The University of Edinburgh – College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine

Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Repair MScR

This Masters by Research programme trains the next generation of experts in tissue regeneration and repair.

The main components of the programme are two 18-week research projects, performed on a wide range of research fields within regenerative sciences and a project writing course.

Successful advancement of tissue regeneration and repair relies on combining fundamental and translational research expertise in areas of:

• regenerative medicine
• developmental biology
• stem cell biology
• tissue repair
• inflammation research

Such a cross-disciplinary approach will underpin the development of novel cell and drug-based therapies to stimulate repair of tissues damaged due to congenital conditions, trauma or disease.

You will gain a wide range of generic professional and scientific skills such as developing effective communication skills, critical appraisal, and scientific writing through research dissertations and a grant application. Postgraduate transferable skills courses are offered for free by the University’s Institute for Academic Development and University-wide LinkedIn.

As a graduate of our programme, you will be well-placed to successfully pursue a PhD in biomedicine or take on challenging professional roles in academia or health care industries.

The broad range of skills gained is also readily transferable into careers at the clinical-laboratory interface and in the broader biosciences industry opportunities.

Programme structure

The programme provides a core grounding in fundamental science and interlinked clinical translational aspects of regenerative medicine and tissue repair.

The programme is structured around:

• two research projects
• a research project proposal writing component
• programme-specific masterclasses and journal club

Research projects

The research projects are core components of the programme.

These projects provide you with opportunities for practical laboratory and research experience. They offer training in a wide range of research techniques in cellular and molecular biology, genetics and bioinformatics relevant to tissue regeneration and repair.

The projects will also provide you with:

• good research practice skills
• scientific writing skills
• analytical skills

Two 18-week research projects may be undertaken in:

• Laboratories at the Institute for Regeneration and Repair (IRR)
• Laboratories of collaborating centres or organisations

You will:

• Choose your projects from a list submitted by group leaders and professional experts, based on their current research and projects. Each research project bears 80 credits towards the programme total of 180 credits.
• We do encourage students to explore their own project ideas with group leaders too.
• Present your findings at group meetings, a poster day and talks, including at the IRR MScR science retreat.
• Write up your project results as a dissertation to be submitted for formal assessment towards your MSc by Research degree.

Seminars

• Throughout the academic year, students can attend seminars at the Institute for Regeneration and Repair and the wider University, delivered by internationally-recognised experts in the field of regenerative medicine, tissue repair and related biomedical fields.

Taught courses

Research projects
The research projects will provide you with training and practical experience of a wide range of current research tools and techniques in cellular and molecular biology, genetics and bioinformatics relevant for stem cell biology, developmental biology, inflammation research, regenerative medicine and tissue repair.

The research projects will teach you good research practice, and enable you to gain analytical skills, critical appraisal and scientific writing skills. During your research projects, you will disseminate your findings through various presentation opportunities, including at lab meetings, a poster day and oral presentations

Masterclasses and Journal Club
You will participate in masterclasses and an IRR MScR Journal Club that run throughout the academic year, typically on Friday mornings at IRR. The programme collaborates with experts who work across the life cycle of cell and gene therapy development and production, ranging from discovery science and phase I/II clinical trials to manufacturing of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs). This will provide opportunities for students to learn from experts about this life cycle.