This EUREKA - UMCU course tackles the intrinsic difficulties of effective translational medicine. It is designed for early-stage researchers interested in this field. COVID-19 has given the world one of its most significant challenges. Translational scientists play a crucial role in tackling these challenges, from developing and implementing diagnostic tests to treatments and vaccines and health policy. This course will show you that addressing health care challenges such as COVID-19, requires much more than deep scientific knowledge. Being an agent of change also requires an understanding of scientific and health systems and a complement of skills, including collaboration, critical thinking, reflection, creative problem solving and communication. The course aims to inspire, train and challenge you to become part of a new generation of translational scientists needed to identify and tackle the most urgent problems in medicine. You will join an international group of students across multiple continents in an in person journey that will navigate through real-life examples of COVID related problems. However, it is not a course about COVID-19; it a course about you. Challenge your perspectives and ambitions, your talents and your role in the system. How do you want your research to contribute to health care and public health?
You will be informed about the latest developments in translational medicine, inspired by rare diseases, and you will develop professional skills that are essential to becoming a translational researcher. Translational medicine, the process of translating ideas from bench to bedside, is failing. To solve this colossal problem at the heart of biomedical science it is necessary to train and educate a new generation of translational scientists who understand how the science system works and who are equipped with the right skills and competences for doing the right research right. Using real-life examples from the field of orphan and pediatric diseases we will help aspiring translational scientists to develop complementary and leadership skills needed to successfully navigate the complex field of translational medicine.
This course takes up that challenge and provides aspiring translational scientists with insights, tools and competences to navigate the difficult track from bench to bedside. Crucial is obtaining a systemic perspective on science, complemented with skills such as critical thinking, problem solving and communication. The programme includes personal mentoring and advice. The course empowers participants to become successful translational scientists, especially in the fields of rare and paediatric diseases.
Lecturers
CORE FACULTY:
Richard Foty - Assistant Professor, Translational Research Program, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, course executive
Gianfranco Grompone - Chief Scientific Officer at BioGaia AB, Sweden
Julie Ledford - Associate Professor, Cellular and Molecular MedicineCo-director, CTS Graduate Program, University of Arizona
Marc van Mil - Associate professor Biomedical Education, University Medical Center Utrecht, Education center & Center for Molecular Medicine, course executive
Joris van Montfrans – Pediatrician Immunologist, Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital
Berent Prakken – Vice-Dean Education University Medical Center Utrecht, course director
Norm Rosenblum - Professor of Paediatrics, Physiology, and Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Paediatric Nephrologist & Senior Scientist at the Hospital for Sick Children, and Scientific Director of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes (INMD)
Hester den Ruijter - Translational Scientist at the Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology, UMC Utrecht
Anita Small – Project Manager, Deaf Artists and Theatres Toolkit (DATT), Cahoots Theatre Company, Owner/Founder, small LANGUAGE CONNECTIONS
OTHER CONFIRMED FACULTY/FACILITATORS:
Pat Furlong - Founding President & CEO Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, New Jersey
Brian Goeltzenleuchter – Artist, Writer and Educator, Research Fellow at the Institute for Public and Urban Affairs, San Diego State University
Roos de Jonge - Advisor Patient engagement in education, UMC Utrecht
Kiran Nistala – VP Clinical Immunology, R&I Late Stage Development, AstraZeneca BioPharmaceuticals R&D, Cambridge, UK
Casper Schoemaker - Advisor patient involvement in research, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, UMC Utrecht
Anna van Suchtelen – Artist, Writer
Joost Swart - Pediatrician Immunologist, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, UMC Utrecht
Target audience
Advanced Master and PhD students, early Post-docs and Fellows.
Aim of the course
By the end of this course students will be able to:
- Articulate how a translational approach to scientific research can expedite the movement of knowledge to improvements in health
- Describe the critical role of patients in translational research and list ways of engaging them in the process
- Define and the basic knowledges and skills required in translational research
- Grow their professional international network of translational researchers.
Study load
Nine hours per day. Please note that we start on Sunday 2 July in the afternoon.
Costs
Some bursaries available for participants affiliated with partners from the EUREKA Institute + members of the Apollo Society.
Additional information
As this course starts on Sunday 2 July 2023, you are welcome to check-in at the Utrecht Summer School accommodation on Saturday 1 July 2023. This is a different arrangement from the other Summer School courses, so please make sure to take a look on the course page for housing information. More information will be presented in the pre-departure document, which all fully registered students will receive in March 2023.
Application
Students who have been locally recruited by EUREKA partners are in principle accepted to the course. However, Eureka International Summer Course on TM will do a final check on the supporting documents to make sure they fit the profile.
For this course you are required to upload the following documents when applying:
Contact details
Erica Roks | E: eroks@umcutrecht.nl | T: +31.6.31118726