Background of the Experimental Medicine Program

The Department of Medicine is within the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. The Department of Medicine has an active research program with investigators conducting research in all experimental aspects of medicine. The Department and Faculty originated and developed this program for graduate studies in Experimental Medicine, and the first students were accepted into the program at the University of British Columbia in September 1987.

Experimental Medicine is the study of the pathogenesis and treatment of disease. Modern experimental medicine represents a rapidly growing body of knowledge involving the determination of diseases processes and the development of appropriate therapies.

The Experimental Medicine Program is intended for individuals seeking a career in research. The Department of Medicine offers opportunities and facilities for advanced studies in Experimental medicine, leading toward the M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees. Members of the Department direct research programs in a wide range of basic and clinically relevant areas. There are a variety of special interest areas of national and international stature.

Specialties within the Experimental Medicine Program include: Cardiology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Hematology, Infectious Diseases, Medical Immunology, Medical Oncology, Molecular Biology, Nephrology, Neurology and Respiratory Medicine.

Students may work with investigators located on the main campus of the University of B.C., or they may work in laboratories located off campus (Vancouver General Hospital, Jack Bell Research Centre, Terry Fox Laboratory, St. Paul’s Hospital, Biomedical Research Centre, BC Children’s Hospital).

The Experimental Medicine Office is located at the Vancouver General Hospital site in the Gordon and Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre.

Objectives of the Experimental Medicine Program

The objectives of the program are:

1. To teach the student the application of modern techniques in research.
2. To develop within the student the ability to read and criticize scientific literature, and to know the current state of knowledge in their particular field.
3. To teach the student to accurately define a problem and to design experiments which solve problems according to scientific standards.
4. To teach the student to conduct research on an independent basis.
5. To develop in all students the ability to communicate results of their research to the scientific community.

Experimental Medicine Graduate Program

The principal emphasis of this graduate program is training in research. Success at this level is traditionally measured by the preparation and defense of a thesis. Course work is required of all students, based on the background of the candidate and the degree program. The work of each Ph.D. candidate will be supervised by a candidate’s Committee consisting of not fewer than three members. These may include faculty members from a department other than that in which the candidate is writing the thesis. An M.Sc. candidate in the Experimental Medicine Program will normally require a committee; with at least two members. The Director of the program, or his designate, may attend all committee meetings and will be an ex-officio member of each committee.