Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Sciences

Program Introduction

  • Duration of Study

    The normal duration of this program is 3 years,and the maximum duration is 6 years.

  • Teaching Approach

    Face-to-face Teaching

  • Teaching Language

    English

  • Course Introduction

    Using state-of-the-art platforms, this program aims to cultivate highly qualified students and researchers with extensive knowledge in biomedical research to undertake innovative research in the field of biomedical and biotechnological research.

Study Plan

I. Aims

Using state-of-the-art platforms, this program aims to cultivate highly qualified students and researchers with extensive knowledge in biomedical research to undertake innovative research in the field of biomedical and biotechnological research.


II. Admission Qualification

  • Applicants for this program must have a master’s degree in related majors including Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, Biotechnology, Pharmacy, Biochemistry, and Biology;

  • Applicants should have obtained a score of 450 or above on the College English Test Level 6 (CET-6); a score of 79 or above on the TOEFL iBT; a score of 6.0 or above on the IELTS; or provide other equivalent proof of English proficiency certificates;


III. Academic Field

Biomedical Sciences


IV. Teaching method

Face to face


V. Study Time

The normal study period of Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Sciences program is 3 years. The maximum study period is 6 years.


VI. Medium of Interaction

English


VII. Scope of the research projects included in the course

  1. Stem Cells Biology and Regenerative Medicine

  2. Novel Drug and Diagnostic Markers Discovery

  3. Cancer Biology and Therapy

  4. Autoimmune and Chronic Diseases

  5. Microbiome and Health

  6. Genomics

  7. A.I. and Precision Medicine

  8. Neurodegenerative Diseases

  9. Cell and Molecular Biology


VIII. Subject settings

Table 1: Compulsory courses (6 credits)

Course Title

credits

Biomedical Research Progress

3

Current Topics in Biomedical Sciences

3

Table 2: Elective courses (6 credits)

Course Title

credits

Pathophysiology

3

Pharmacology and Therapeutics

3

Instrumental Analysis

3

Biostatistics

3

Methodology in Pharmacology

3

Modern Biotechnology

3

Scientific Literature Research and Writing

3

Advances in Western Internal Medicine

3

Medical Genetics

3

Genetic Engineering

3

Advances in Diagnostics and Therapeutics

3

Experimental Design and Statistical Analysis for Medical Sciences

3

Biochemistry

3

Remarks: The University has the right to cancel the offering of courses with insufficient students

Table 3: Dissertation (18 credits)

Course Title

Category

credits

Dissertation

compulsory

18


Course Description

Core courses

BMSZ01  Biomedical Research Progress (3 credits)

The objective of this course is to train students to engage in biomedical scientific research with an innovative vision and ability. The course content is introduced with the expertise in basic and clinical research, pathogenesis of diseases, drug design, discovery and delivery, bioinformatics, genetics, molecular and cell biology, AI, etc., to provide the students the understanding of the frontier technology and innovation in biomedical research and applications. The students can understand biomedical research with a broader vision and high-level perspective.


BMSZ02  Current Topics in Biomedical Sciences (3 credits)

The course is focused on literature review and research, biomedical theoretical research, basic and clinical research, and applied research according to their individualized research directions. Students will be inspired to stay abreast of the latest research advances and developments in biomedical-related research fields. They will apply the latest research tools and methodologies to equip students with broad knowledge and the ability to conduct independent biomedical research.


Elective courses

BMSE01  Pathophysiology (3 credits)

This course covers the hierarchy of systems from molecules, cells, tissues, organs and organ systems of normal human and diseased subjects to understand the normal structure, function and common mechanisms of disease processes that affect the human in simple terms. The course covers key concepts and terminologies relevant for diseases by understanding the human body systems, such as anatomy, histology, pathology, physiology, biochemistry, immunology, neuroscience and behavioral science, pharmacology, microbiology. Such knowledge would be applied to the understanding of final common pathways of disease processes, such as inflammation, degeneration, neoplasia, autoimmunity, and gene malfunction, etc. This course also covers the current therapeutic strategies for modulating disease processes, medical ethics and humanities.


BMSE02  Pharmacology and Therapeutics (3 credits)

The course aims to build the foundation for understanding medications and their actions. Students will learn general pharmacologic principles, drug sources and uses, and adverse drug reactions based on commonly prescribed and reserved antibiotics.


BMSE03  Biostatistics (3 credits)

This course aims to introduce students to the basic concepts of statistical analysis, their use and their relevance in medical and health research. At the end of the course, students would be able to understand basic statistical concepts such as P-values, confidence intervals, and statistical inference. Students will also be able to perform simple statistical analyses on data of a continuous and categorical nature using parametric tests, non- parametric tests, and regression modelling. Students will acquire practical experience in using SPSS statistical software.

 

BMSE04  Instrumental Analysis (3 credits)

This subject aims to introduce commonly used main instrumental analysis methods, introduce the basic principles and concepts of these analysis methods, and the structure and properties of typical instruments, and use these instruments to complete qualitative, quantitative, and fixed-structure analysis tasks. Research and better guidance of industrial and agricultural production to lay a solid foundation.

 

BMSE05  Methodology in Pharmacology (3 credits)

This subject will mainly introduce the principles and methodologies of using modern scientific technologies to study the interaction between drugs and biological body, including the major advancement, future development and cutting-edge technologies in pharmacological research, fundamental theories and methods of commonly used pharmacological experiments, and preparation methods of commonly used animal disease models.

 

BMSE06  Modern Biotechnology (3 credits)

This subject will mainly introduce the principles of modern biotechnology as well as its applications in drug R&D and disease treatment. The subject will be divided into fundamental and advanced units. The fundamental unit focuses on the principles and methodologies of modern biotechnology, including common methods to study protein, production and purification of recombinant protein, biotransformation and its main types, nano drug carriers. The advanced unit further introduces the application frontiers of modern biotechnology in drug research and disease treatment, such as cell therapy and application, frontiers of tissue engineering materials, the application of biotransformation in natural product research, therapeutic antibodies and cancer immunotherapy.

 

BMSE07  Scientific Literature Research and Medical Writing (3 credits)

Within the framework of information literacy theory, this course focuses on the research and academic writing process on pharmacy and medicine, to teach the literature research methods, techniques and practices, including not only the traditional Chinese medical literatures retrieval and use, but also the modern literatures, especially the frequently used databases, open access resources and the retrieval technology and applications, and the academic norms of using literature. The topics will range from the material preparation, sentence development, logical sequencing and structure.

 

BMSE08  Advances in Western Internal Medicine (3 credits)

Advances in Western Internal Medicine focuses on the diagnosis and treatment techniques and research results in the field of Internal Medicine of Western Medicine, thus helping graduate students to understand the latest progress and research hotspots in this field. Teaching purpose of this course is to enable students to increase their understanding of the progress of diagnosis and treatment of Western internal medicine through classroom explanations, topic tutorials and oral reports.


BMSE09  Medical Genetics (3 credits)

Medical genetics is a science that explores the genetic mechanism of disease occurrence and applies genetic principles and techniques for disease diagnosis, treatment and prevention.


BMSE10  Genetic Engineering (3 credits)

Main content of this course includes the basic principles and methods of genetic engineering, the acquisition of target genes, tool enzymes and vectors for gene cloning, identification and expression of recombinant molecules and recombinants.


BMSE11  Advances in Diagnostics and Therapeutics (3 credits)

This course focuses on the advancements and research results of diagnostics and therapeutics (western medicine), thus helping postgraduates to know the latest advancements and hot topics in this field.


BMSE12  Experimental Design and Statistical Analysis for Medical Sciences 

(3 credits)

This course is designed for students in Biomedical Science to understand the knowledge and skills of experimental design and statistical analysis for Medical Science. The course will be conducted in both English and Chinese through classroom lecturing and case studies by covering the following aspects: 1) medical experimental design study, 2) principles of statistical analysis of experimental data, 3) statistical techniques for the analysis of medical data, 4) experiments using examples drawn from the biological science literature, 5) proper interpretation and communication of analyses results.


BMSE13  Biochemistry (3 credits)

The content cover most of the biochemical processes of cells, including carbohydrate chemistry and metabolism, lipid chemistry and metabolism, protein chemistry and metabolism, DNA and RNA properties, enzyme activity, biological oxidation, liver and gallbladder biochemistry, and blood biochemistry, etc.


Supervisors for the program of Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Sciences:

https://fmd.must.edu.mo/page/id-15426.html?locale=en_US


Degree Requirements

Students are required to complete two core courses from Table 1 and two elective courses from Table 2 during their first year of the study. Upon the completion of the aforementioned 12 credits under Table 1, students should start writing their thesis proposal and complete the thesis proposal defense to continue the dissertation composition. Each student systematically and comprehensively conducts scientific research on Biomedical Sciences under the guidance of his or her supervisor. Moreover, they have to develop the ability to conduct research independently, and write a complete and well-thought thesis with both theory and practical value. Based on the need of the research content, student may have to go to the partner laboratory in Mainland China, Hong Kong or other countries or regions to conduct research or collect data. In order to achieve the minimum requirement for applying oral defense for graduation, each student has to publish at least two SCI-E papers (First author or co-first author in at least one paper). Dissertation must be written and defended in English. Application for special language needs to be submitted to the supervisor and the faculty for approval. After passing the doctoral dissertation defense and publishing the required papers, students can apply and receive a doctoral degree in accordance with the doctoral application procedure of the Macau University of Science and Technology.

Learning Time

The duration for taking all courses is 12 months during the first year and the duration of dissertation composition is 24 months.

Qualifications of Graduation

Upon approval from the Senate of the University, a Doctoral Degree will be conferred on a student when he or she has: (1) Completed and met the requirements prescribed in the study plan of his or her program within the specific study period, and achieved a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or above (excluding dissertation). (2) Abided by the regulations of the University. (3) Cleared all fees and charges and returned all University’s property and equipment borrowed. Note: All curriculums and study plans are based on the newest announcement of the Boletim Oficial da Região Administrativa Especial de Macau. ※In case of any discrepancy, the Chinese version shall prevail.