphasizing on the curriculum of the molecular/cellular basis of human diseases, as well as the current diagnostics and therapies. The Program combines clinical with basic science to investigate the molecular basis and the pathogenesis of human diseases and gives the opportunity to its graduate students to do high quality original research in top research laboratories of Greece and abroad, with significant contributions in research.

The discoveries of novel genes, molecular pathways and mechanisms implicated in the pathogenesis of human diseases have revolutionized medicine during the last 25 years. The knowledge acquired by the application of novel technology and scientific developments has generated new biomarkers and therapeutic approaches for many diseases. Personalized medicine and molecular signatures are now available for therapeutic decisions, improving the prognosis in many diseases. Nevertheless, still many unmet needs exist, both in the diagnostic/prognostic and therapeutic field, posing novel questions in the research field.  From the start, the Program aimed at: a) Educating young physicians and biomedical scientists in the technological and research developments through lectures from experts in their fields; b) The practical training of students in state-of-the-art technologies; c) The conductance of original basic and translational research in the laboratories of the Medical School and the collaborating Faculty; and d) The training of the students in writing review papers and research proposals. To achieve these goals, the Program secured collaborations with prominent scientists in Greece and abroad and still remains amongst the few programs in Greece that allows the conductance of MSc thesis research in collaborating labs abroad. Our Program was the first and only Graduate Program in Greece that put emphasis on human diseases at the molecular/cellular level, with final aim to translate basic research as a tool to solve clinical problems. It was the first graduate program that used English as its official language.

The Program awards Master’s degree in “Molecular Basis of Human Disease”. From its start (2003-2004) to 2022-2023, 179 out of 183 enrolled students acquired a Master’s
degree (98%).

• The Program combines clinical expertise with basic science in order to investigate the molecular basis of the pathogenesis of human diseases.
• The Program prepares its students for a successful career in Academia, Research or Pharma Industry in Greece and abroad and to compete for national or international funding.
• The students of the Program have the opportunity to select among 50 top research laboratories of Greece and abroad with significant contributions in research.
• The Program allows its graduate students to do high quality original research in selected laboratories abroad.
• The Program is evaluated by an External Evaluation Committee.

The graduate students of the Program are expected to acquire skills in:

• Understanding the basic concepts of molecular medicine
  • Understanding the basic principles of basic and clinical research methodologies and of biostatistics
  • Reviewing the literature and writing review articles on specific subjects
  • Applying biomedical data bases
  • Laboratory safety and good laboratory practice
  • Presenting original and review articles to an audience
  • Following lectures and taking exams in the English language
  • Writing a research proposal
  • Conducting original research

The infrastructure that is used by the Program is the following:

• The auditoriums, the conferences rooms and the laboratories of the University of Crete Medical School
  • The laboratories of collaborating investigators
  • The facilities of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of Crete (IMBB-FoRTH)
  • The facilities and the clinics of the University Hospital of Heraklion (total capacity: 700 beds)

The students are expected to complete all the requirements for the Master’s degree within a period of 4 semesters (24 months). An extension of a maximum of two additional semesters can be granted based on a justified request by the student and the approval of the Coordinating Committee of the Program. All students that will be selected are anticipated to study on a full time basis.