md phd in europe

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Faculty of Medicine

Quicklinks und sprachwechsel, main navigation, md-phd-programm, table of contents, general information, admission requirements, program structure, study guide and curriculum, interfaculty md-phd committee impk.

The MD-PhD Program enables medical students and graduates (in addition to their regular degree in medicine, dentistry, or veterinary medicine) to gain a basic natural science education which allows them to conduct regular doctoral studies at the Science Faculty of UZH, without previously attaining an MSc degree in natural science. The program serves as an entry point for medical students and graduates into the Life Science Zurich Graduate School. The role of the MD-PhD program is to select eligible candidates and to coordinate their integrated science education. The program consists of original research (doctoral thesis) as well as of curricular content (propaedeutic studies).

The MD-PhD is oriented exclusively toward Master students and graduates of degree courses in human medicine, veterinary medicine or dentistry. The MD-PhD program can be entered as MD-PhD Track I in parallel to the medical Master studies at UZH. Applicants to the Track II program must hold a Master's degree from a university in human medicine, veterinary medicine or dentistry.

The MD-PhD program is supervised by an Interfaculty steering committee (IMPK), which consists of representatives of the Faculty of Science, the Faculty of Medicine, and the Vetsuisse Faculty.

Track I: The Track I MD-PhD program is open to students who are enrolled in a medical Master program at UZH, with at least good grades during their Bachelor studies.

Track II: Students who have earned at least a Master’s degree in human medicine, veterinary medicine or dentistry. We recommend that candidates enter the program no later than five years after completing their medical degree. Admission of applicants from outside Europe is subject to the recognition of their degree by the Admission Office of UZH.

Graduates of other fields such as biology, pharmacy, or biochemistry are not admitted.

In addition to fulfilling the requirements of the regular doctoral studies at the Science Faculty, MD-PhD students are required to earn additional ECTS credit points in the framework of the MD-PhD propaedeutic studies.

Track I: The propaedeutic studies are entered in parallel to the medical Master studies at UZH. The doctoral dissertation is conducted after earning the medical Master degree.

Track II: Both propaedeutic studies and doctoral dissertation are conducted after attaining a medical Master degree (human medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry).

The doctoral dissertation must be carried out in one of the research groups of UZH affiliated to the Life Science Zurich Graduate School. Students must endeavor independently to secure a position in a host laboratory.

The study guides for students and supervisors as well as the curriculum of the propaedeutic studies can be downloaded on the right.

3 years minimum

Dr. sc. nat.

The doctorate is conducted in the frame of one of the PhD programs of the Life Science Graduate School (MNF).

Regulations: https://www.mnf.uzh.ch/de/studium/reglemente/phd.html (in German)

Medical doctorate degrees (Dr. med., Dr. med. dent., Dr. med. vet.) are not awarded in the framework of the MD-PhD program. They have to be obtained separately from the respective faculties.

The MD-PhD program is supervised by an Interfaculty steering committee (IMPK), which consist of representatives of the Faculty of Science, the Faculty of Medicine, and the Vetsuisse Faculty.

The responsibilities of the IMPK include:

• Supervision and coordination of the MD-PhD program
• Supervision and coordination of the MSc Medical Biology program
• MD-PhD program
• Clinical Science
• Biomedical Ethics & Law
• Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Current members:

• Prof. Dr. Adriano Aguzzi (President, supervision MD-PhD)
• Prof. Dr. Nicole Joller (Vice President, supervision MSc Medical Biology)
• Prof. Dr. Felix Beuschlein
• Prof. Dr. Urs Greber
• Prof. Dr. Johannes Loffing
• Prof. Dr. Bjoern Menze
• Prof. Dr. Anne Müller
• Prof. Dr. Christian Münz
• Prof. Dr. Chantal Pauli
• Prof. Dr. Hanspeter Nägeli (Vetsuisse representative)
• Prof. Dr. Nikola Biller-Andorno (representative for Biomedical Ethics & Law)
• Prof. Dr. Milo Puhan (representative for Epidemiologie und Biostatistik)
• Prof. Dr. Beatrix Latal (representative for Clinical Science)

Artemi Bendandi, Coordinator E-mail: [email protected]

Weiterführende Informationen

Study guides

Study guide MD-PhD until 2021

Study guide MD-PhD from 2022

Information for Supervisors

Propaedeutic Studies

Application deadlines

• 15. Juni

• 15. Dezember

Confirmation of Host Laboratory

National MD-PhD Scholarship

https://www.samw.ch/en/Funding/MD-PhD-Program.html

Open MD-PhD position

PhD position at University Heart Center

Bridging the gap between the clinic and the lab

In emerald we train medical doctors in biomedical research to address global health challenges., closed call for phd positions, deadline of the 2nd call: 28/08/2022.

Promoting new knowledge and innovation

We offer a phd programme, training medical doctors with innovative and interdisciplinary skills ., cutting-edge research centres in biomedicine, our hosting centres from across europe are experts in diverse fields in biomedicine and cutting-edge technology., cutting-edge research centres with diverse expertise, our partner organisations from across europe are experts in both research and clinical fields..

Tailored training to physician-scientists

Our unique programme combines innovative scientific education with personalised mentoring and networking ..

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 101034290

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European Education Area

How to apply for doctoral studies in europe.

Find out how to apply for doctoral studies, including a PhD, in Europe.

Getting started

In Europe, every university sets its own application criteria for doctoral studies. 

To successfully enter the world of research, it´s very important to be proactive and start your preparation early. 

The enrollment procedures take time. Prepare early, check entry requirements and collect your documents. 

Choose your topic

Choose your research topic well before starting your studies. 

Find out which university or programme meets your research interests and your academic background.

Find a supervisor

Finding a supervisor before applying could be either compulsory or advisable and it is usually the applicant’s responsibility. 

Check the research teams in the university and look at the publications written by your potential supervisor, as well as their research projects and supervised dissertations to ensure that his or her research areas match your plans.

Check language requirements

Examine the language skills needed for enrollment. It might be necessary to take a test or present internationally validated test results. 

Recognition of qualifications

Find out what documents need to be translated before applying and which ones may need ENIC-NARIC evaluation. 

Some documents might need to be certified by a notary, with an apostille attached.

Prepare your documents

The required documents vary. Usually, you need to prepare the following:

• official copy of the previous diploma(s)
• curriculum vitae (CV)
• research proposal for your PhD
• motivation letter
• references and/or recommendation letters

Find a position and funding

EURAXESS is a European Commission portal providing information on research positions and funding to help researchers come to Europe to study, work in another European country and more.

Related content

Related links, thanks for your feedback.

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If you need to ask a question, please contact Europe direct .

Alternatively, use our A–Z index

Attend an open day

MD Medicine / Overview

Year of entry: 2024

• View full page

Applicants for admission must hold an MBChB degree or equivalent medical degree.

The nature of the research project must require the candidate to have specialist clinical knowledge and/or skills in order to complete at least one aspect (e.g. recruitment/assessment of patients, acquisition of experimental samples, experimental procedures, interpretation of findings) of the study. Consequently, it is expected that all MD candidates will have a clinician as part of the supervisory team.

Applicants (including international students) will need to be working in the NHS already and have identified a supervisor and project in order to apply.

Full entry requirements

See full guidance on how to choose a project and submit an application on our websi te . You should then complete the online admissions application form to apply for this programme. Ensure you include all required supporting documents at the time of submission, or this may delay the processing of your application.

Application deadlines

You must submit your application for a postgraduate research programme before the relevant deadline to be considered. You will not be able to apply after these deadlines have passed.

• January entry: 15 October (of the year prior entry)
• April entry: 15 January (year of entry)
• September entry: 15 June (year of entry)

Programme options

Programme overview.

• Learn from some of Europe's leading researchers while undertaking your own project.
• Access some of the best research facilities in the world at both the University and in hospitals around Greater Manchester.
• Undergo training in transferable skills critical to developing early-stage researchers and professionals through the Doctoral Academy's training programme.
• Conduct research at a university ranked 6th in the UK (QS World University Rankings 2023).

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:

• (full-time) UK students (per annum): Standard £4,786, Low £11,000, Medium £17,500, High £23,000 International, including EU, students (per annum): Standard £27,000, Low £28,500, Medium £34,500, High £40,500
• (part-time) UK students (per annum): Standard £2393, Low £5,500, Medium £8,750, High £11,500 International, including EU, students (per annum): Standard £13,500, Low £14,250, Medium £17,250, High £20,250

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

Contact details

Programmes in related subject areas.

Use the links below to view lists of programmes in related subject areas.

Regulated by the Office for Students

The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website .

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website .

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Pasteur-Paris University International doctoral program​ (PPU)

The Institut Pasteur organizes a doctoral program in collaboration with Université Paris Cité, Sorbonne Université, and Université Paris Saclay, for students holding a master degree or the equivalent in science, medicine and related fields.

In 2009, the Institut Pasteur, the world leading biomedical research institute founded by Louis Pasteur in 1887, inaugurated the Pasteur Paris-University (PPU) international doctoral program in collaboration with several major Parisian science universities for students holding a Master degree (or equivalent) from a university outside of France and who have not worked or resided in France for more than 12 months in the 3 years prior to their recruitment.

PPU at a glance

Download the flyer

Download the booklet

Students conduct their research in one of the  144 laboratories  of the Institut Pasteur that offers cutting edge training in a  large variety of topics  covering Molecular and Cellular Biology, Genetics, Immunology, Microbiology, Genomics, Bioinformatics, Structural Biology, Enzymology and Metabolism, Biological Chemistry, Virology, Parasitology, Medical Mycology, Epidemiology, Infectiology, Imaging, Neurosciences, Developmental Biology and Systems Biology. They have access to a stimulating technological environment to carry out their research project. This includes opportunities to conduct technological and methodological co-developments on high-end equipment under the supervision/in partnership with technology platforms or service and research units (UTechS). In addition, PPU students will receive specific courses on soft skills, as Oral Presentation, Journal Club, Workshop on Ethics, French Lessons. ( Educational program )

Students are part of the Pasteurian community with whom they share their passion for science or technology, and their wish to contribute to the prevention and treatment of diseases. Students are immersed in an exciting, dynamic and interactive research environment including access to a large variety of technology platforms with state-of-the art expertise and equipment.

They can extend their knowledge by attending specialized courses and benefit from a vast seminar program attracting major speakers from all over the world. At the end of their studies (typically three years), students defend their PhD according to European guidelines.

The call opens in September and students are selected on a competitive basis . Candidates are first selected by host laboratories, then their applications are presented to a had hoc selection committee by mid-December. Candidates who are short listed by the selection committee are then interviewed early February, with results communicated by mid-February. Selected students are enrolled in the following October for a three-year contract.

Students selected for the PPU program receive   a salary  from Institut Pasteur including a benefits package (health insurance, unemployment insurance and retirement plan). The program beneficiates from  financial support  by Institut Pasteur, the European Community, partner institutions, governmental agencies and/or private foundations.

Assistance with administrative issues and with finding accommodation in student residences, including the Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris, will also be available ( Financial support and benefits ).

Current call

The call for enrollment in october 2024 is now open..

The 2023-2024 call for enrollment of students in October 2024 will open on September 18, 2023.

• Deadline for applying to projects on the application website: October 31, 2023
• Deadline for submitting the joint application with the host laboratory: November 13,  2023
• Interview week: February 2024

Please note that the research projects are posted on the application website , and that you will have to create an account in order to visualize the projects and to apply .

Application website

PPU and PPU-Satellite Programs

From mid-September to the end of October , candidates can apply in parallel to up to 4 projects from six PPU programs: the PPU program and the PPU-Satellite programs: PPU-IMAGINE, PPU-INCEPTION, PPU-OXFORD, PPU-Research & Technology and PPU-EID and contact more than one supervisor.

Please note that to carry on with the selection process ("joint application") after November each year , candidates must choose one single project   and program  among the six.

The research projects ( PPU, PPU-INCEPTION, PPU-Oxford, PPU-Research & Technology and PPU-EID ) are posted on the application website . You will have to create an account ( link to the platform ) in order to visualize the projects and to apply .

Pease note that no application through email will be accepted.

The selection of the PPU-IMAGINE program is independently organized by Institut  Imagine , while the other four programs (PPU, PPU-INCEPTION, PPU-OXFORD and PPU-EID) share the same selection process organized by Institut Pasteur. The PPU-Research & Technology selection process is organized by Institut Pasteur, but follows a specific process detailed in:

https://www.pasteur.fr/en/ppu/RT

Furthermore, IP has a seventh PPU program, named PPU-CNBG exclusively reserved to CNBG employees. PPU-CNBG features a distinct selection process including a first selection step made by CNBG, followed by a specific selection path put in place at Institut Pasteur.

PhD students enrolled in the PPU, PPU-INCEPTION, PPU-OXFORD, PPU-Research & Technology and PPU-EID programs will benefit from Institut Pasteur working contracts (for more details see below “ FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND BENEFITS ”). The PPU-IMAGINE PhD students will benefit from Institut  Imagine   working contracts and PPU-CNBG PhD students maintain their CNBG working contracts.

China National Biotec Group (CNBG) is a subsidiary of the China National Pharmaceutical Group Corporation (SINOPHARM). Its development is part of the history of Chinese biological product industry, and it greatly contributed to China's endeavor to eradicate or reduce the incidence of various severe infectious diseases. By manufacturing and supplying over 200 types of biological products for disease prevention and for therapeutic and diagnostic use (including all vaccines for Chinese EPI program), CNBG plays a major role in safeguarding the health of the world's largest population.

The partnership between Institut Pasteur (IP) and China National Biotec Group (CNBG) is dedicated to foster R&D industrial partnerships that translate science into outcomes beneficial to patients with disease and to disease prevention. Through an interdisciplinary and comprehensive cooperation, Institut Pasteur and CNBG join forces to develop, promote and facilitate research/training of young Chinese scientists through a three-year PhD program that takes place on the Institut Pasteur campus. The Pasteur-Paris University Program PPU-CNBG provides academic and professional training to highly motivated CNBG employees who are involved in cutting-edge projects developed on the campus.

PPU-IMAGINE

Institut Imagine is Europe's leading center for research, care and teaching on genetic diseases, and its mission is to understand and cure them . The Institute brings together 1000 of the best doctors, researchers and healthcare personnel in an architecture that creates synergies. It is this unprecedented continuum of expertise, combined with proximity to patients, that allows Imagine to accelerate discoveries and their applications for the benefit of patients.

At Imagine , patients with genetic diseases are at the heart of a virtuous circle. Created by the Institute’s founders, this circle begins with the patient and finishes by curing the patient or at least relieving his/her suffering. Imagine brings together all the skills and expertise necessary to accelerate research, develop innovative care, and to generate synergies and conditions to drive innovation in one building.

Imagine ’s goal is to change the lives of families affected by genetic diseases. To achieve this goal, Imagine focuses on four major areas: research, innovative care, education, and promotion.

Through the training of future doctors and researchers and continuous training of doctors and health professionals, Institut Imagine promotes expertise in both research and medicine, which makes it unique.

Students of the PPU-IMAGINE program will work daily in laboratories of Institut Imagine and will participate in PPU activities at Institut Pasteur.

To see and apply to the projects proposed by the IMAGINE doctoral program, please use the link below:

  https://www.institutimagine.org/en/international-doctoral-program-856

PPU-INCEPTION

Some of the projects of the PPU program will be sponsored via the « INCEPTION program » in the following scientific fields: Phylodynamics; Sequence analysis; Metagenomics; Systems biology; Deep learning; Databases; Precision medicine. Students of the PPU-INCEPTION program will work daily in Institut Pasteur laboratories and will participate to the PPU activities at Institut Pasteur. A thesis co-supervision is mandatory.

PPU-INCEPTION projects are listed within the PPU projects and labelled INCEPTION.

Please note that this program is NOT open for the 2023-2024 call.

PPU-OXFORD students will have the possibility to spend up to three months of their PhD in the Chemistry Department of Oxford University. Students of the PPU-OXFORD program will work daily in laboratories of Institut Pasteur, and will follow the activities proposed by the PPU program.

PPU-OXFORD projects are listed within the PPU projects and labelled OXFORD.

PPU-RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY

This program will foster scientific projects involving the development of a new technology or methodology to answer a biological question with impact on human health. PhD students will work on collaborative projects between a laboratory and a technology platform or technology service unit (UTechS) and will spend a significant amount of their time in the partner technology platform or UTechS. Students should hold a Master degree or an equivalent university degree in science, medicine or related fields delivered by a university located inside or outside of France, by the time that the students begin the program. Selected students will receive a high level of multidisciplinary training both in biology and technology for life sciences.

PPU-Research & Technology projects are t listed within the PPU projects and labelled R&T.

 Projects in the area of Emerging Infectious Diseases will help implementing a global vision for a "One Health" approach by preparing the next generation of scientists to major challenges of (re)-emerging infectios diseases (EID). Research-based multidisciplinary projects should aim at developing health, societal, economic and communication aspects in order to prevent and manage EID. PPU-EID students will have access to a wide range of training in the disciplines covered by the new Graduate School 1H-EID . This program is in partnership with 5 Doctoral Schools (BioSPC, MTCI, Pierre Louis de Santé Publique, Science des Sociétés and ABIES). Specific fundings for thesis prolongation, mobility grants and participation to congress will also be available as well as access to international networks such as the Pasteur Network (33 Institutes in 25 countries worldwide) and the research network CAIDERA , partner program of the Graduate School 1H-EID in Germany and Gabon.

 Students of the PPU-EID program will work daily in laboratories of Institut Pasteur in 8 of the 12 Institut Pasteur Departments associated with the Graduate School 1H-EID. They will follow all the activities proposed by the PPU program.

PPU-EID projects are listed within the PPU projects and labelled EID.

Application information (PPU, PPU-OXFORD, PPU-INCEPTION, PPU-EID)

The application call opens in September for the program beginning in October of the following year.

  STUDENT ELIGIBILITY

 ​Diploma requirement:         

• Master degree or an equivalent university degree in science, medicine or related fields delivered by a university located outside of France, by the time that the students begin the program.
• In France, a master degree corresponds to five years of academic education
• Students holding a B.A. or a B.S. acquired after four years of academic education may be considered if they have additional laboratory experience of at least 6 months, with a written final report or a publication.
• Students who already have begun doctoral training elsewhere and students with a master's degree obtained in France are not eligible, due to our agreements with the doctoral schools of the Paris Universities.

Language:  The program is run in English and therefore fluency in English is required (TOEFL or other language proficiency scores may be indicated when submitting your application). No knowledge of French is required, but a basic knowledge may be useful in the daily life outside the Institute.

Age:  The PPU doctoral program does not have an age restriction, but most accepted candidates are 24-26 years old and start their Ph.D. within a year of finishing their M.S., a few within 3 years.

External funding:  Candidates with external funding are eligible to enter the PPU program if the funding constitutes employment or if the funds can be allocated to the Institut Pasteur to pay the candidate’s salary. Such candidates must go through the same application procedure and be selected by the committee.

Mobility:  Students who have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in France for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the 1st day of recruitment by the PPU program (1st day of employment) are not eligible. Compulsory national service and/or short stays such as holidays are not taken into account. These rules are in compliance with the mobility rules of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions of the H2020 program.

THESIS ADVISOR ELIGIBILITY

• To present a candidate to the PPU program, thesis advisors must hold an HDR (Habilitation à Diriger les Recherches) diploma.
• The host laboratory must be located on the campus of the Institut Pasteur in Paris.
• The research team must be affiliated with a doctoral school of Université Paris Cité, Sorbonne Université or Université Paris-Saclay, and the advisors must not exceed the number of students allowed by their doctoral school.
• If there are multiple scientists holding an HDR in a host laboratory, each one can propose a project and submit an application with a prospective Ph.D. candidate. However, each advisor can only supervise one PPU student at a time.

 APPLICATION PROCEDURE

There are 3 steps in the selection process

1. Candidates choose and are chosen by a host laboratory.

From mid-September, a list of host laboratories and the research projects they propose are posted on the application website after registration:  https://ppu.pasteur.fr   (the link is proposed also in the Current Call section of this web site).

Applications must be sent through the same link: the candidates can select up to four projects they are interested in, and upload a detailed CV and a motivation letter in PDF format.  

Advisors may request additional information from candidates including reference letters and may interview some candidates by visio-conference. Each advisor must eventually choose only one candidate for his/her project to present to the Admission Committee.

Candidates may contact potential host laboratories for further information but application must be made through the application website (no email application) . Since each advisor must choose only one candidate, candidates may apply to more than one laboratory (maximum four). Advisors are asked to notify candidates who will not be selected as soon as possible. A candidate cannot be selected for more than one project.

The candidate selected for a project will then complete the application on the same platform together with the host laboratory (joint application).  Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores are welcome but not required. 

2. Evaluation of joint applications by the Admission Committee.

The joint applications are evaluated in December on the basis of academic qualifications, previous research experience, scientific potential of the candidate and adequation of the candidate with the proposed project. In general, applicants are expected to be among the top of those qualified to enter a Ph.D. program in their home country.

 The Admission Committee is composed of Institut Pasteur scientists, representatives of the Doctoral Schools (who verify that the applicant is eligible to register for a Ph.D. at a Parisian University) and members of the PPU Program Office (who are themselves also Institut Pasteur scientists). The Admissions Committee solicits written evaluations of the applications from international senior scientists who are familiar with the applicant’s national education systems. The most promising candidates are selected for an interview.

3. Interview week.

Selected candidates are invited for a four-day visit to the Institut Pasteur during February. Travel expenses (economy fare) and housing during the interview week are paid by the PPU program. During the visit, candidates:

• Visit the host laboratory and meet its members;
• Visit the Institut Pasteur (technical core facilities, museum, scientific library, …);
• Meet the Dean of the PPU program, the Director of Education of the Institut Pasteur, members of the PPU Program Office, current students and other scientists working at the Institut Pasteur;
• Are interviewed by Institut Pasteur scientists who are experts in the candidate’s past and/or future research projects and by a member of the Human Resources Department.
• Present their Master’s degree research (results or in progress) and their Ph.D. project to the Admission Committee which then asks questions;
• Meet at luncheons and dinners with students and scientists.

 The Admission Committee examines the general scientific knowledge, the past research accomplishments, the understanding of the proposed Ph.D. project, the motivation of the student, and considers the comments and advice of other interviewers. It then chooses the students to be offered final admission and those to be put on a waiting list. Around 12 openings are available each year. Candidates are informed of the decision shortly after the Interview week; successful candidates are generally given 10 days to notify the PPU of their acceptance.  Admission is highly competitive; each year many more qualified candidates apply than can be accepted.

Criteria used by the Admission Committee for the evaluation:

• Presentation: Logical and coherent presentation; appropriate information; clear oral presentation without “reading the slides”; good balance master/future phd projects. 
• Addressing the questions: comprehension of the questions, focus on the requested details, scientific knowledge, technical knowledge, ability to think about an open question.
• General attitude: positive attitude, self-confidence, attitude open to discussion.

Exact dates and deadlines for each step are clearly indicated in  Current Call .

Educational program

The PPU program prepares students for an exciting and competitive career in scientific research, through the development of a research project,  participation to academic courses, and professional development trainings. The requested duration for a PhD in France is three years.

The PPU program has its primary foundations based on scientific research. Students benefit from the highest training in conducting state-of-the-art research by mentorship, active planning and execution, as well as discussion of results with their Ph.D advisors and other leading scientists. A very dense scheduling of lectures and seminars by world renowned scientists, together with congresses and workshops, are also part of the exposure to ideas and data that students will experience on campus.

ACADEMIC TRAINING

Students are responsible for attending a specified number of courses dedicated to fundamental biological concepts and public health. The course syllabus fulfils requirements set forth by the universities, usually equivalent to one to two weeks of courses per year. Multiple theoretical and practical courses are available at Institut Pasteur Education Center ,  in Parisian universities, and at the Institut Curie. Students have their choice of courses to take, based on their personal backgrounds, interests and topics of research, in accordance with their host laboratory.

Students will also benefit from technical training by members of core facilities. Furthermore, working at the Institut Pasteur provides students with the opportunity to attend some of the many cutting-edge scientific seminars and participate in on-site symposia. Students are also encouraged to apply to international workshops and conferences, for which the PPU program will offer monetary support.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING

In addition to hands-on laboratory training, the PPU program requires attendance to several professional development training courses to enhance the student skills and complement their academic training:

• Oral presentation   workshop : To teach how to communicate their results and ideas effectively (identifying the key message, planning and preparation, presentation design, confident delivery and stress management, giving/receiving feedback).  During the II° year: four classes lasting 4 hours each.
• Journal Club : To enhance the educational experience of participants and the assimilation of scientific evidences (learning how to critically evaluate a study, reflecting upon results and draw conclusions, understanding peer review, identifying innovation and advancement, learning how to conceptualize follow-up.  (Journal Club) During the I° year: 1 session per month.
• Scientific Integrity and Ethics Training courses : To learn about and discuss various ethical aspects of being a scientist (learning ethical standards in research & science and the role of a scientist in today’s society, knowing the available resources at the Institut Pasteur in case problems arise). During the I° year: One half day on scientific integrity, one mini-workshop with three presentations (half day) + three group discussion sessions of one hour each.
• French language courses : 3 class levels (basic, intermediate and advanced) . During the I° year: two-hour sessions per week, on campus.
• To learn how to organize a symposium, students of the II° year are in charge of the  organization of the annual retreat  for all PPU students, under the guidance of the PPU Graduate Office members.
• Institut Pasteur  international network workshop : to be informed about the main missions of the Institut Pasteur and facilitate the creation of student personal network. During the III° year: half a day.

Various other training sessions are available at the Institut Pasteur, the Universities in Paris, and the Institut Curie.

THESIS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

A thesis advisory committee (TAC)  follows the student's research progress, offering guidance as needed in addition to that provided by the laboratory in which the student is working.

The PPU program staff is fully committed to building a strong network within each incoming class of students, and between all students in the program as a whole as well as with students and scientists of the campus. For that purpose, several informal meetings  are organized to give the students a chance to discuss with the members of the PPU Program Committee and PPU office on individual questions and challenges or unforeseen difficulties encountered.

ANNUAL RETREAT

The students of the 2nd year are responsible for the organization of the PPU annual retreat, in collaboration with members of the graduate office. The retreat lasts three days and takes place at a rotating location outside of Paris (in very nice settings). The Ph.D. advisors and faculty members are invited and students are encouraged to invite a few scientists who are experts on the topic of the chosen theme of the year to present keynote lectures.

One presentation is dedicated to the scientist who gave his/her name to the 1st year class. In addition, all students are expected to present their projects and/or their results, making this retreat a truly interdisciplinary symposium. Furthermore, students discuss their research progress with scientists both from within and outside of the Institut Pasteur. The goal is also to reinforce the networking among students and with other scientists.

CHARTER OF DOCTORAL TRAINING

The rights and responsibilities of students in the Pasteur-Paris University International Doctoral Program are described in the Charter of Doctoral Training, which all students, their advisors and the heads of their laboratories are required to sign before beginning the Ph.D. project.  Download here.

WELCOME DAY

A Welcome Day is organized for the incoming Class on their first day on campus. The Dean presents the PPU program, the specific and mandatory trainings, the specific guidance and support provided to the student through the TAC, the social activities and the different offices and the services they provide on campus. The Dean will also answer questions about student life in general.

CALENDAR OF SPECIAL EVENTS

GRADUATE OFFICE

Financial support and benefits.

Students will be employees of the Institut Pasteur with a three-year working contract. 

The students will receive:

1) a monthly salary of 1.800€ comprehensive of social benefits (national health care, health insurance, etc.);

2) a “welcome bonus” of 4.000€ gross which will be paid at once with their first salary;

3) the reimbursement of one round-trip ticket per year (train or plane tickets in eco-class, up to 1.300€ for non-continental europan countries, up to 350€ for continental european countries) for the country of origin, for the duration of the program, to be taken during the academic year (with no possibility of postponement or refund if not taken). 

There is no financial support for family members.

The PPU program offers:

- Assistance in housing. Upon arrival in France, PPU students may rent a place at the Cité Universitaire for 6 months (possible extension to 12 months because of current sanitary constraints). Additional information is provided to facilitate housing after that period.  (Housing)

- 750€ per year per student to cover expenses related to attending international conferences or summer courses.

- A “Tutor” is assigned to each student who together with the PPU and Graduate Offices acts as an advocate for the student scientific education and provides assistance in any practical matters. The tutors are usually scientists working on the campus in a different department with respect to the student-hosting laboratory.

- Help in administrative issues, individualized or grouped professional training classes, and counseling by the Human Resources Department.- Access to all amenities at Institut Pasteur and the universities for reduced fees, including: 

• Subsidized access to the cafeteria for lunch;
• Conferences on the campus;
• Sports within ASIP (Sport Association of Institut Pasteur);
• Rebates on cultural events, cinema and theater tickets and more from the "Conseil Social et Economique (CSE)" (Institut Pasteur employee benefits committee);
• Free WiFi on the campus. Students must abide by the institut’s rules concerning internet access and use;

Free access to a state-of-the-art Center for Scientific Information (CeRIS) with hundreds of scientific journals, the most extensive resources for microbiology, immunology and molecular biology in France and the unique World Health Organization publication repository in the country.

Please note that only students residing in Paris will benefit from complete handling of administrative issues by the Institut Pasteur.

For information:

• Financial support for the fellowships and the educational training comes from the Institut Pasteur and the European Community. In addition, the program benefits from support by other Institutions, including partner institutions of the Institut Pasteur, some governmental agencies and private foundations. (fellowships)

Starting January 2019, France adopted the pay-as-you-earn withholding tax system, meaning taxes are directly deducted from your salary. Tax information sessions are organized to explain students how to declare taxes in France.

See Previous and current students

Application (student).

Application (Host lab)

University - Doctoral School

Ph.d. program, life in paris.

What is the application process?

The application process consists of three steps: (i) the candidate must select and be selected by a host laboratory, keeping in mind that each advisor can present only one candidate. ; (ii) applications are filled out jointly by the candidate together with the host laboratory ("joint application") and are uploaded in the PPU dedicated platform (link available in the Current call section at the opening of the call). Applications are evaluated by an Admission committee that selects candidates for an interview at the Institut Pasteur; (iii) these candidates are invited for a four-day interview on the Institut Pasteur campus (or in a visio-conference format during the sanitary crisis) and present their past and future works to the Admission committee (see details in application information).

When does the application process begin?

The application period starts in mid-September. Prospective students are free to contact the lab (s) they are interested in at any time during application period.

When is the application deadline?

The deadline for  joint application is usually in November. The exact dates and deadlines for each application period will be indicated on the current call page when a call is opened. Candidates are strongly encouraged to contact host laboratories as early as possible and well before the application deadline.

What is the first step in the application process?

The first step is to identify and contact a host lab in which you would be interested in doing your Ph.D. research. Projects and contact information for laboratories recruiting prospective Ph.D. students at the Institut Pasteur are posted on the PPU dedicated platform (link available in the Current call section at the opening of the call).  Further information about laboratories and their research interests is available on the website RESEARCH . Because laboratories receive many applications and can present only one candidate, the first step of the selection process is to be chosen by a host laboratory. Please keep in mind that a candidate can only choose up to 4 host labs to apply to.

May I contact a lab that is not listed on the page of the current call?  

You are free to contact any lab of your choice at the Institut Pasteur in Paris. The list of all laboratories at Institut Pasteur can be found on the Institut Pasteur website . However, the laboratories not listed on the current call page are are not proposing a project for the PPU Program, and may not search for a student in the upcoming academic period.

May I contact several host laboratories?

Yes. You may contact as many host laboratories as you wish, but you may apply only to a maximum of 4. However, if you are selected by more than one host lab for application to this program, you will be required to choose only one.

Does my host laboratory have to be located at the Institut Pasteur in Paris?

In the majority of cases yes, only few host laboratories are located at walking distance from the Institut Pasteur (Institut de l'Audition, IDA)

What are the degree prerequisites for consideration of acceptance in the Pasteur - Paris University International Ph.D. program?

A Masters of Science (M.Sc.), or an equivalent degree that would formally qualify you to register for a Ph.D. program in the French University system, is required to be considered for acceptance into this program. In some cases, students who have carried out an undergraduate research project in addition to their B.A. or B.Sc. degree may qualify. The host lab can inquire into this with its affiliated doctoral school.

By what date must I have finished my M.Sc. or equivalent degree in order to enroll in the PhD program?

You do not need to have finished your M.Sc. or equivalent degree prior to the application deadline. The degree must be completed by the summer of the following year, in order to register at the Paris Universities. A copy of the diploma or a certified written attestation of completion must be available before the start of the program (October).

Is there an age limit or a time limit between the date of my Master’s degree and filing the application?

The PPU doctoral program does not have an age restriction, but most accepted candidates are 24-26 years old and start their Ph.D. within a year of finishing their M.S., a few within 3 years.

Do I need to apply directly to the University?

No, you do not. Your application must be uploaded in the PPU dedicated platform. If you are accepted into the program, you will receive information on when and how to register with the university/doctorla school to which your host laboratory is affiliated.

Are there country-specific requirements for international applicants?

What are the language requirements?

The program is run in English and therefore fluency in English is required. TOEFL or other language proficiency scores may be indicated when submitting your application. No knowledge of French is necessary. French language classes will be part of the Ph.D. program curriculum.

Are specific standardized test scores required and where should they be sent?

No. Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores are welcome but not required.  

If I have done my university studies outside of France, but will earn my Master’s degree from a French institution, am I eligible to apply?

No. A master degree (or equivalent) delivered by a university located outside of France is required. A double Master degree is acceptable only if a French and non-French institutions are delivering each a Master degree.

I already have been granted a Ph.D. fellowship. Does this guarantee a place in the program?

No. All applicants are evaluated by the Admission Committee solely on the basis of their qualifications and scientific potential. All applicants must successfully pass the application and interview procedures in order to be eligible. Moreover, under French law, the external funding must constitute employment or the funds must be allocated to the Institut Pasteur to pay the candidate’s salary.

How and when will I receive notification regarding interviews?

The selection for the interview is highly competitive. The candidates selected for an interview will be notified by email toward the end of December or beginning of January.

How and when will I receive notification regarding acceptance to the Ph.D. program?

The candidates selected for the program will be notified by email shortly after the interviews, generally within 1 week.

Where do I send application materials?

Candidates do not send applications themselves. Joint application (candidate/host lab) must be uploaded on the PPU dedicated platform

Is it possible to check the status of my application once it is filed?

Is there an application fee?

Application (Host laboratory)

Can the host laboratory present a candidate without having posted a research project on the current call page?

No, all laboratories searching for a Ph.D. student for the PPU program must upload a project on the dedicated platform. Teams that have already chosen a candidate must still upload a project and contact [email protected]

Can a host Laboratory present multiple candidates?

To present a candidate to the PPU program, thesis advisors must hold an HDR (Habilitation à Diriger les Recherches) diploma. If there are multiple scientists holding an HDR in a host laboratory, each one can propose one project and submit one application with one prospective Ph.D. candidate (joint application).

With which universities must the research group be affiliated?

To participate in the Pasteur - Paris University International Doctoral program, a host laboratory must be affiliated with a Doctoral School of one of the three partner Universities of the program: Université de Paris, Sorbonne Université, and Université Paris Saclay.

Can an advisor that already has a Ph.D. student in the program present another candidate for the following application period?

No advisor may have more than one Ph.D. student within the program.

What information should be contained in the host laboratory introduction letter?

The host laboratory must certify that it is willing to host and supervise the prospective Ph.D. candidate if he/she is accepted into the program. The host laboratory should explicit why it proposes the candidate for its laboratory and for the PPU program.

Following the interview, when will I be notified of acceptance into the Ph.D. program?

The candidates selected for the program and their host labs will be notified by email shortly after the interviews, generally within 1 week.

How long is the interview stay in Paris?

Four days. The exact dates are indicated on the Current Call Page. During the sanitary crisis, the interview week is done through visio-conference for 4 days, in the same format as the one on site (see below).

What is involved in the interview week process?

During your stay you will visit your host laboratory to meet and discuss the research project with the prospective advisor and laboratory members. Individual interviews will be performed by Faculty members to assess each candidate’s qualifications for the PPU program. You will tour the Institut Pasteur and its core facilities, and meet with current PPU students and the PPU program staff. To see what scientific life is like at the Institut Pasteur, meetings are also planned with scientists and other Ph.D. students at meals and in informal social events. You will be interviewed by the Admission Committee, during which time you will present your Master’s degree research (results or in progress) and planned Ph.D. project.

Will travel and accommodation expenses for participating in the interview week be covered by the PPU Program?

What is the connection between the Institut Pasteur and the universities of Paris?

The Institut Pasteur is a non-profit research foundation that has maintained a long tradition in teaching. Several major science courses organized at the Institut Pasteur are integrated into the master degrees of several Parisian universities. For the PPU program, the Institut Pasteur has developed a special partnership with Université de Paris, Sorbonne Université, and Université Paris Saclay. This partnership means that students are employed by the Institut Pasteur and registered at a Parisian university. Students enrolled in the PPU program perform their research project on the campus of the Institut Pasteur. The universities will deliver the diploma, on which will be indicated the co-operative nature of this program through the title “Pasteur - Paris University International Doctoral Program.

At which Parisian university will I register?

Your laboratory must be affiliated with a doctoral school of one of the three partner universities. You will be registered at the same doctoral school and university as your research team.

What is a doctoral school?

A doctoral school is an association of research teams preparing Ph.D. students to a career in research through an educational program for the research profession. Each French university has several doctoral schools which are specialized in specific scientific domains. To be enrolled in a Ph.D. program, the student registers at a doctoral school.

Will the courses differ depending on my university affiliation?

Completion of a Ph.D. at a French university requires participation in several scientific courses and professional trainings. All students enrolled in the PPU program will participate in a similar number of courses and training hours, regardless of the university affiliation. To fulfill this requirement, students will be able to choose among a number of courses that are the most appropriate and interesting for their individual training, including the ones that are required by the doctoral school.

Who will deliver the Ph.D. diploma?

The university will deliver the diploma, which will indicate the co-operative nature of this program through the title “Pasteur - Paris University International Doctoral Program”.

What will be the approximate starting date for each new academic year?

The program starts the first week of October. Arriving in Paris between September 15 and October 1 will help to familiarize yourself with the city, the housing and the university, as well as to prepare all the necessary paperwork. The exact arrival date may vary from student to student and will depend on the status of his/her visa application (if you are not from the European Community).

What is the expected duration of the program, from beginning to the defense of the Ph.D.?

Students are expected to finish their Ph.D. in three years. Sometimes extensions may be granted when required and justified and are subject to approval from the doctoral school. Extensions will only be given by universities if external funding is available. The PPU program only provides funding for three years.

Can you summarize the practical and academic offerings of this Ph.D. program?

The program aims to meet the highest standards for education and training of Ph.D. students in the world. While spending most of the time working in individual research projects in a laboratory at Institut Pasteur, students benefit from excellent scientific courses and professional development trainings. The students will also be able to attend exciting seminars and participate in interactive workshops, annual retreats and journal clubs. The students within this program will be well supported by the staff, acting as advocates for the students’ scientific education and to provide assistance in any practical matters. A thesis advisory committee (TAC) will follow the students’ research progress and will offer guidance as needed in addition to that provided by the laboratory in which the student is working. The program offers a salary covering living costs and including health insurance. The program also offers assistance in obtaining housing upon arrival in France. Financial support for attending international conferences or summer courses will also be provided.

Does the Ph.D. program also include a Master’s program?

Who do I contact if I have further questions?

If you have further questions, do not hesitate to contact [email protected]

Is housing provided?

Upon your arrival in Paris, you will be able to stay in Institut Pasteur reserved housing at the Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris (CIUP) for 6 months (up to 12 months during the sanitary crisis). The rent is paid by the student. This is a beneficial time to look for housing. The real estate market is tight and students are encouraged to actively seek housing rental opportunities. They can apply independently to continue living at the Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris (CIUP) and to the international houses of their respective countries as well. ( Housing )

Is there additional financial support given for family and/or spouses?

Will I receive help with my Visa application and other paperwork?

Yes. The PPU, the Graduate as well as the Human Resources offices of the Institut Pasteur will provide assistance. A Hosting Agreement ("Protocol d'accueil") for visa application will be sent to students selected to enter the program from outside of the European Community. Precise instructions will be sent to all students accepted into the program about the paperwork that they need to complete and the steps they need to follow. The instructions must be followed carefully.

Does Institut Pasteur provide funds for travel and moving expenses when arriving in Paris?

No. However, a 4000€ one-time bonus is added to the first paycheck.

Is healthcare included in the salary?

Where can I find more info on healthcare?

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The MD-PhD program in Geneva: a 10-year analysis of graduate demographics and outcomes

Andre dos santos rocha.

1 Unit for Anaesthesiological Investigations, Department of Acute Medicine, University of Geneva, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1206 Geneva, Switzerland

2 European MD-PhD Association, Groningen, The Netherlands

Cristophe Combescure

3 Division of Clinical Epidemiology, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

Francesco Negro

4 MD-PhD Committee, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

5 Divisions of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and of Clinical Pathology, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

Associated Data

The datasets used during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

MD-PhD programs confer degrees that empower medical doctors with in-depth scientific skills to contribute to biomedical research and academic medicine, alongside clinical practice. Whilst the career options and research opportunities related to graduates following these programs in the US are well documented, little is known about their European counterparts. In this article, we studied graduates who had completed the MD-PhD program at the University of Geneva between 2010 and 2019.

A cross-sectional survey was performed in April 2019, targeting all medical doctors who had obtained the MD-PhD degree from the University of Geneva since 2010. Demographics, opinions, and career outcomes of the MD-PhD graduates were assessed through an online anonymous questionnaire.

Twenty-one questionnaires were collected from 31 MD-PhD graduates (response rate 65.5%). Most respondents (57.1%) had performed an MD-PhD training in basic sciences; however, only 14.3% had pursued this type of research thereafter. Most of the respondents held a position at a University hospital (90.5%), although a significant number of them were no longer involved in research in their current position (28.6%). 85.7% mentioned obstacles and challenges in combining clinical duties with research. Despite this, the majority (85.7%) declared that the MD-PhD degree had given them advantages in their career path, granting access to clinical and academic positions, as well as funding.

Conclusions

Graduates from the MD-PhD program in Geneva were for the most part, satisfied with their training. However, because of the challenges and obstacles in combining clinical duties with research, the implementation of research activities in their current position proved difficult.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12909-020-02364-2.

A small proportion of all medical students and graduates are enrolled in MD-PhD programs, a degree program with the purpose of training research-oriented physicians. These highly skilled physicians, who undergo supplementary education in scientific research, are also known as ‘physician-scientists’. These physicians are expected to engage in biomedical research and academic careers, with the opportunity to play a significant role in medical education, research, and clinical practice of the future.

Since their establishment in the 1950’s, a growing number of MD-PhD programs are currently available in the United States [ 1 ]. However, in Europe, only a minority of medical academic institutions offer these degree programs which have only been in existence from the late 80’s and early 90’s [ 2 – 4 ]. In Switzerland, the national MD-PhD program was created in 1992 [ 4 ].

The characteristics, career intentions and outcomes of MD-PhD graduates have been thoroughly and periodically assessed in North America [ 5 – 11 ]. The available data supports attrition of physician-scientists after graduating from MD-PhD programs and there have been reports of restrictions in funding, which may be cause for concern [ 12 – 16 ]. It is possible that European physician-scientists face similar challenges to those reported in the US, but the literature on this matter is scarce [ 2 , 4 , 17 – 19 ]. Additionally, the structure of many European MD-PhD programs differs from that of the US, with various designs and candidature requirements [ 2 ]. Thus, there is a lack of detailed knowledge about the career outcomes of most European graduates of MD-PhD programs. In particular, the last available study on career outcomes of Swiss MD-PhD program graduates was published a decade ago [ 4 ].

Of note, in contrast to MD-PhD trainees in North America, a medical diploma is required to enroll into the MD-PhD program in Geneva. Therefore, the MD-PhD program in Geneva is a 3- to 5-year post-graduate scientific training, intended to empower medical doctors with applied research skills, whereas the program in the United States is a combined medical and PhD training.

The aim of the present study was to survey all physician-scientists who obtained the MD-PhD degree from the University of Geneva since 2010, using a questionnaire to assess demographic characteristics, research activity, career choices and also the challenges in combining research with clinical practice.

Ethical statement

Prior to its application, the design and the questionnaire of the present survey were reviewed by the Scientific Officer of the Dean’s office, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva. Voluntary participation and written consent to use the collected data were requested from all respondents. Confidentiality and anonymity of participants was ensured during both data collection and analysis.

Study population

Eligible participants were defined as medical doctors who obtained their MD-PhD degree from the University of Geneva since 2010. According to the public alumni board from the University of Geneva accessed in April 2019, 32 graduates were included in the present study. One eligible participant was reported deceased during the study evaluation period and was excluded from the analysis.

Study design

The present work is a descriptive cross-sectional study of the characteristics and outcomes of MD-PhD graduates from the University of Geneva between 2010 and 2019. All eligible participants received an online questionnaire via their institutional e-mail address in April 2019. One reminder was sent in May 2019.

Questionnaire

In order to assess the study population, an anonymous 20-question online questionnaire (available in the online supplemental Table S 1 ) was developed, based on previous studies [ 4 , 6 , 11 ]. The questionnaire was hosted on a Google survey platform and contained both objective and subjective questions. Closed-ended questions collected data regarding graduates’ demographics, MD-PhD training characteristics, career outcomes, publications, and opinions. Additionally, an open question was also included, to allow respondents the possibility of commenting on their experience with the program and any other related issues.

Data collection and analysis

The study population did not require any sampling method because all eligible MD-PhD graduates were included. Response rate was calculated as the ratio between the number of respondents and the study population. Only completed questionnaires were assumed valid and included in the analyses. Data collected from respondents was summarized using descriptive statistics. Non-parametric tests were used for statistical inference, particularly the Mann-Whitney test when comparing two independent groups or Kruskal-Wallis test for higher number of groups. Associations between categorical variables were examined through Fisher’s exact test. Statistical analysis was performed in the R environment. All statistical tests were two-sided with a level of statistical significance set at p  < 0.05.

Out of the 31 medical doctors invited to participate in the current survey, 21 replied to the questionnaire (response rate 65.5%). Demographic characteristics at enrolment in the survey are summarized in Table  1 . Males represented 67% of survey respondents (14 out of 21), comparable to the overall population of MD-PhD graduates from the University of Geneva during the same period (71.9%, 23 out of 32). Regarding nationality, 57.1% of the MD-PhD graduates from the University of Geneva were Swiss citizens. 71.4% were still working in Switzerland at the time of the survey.

Demographic characteristics of MD-PhD graduates in University of Geneva 2010–2019

Concerning the characteristics of those who had participated in MD-PhD training (Table  2 ), students had a relatively wide age-span by the time of their graduation (27 to 46 years) with their PhD training portion lasting typically three to 5 years. Students from the Geneva MD-PhD program published a median of four original articles during their degree training and there was evidence for a significant difference in the number of publications between the fields of research (basic science, translational research and clinical research. Figure  1 , p  = 0.03). Students who followed a clinical research training program, published a median of 7.5 original papers during MD-PhD training, whereas their peers in basic and translational research published a median of four and two original papers, respectively. There was no evidence for a significant difference in training length, graduation age, gender or funding concerning the three types of research (Table S 2 ).

MD-PhD program characteristics for MD-PhD graduates in University of Geneva 2010–2019

a SAMS Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences b SCES Swiss Confederation Excellence Scholarship

Number of original publications during the MD-PhD training, according to the type of research performed (basic, translational, clinical research)

The respondents had obtained the MD-PhD degree from the University of Geneva between one and 9 years prior to the survey (Table  3 ). During this time lapse, 57.1% of the respondents had already finished a medical specialty training, whereas 28.6% were in a residency training program. Since the MD-PhD graduation, the respondents had published a median of 1 (0 to 4.2) original articles per year. Of those who had reported carrying out any research activities at the time of the survey (71.4%), the publication rate was a median of two articles per year.

Current professional situation of MD-PhD graduates 2010–2019

Overall, 28.6% of MD-PhD graduates from the University of Geneva were not involved in any research activity in their current work position. Despite this, by the time of the survey, most of the respondents were holding a position at a University hospital (90.5%), while only two were practicing in either private care or at a peripheral hospital (Table ​ (Table3). 3 ). Furthermore, of the MD-PhD graduates who completed their scientific training in basic sciences (12 out of 21), only three had pursued this type of research in their current position (Fig.  2 ). Finally, all four graduates who had undergone MD-PhD training in clinical research still had time allocated to clinical research in their current positions.

Field of research during MD-PhD training (left panel). Field of research in the current situation (right panel), represented in relation to the field of research during MD-PhD training

Data were also analyzed per gender (Table S 3 ). The training duration, field of research and number of publications during the MD-PhD program were not significantly different between genders. However, the number of original publications per year after the MD-PhD graduation was significantly lower in female than in male respondents (0.3 vs 1.9, p  = 0.022). This difference between females and males remained statistically significant in the subgroup of graduates who reported having allocated research time (1.0 vs 2.1, p  = 0.032).

In examining the perspectives and opinions of MD-PhD graduates (Table  4 ), 85.7% considered that their degree had given them an advantage during their career, granting better clinical, academic or research positions, as well as the possibility of post-doctorate funding. However, 85.7% reported obstacles and challenges in combining clinical duties with research activities. The most prominent challenges seemed to be the lack of dedicated time set aside for research (61.1% of the respondents), an absence of mentoring (33.3%), under-compensation for the effort involved in producing quality research articles (27.8%), a lack of funding (33.3%) and difficulties in balancing family with work responsibilities (38.9%). Despite this, the MD-PhD graduates were for the most part satisfied with their training during the program at the University of Geneva and they would strongly recommend the MD-PhD program to a colleague who is interested in research.

Perspectives and opinions of the MD-PhD graduates from the University of Geneva

a Other (Not finding position in desired location, Lack of opportunity, Satisfactory professional advancement)

The current survey shows that MD-PhD graduates from the University of Geneva who obtained their degree(s) in the decade 2010–2019 have very heterogeneous characteristics and career outcomes. In agreement with similar surveys of other physician-scientists’ populations [ 5 ], we observed a multi-national profile amongst graduates. Considering the wide age-span by the time of MD-PhD graduation, some of the differences noted can be attributed to trainees being at different stages of their professional and personal career. Nevertheless, we also identified common aspects, challenges, and career choices between the respondents.

MD-PhD students participated in a variety of different types of research projects during their training. Our data shows that 57.1% pursued scientific training in fundamental sciences, yet only 14.3% pursued this type of research in their current positions. Considering our results, the MD-PhD pathway in clinical research was associated with a higher number of original publications during MD-PhD training. This aspect may be important to candidates, mentors, and policy makers, in order to tailor MD-PhD programs to better encompass post graduate career planning. Likewise, increased funding and institutional strategies may be required to finance more dedicated research time for MD-PhD graduates in the fundamental sciences.

It is important to note that 28.6% of the MD-PhD graduates mentioned not having any allocated research time in their current position. Most of these were young MD-PhD graduates with full-time clinical duties at the University hospital. However, it also included graduates who had left this environment in order to pursue a career in a peripheral hospital or the private care sector. Similarly, studies from the United States have found that 14–16% of MD-PhD graduates do not pursue research careers [ 5 , 10 ]. Taking into consideration that the lack of allocated research time was the main obstacle acknowledged by our respondents, it may be necessary for hospital policy makers to allocate specific research time to young physician-scientists, in order to ensure a vigorous and vibrant research environment for the future and to avoid high attrition rates amongst the MD-PhD workforce.

In addition to the insufficient research time that was mentioned by 61.1% of respondents, about a third of MD-PhD graduates also faced lack of mentoring or lack of funding. 27.8% expressed a sentiment of under-compensation and 38.9% mentioned difficulties balancing family with work responsibilities. Indeed, sub-optimal supervision and mentoring had already been reported in a Swiss survey analyzing MD-PhD graduate outcomes between 1992 and 2007 [ 4 ]. More recently, since 2017, the Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences, in collaboration with the Gottfried and Julia Bangerter-Rhyner Foundation have been supporting research by young medical doctors during their residency, with the Young Talents in Clinical Research (YTCR) program [ 20 ], to help counteract the scarcity of time and funding. Other actions have been taken in recent years to help under- and postgraduates who lack supervision and mentoring. Several mentoring programs are available at the University of Geneva [ 21 – 23 ] to provide guidance during the academic career and facilitate the transition after graduation.

Despite the reported challenges, almost all graduates (85.7%) considered that this degree was beneficial to their career and were satisfied with the program in Geneva. As a result, graduates highly recommended this program for future newcomers and 95.2% replied that, faced with the same choices, they would take the program again.

This survey which collected data on graduates spanning 10 years revealed that females represented only 28.9% of MD-PhD graduates from the University of Geneva. Accordingly, a Swiss survey analyzing MD-PhD program outcomes between 1992 and 2007 reported 23% of women finished the program [ 4 ]. Additionally, in our study, female physician-scientists had a lower rate of publications per year after the MD-PhD degree compared to their male counterparts. Noteworthy, somewhat similar findings are reported in the United States [ 24 ] and Canada [ 7 ], where female MD-PhD graduates were less likely to be funded and had lesser sustained research involvement. A possible reason for this finding is that balancing family life with work responsibilities may be a harder challenge for young female researchers in comparison to their male peers. Although these discrepancies are currently being addressed [ 25 ], it is important to realize the challenges involved in providing equal opportunities in the MD-PhD career setting.

Even though there is lack of data to compare the MD-PhD program in Geneva with that used in the USA (combined medical and PhD training), this study was still insightful in that the training format entails completing PhD years after one’s medical training. This format is also being used in the US at certain programs, such as the UCLA STAR Program [ 26 ]. As such, it is debatable whether it would be best to do the PhD in a combined MD-PhD program or after graduating medical school during post graduate training. Despite these two possible tracks, similar issues with funding, having protected research time and work life balance are still major challenges. Given that funding levels and structures are different between the USA and Europe, direct comparisons would be limited.

We did not carry out an in depth assessment of the scientific impact of the MD-PhD program by collecting data on the impact factor of journals accepting the articles and/or the number of respective quotations from each published work. Thus, the number of original papers serves only as an estimation of the scientific output of the surveyed MD-PhD graduates.

The main limitation of this study is the small sample size. For this single-center study that surveyed graduates from the past 10 years, there were 31 eligible MD-PhD graduates. Despite this, we obtained a response rate of two-thirds of the surveyed population. Moreover, the respondents had a wide distribution in terms of age, and they had the same distribution by gender compared to the total surveyed population; thus, this should be a representative sample. This, in turn, should limit the risks of biased conclusions based on the obtained responses. Therefore, we expect our data to accurately represent the situation of most of the MD-PhD graduates from the University of Geneva. Due to the small sample size, we did not perform regression analysis to adjust for potential confounders and the statistical tests are of limited power. Hence, generalizations to other physician-scientists populations based on our dataset should be cautious.

This survey of 10 years’ worth of graduates brings valuable information in an area that suffers from a paucity of literature. As shown by previous studies [ 27 ], the assessment of individuals following MD-PhD training and the recognition of the challenges graduates face may favor future improvements. Furthermore, such challenges appear to be similar whether that be in the United States or in Europe. Hospital policy makers may need to address the issues brought up in this article so that that the future of research carried out by medical doctors working in the clinical setting can be ensured.

Among MD-PhD graduates of the University of Geneva, we identified a high satisfaction rate and a successful scientific career profile. However, among the MD-PhD graduate population in Geneva there are gender discrepancies and career challenges in combining research with clinical duties in a university hospital setting.

The continuous assessment and improvement of MD-PhD programs is of paramount importance as these physicians are a valuable resource in biomedical research, allowing for the translation of biomedical knowledge from the bench to the bedside. Their unique training provides the clinical understanding and the necessary skills required to develop innovative and relevant research that can directly impact patient care and treatment options.

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Cristiana Juge for advice and revision of the questionnaire. The authors also thank John Diaper for the critical reading of the manuscript.

Authors’ contributions

Conceptualization: ADSR and FN. Data collection: ADSR. Data analysis: ADSR, CC and FN. Writing – original draft: ADSR and FN. Writing – review & editing: ADSR, CC and FN. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

The authors received no specific funding for this work.

Availability of data and materials

Ethics approval and consent to participate.

The design and the questionnaire of the present survey were reviewed by the Scientific Officer of the Dean’s office, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva. Respondents consented the use of the data collected through the anonymous questionnaire.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that no competing interests exist.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Connecting and representing Physician Scientists across Europe

EMPA (European MD-PhD Association) is a non-profit association gathering healthcare (MD, PharmD, dentistry…) students and graduates interested in Sciences from all over Europe (from here termed MD-PhDs).

Its main three aims are to bring European MD-PhDs together,  promote European scientific collaborations and support MD-PhD students and programs.

To accomplish these aims, EMPA wishes to create a network between MD-PhDs from all European countries with the help of existing national MD-PhD associations. To reinforce this network, EMPA organizes scientific gatherings such as its annual conference , which takes place each year in a different European country and gathers around 100-150 MD-PhDs.

To promote MD-PhD programs, EMPA gleans information about MD-PhD programs and student outcomes throughout Europe in order to help program supervisors and policymakers have a comprehensive view of MD-PhD programs and potentially help them improve. Moreover, by providing information about MD-PhD programs, EMPA has the will to help increase the number of these programs throughout Europe and to develop the European MD-PhD workforce.

Finally, by gathering a great number of MD-PhDs, EMPA’s wish is to raise funding to support European translational projects and MD-PhDs’ mobility around Europe.

EMPA is composed of its members (MD-PhD students and graduates), national representatives and national associations that help to spread EMPA’s voice. It is led by its executive board, annually elected during the general assembly.

Together, European MD-PhDs and translational research are stronger!

EMPA Executive Board 2021 

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PhD study program

The PhD program in Molecular Medicine aims at an in-depth education in the translation of basic knowledge within molecular biosciences into applications regarding the prevention, diagnostics and therapy of human diseases. The Faculty of Medicine at the University of Göttingen has a long tradition and is further expanding its programs towards such research goals The establishment of a PhD program in Molecular Medicine represents only the most recent effort of this kind. The program is part of the Georg August University School of Sciences (GAUSS) and the Göttingen Graduate School for Neurosciences, Biophysics, and Molecular Biosciences (GGNB) .  

The program is aiming at the education of PhD students in these disciplines and technologies. The candidates are expected to conduct a high-profile research project in one of the afore-mentioned subjects. They will be supported by stringent supervision, thesis committees, methods courses and informal counseling. Overall, the program aims at the thorough education of young scientists who address medically relevant problems with a sound background in basic sciences.

MD-PhD, Combined Degree

School of medicine, md - phd, combined degree program.

From its inception, the physician-scientist has been a hallmark of Johns Hopkins medicine and the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Indeed, the Hopkins tri-emblem represents the three core values of the institution: teaching, patient care, and research.

The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine offers a variety of opportunities for the training of medical scientists. A combined curriculum leading to both MD and PhD degrees enables students who aspire to careers in academic medicine to obtain intensive training in specialized areas of the biomedical sciences in addition to top-flight medical training. The traditional diversity and flexibility of the educational opportunities at Johns Hopkins permit the design of individualized programs to meet the needs of students with a variety of interests, educational backgrounds, and career goals.

To accomplish our training goals, we expect students to fully commit to medical training while in medical school and research training while in graduate school.  However, we also take important steps to ensure that students are exposed to the intersection of both worlds early in their training, as well as given the professional and career development advice they need to succeed.

In a word, the MD-PhD curriculum at Johns Hopkins is flexible. Most students decide to complete the first two years of medical school before they begin graduate school and finish the last two years of their medical training after completing their thesis work (see the Timeline below). However, students who want more first-hand experience in clinical medicine before beginning graduate work can elect to complete three years of medical school, followed by their graduate training, and then the last year of medical school. This can give them a better appreciation of the potential clinical relevance of their research. In making a choice, trainees consult extensively with the Program Director, the Dean of Students, members of the MD-PhD Committee, prospective research mentors, and their faculty advisors. Students in the MD-PhD Program are automatically accepted to all graduate programs, so decisions regarding graduate training programs can be made with a strong understanding of each program.  The MD-PhD Committee is responsible for program oversight, admissions, and  student mentorship .  Students complete MD-PhD training on average in eight years.

Johns Hopkins interdisciplinary organizational structure means each faculty member may be affiliated with several clinical departments, research sections, and graduate programs. 

Formal graduate programs in the School of Medicine encompass the following areas: Biochemistry; Cellular, and Molecular Biology; Biological Chemistry; Biomedical Engineering; Molecular Biophysics; Functional Anatomy and Human Evolutionary Studies; Cell Biology; Cellular and Molecular Medicine; History of Medicine; Human Genetics; Immunology; Neuroscience; Pathobiology; Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, and Cellular and Molecular Physiology. Students are also eligible to obtain their PhD in one of the 11 graduate programs at the Bloomberg School of Public Health or the School of Arts and Sciences on the Homewood Campus.  Students may select a thesis mentor from faculty in the Schools of Medicine and Public Health.

The MD-PhD Program also sponsors special seminars and lectures, It also maintains a dedicated library, the Paul Talalay MD-PhD Library, to enrich the educational opportunities of all MD-PhD students. Efforts are made to acquaint MD-PhD candidates with the major advances, concepts, and cutting-edge techniques in contemporary medicine and biomedical sciences.  We also create an environment that promotes a more intimate personal contact with successful medical scientists in this institution.

Admission Procedures.  Individuals who wish to apply for admission to the combined MD-PhD Program of the School of Medicine must submit an application through AMCAS  in which they will indicate the MD-PhD Program.  Once the AMCAS application has been verified and submitted to Hopkins, the applicant will receive an invitation to complete the Hopkins Secondary Application.  Here the applicant will submit the additional materials required for the combined degree.  Johns Hopkins does not allow applicants to apply to both the traditional MD program and the combined program during the same cycle.   

All combined-degree applications are reviewed by a separate  MD-PhD Review Committee  which is comprised of faculty from the basic sciences and clinical arena, as well as faculty from the Bloomberg School of Public Health.  A separate Graduate School application is  not necessary . The MD-PhD Committee determines whether or not an interview is indicated.  In general, the committee is looking for students with a passion for research and a commitment to medicine.  This assessment is based on the applicant’s research experience, letters of recommendation, academic performance and extracurricular activities. The Committee considers standardized test scores only in the context of the applicant’s other credentials. If an interview is granted, the applicant is notified by the MD-PhD Office and after the applicant accepts, the process for scheduling an interview begins.  Interview visits generally occur over two days. Applicants are interviewed by members of the MD-PhD Committee and other faculty members who share their research interests. Applicants have many opportunities to meet with current students and tour the campus during their visit. 

All eligible applicants who are admitted to the MD-PhD Program are funded by the NIH Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) Award.  This program, supported by the National Institutes of Health, provides full tuition, stipend, and medical and dental insurance for students. Due to federal restrictions, only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible for MSTP funding.  Approximately 10-12 MD-PhD students matriculate each year.

Students who matriculate to the traditional MD Program but have a clearly demonstrated interest and experience in scientific research, are eligible to apply to the combined MD-PhD Program.  These students may apply for admission during the fall of their first or second year of medical school.  These qualified applicants are evaluated and placed in the pool for the current application cycle and will be considered for MSTP funding.  

Financial Support.  The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) is supported by a training grant from the National Institutes of Health. A number of exceptional students with unusual accomplishments and commitment to a career in the medical sciences will be selected for traineeships under this program. Such fellowships provide stipend and tuition support for combined medical and graduate study. All students who are admitted to the MD-PhD Program will be considered for these awards. 

Graduates of The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine MD-PhD Program have gone on to become leaders in many areas of academic medicine.

Advice on the scope and opportunities offered by these programs may be obtained from the Director or Administrative Director of the MD-PhD Program.

• Regional activity
• Funding for staff
• Case studies

UCL and KU Leuven launch new framework for double research degree programmes

16 May 2024

UCL and KU Leuven have officially launched a new institutional double PhD framework, marking a significant step forward in their ongoing partnership. 

The initiative paves the way for new collaborative PhD programmes to extend UCL and KU Leuven’s existing research collaborations, in areas such as fetal medicine and neurodegeneration. A first programme in women’s health will build on many years of co-operation between clinical and academic teams at UCL EGA Institute for Women’s Health, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, and KU Leuven.

The framework launch took place on 16 May 2024 at KU Leuven, and marked the successful culmination of years of planning and shared commitments to enhancing our joint research, education and clinical work.

The ceremony was attended by Professor Geraint Rees (UCL Vice-Provost Research, Innovation & Global Engagement), Professor Anna David (Professor in Obstetric and Maternal Fetal Medicine, Director of the Elizabeth Garrett Institute for Women’s Health, Honorary Professor of Fetal Medicine, KU Leuven), Dr Uta Staiger (Global Strategic Academic Advisor for Europe, Director of UCL European Institute) and Professor Luc Sels (Rector and President of KU Leuven).

Professor Anna David highlighted the shared commitment of UCL and KU Leuven to advancing medical science and health education. She said: "Today represents not just the culmination of a longstanding collaboration but also the beginning of an exciting new chapter in our partnership with KU Leuven. With this framework now in place, we can now swiftly finalise our plans for a PhD in women’s health, a testament to our deep-rooted commitment to advancing medical science and health education shared with KU Leuven."

The first double PhD programme is expected to launch later in 2024 and will be led by UCL's Institute for Women's Health and the Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health. Shaped by joint supervision, training and development plans, the programme will offer future candidates access to two distinctive, but complementary research environments and pedagogical traditions. Doctoral candidates will gain first-hand experience of working across borders, developing their cultural awareness and sensitivity.

Professor Jan Deprest, Professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology at both KU Leuven and UCL, added: "We have launched multiple translational and clinical research projects to boost fetal diagnosis and therapy, guided by joint professors of our two institutions. Once fully up and running, the new agreement will put both research teams at the forefront of innovation in fetal medicine, inspiring young researchers and in the future, helping pregnant women and their children."

More generally, the new framework is expected to help sustain existing, and foster new research collaboration between academic departments at each institution. It has been developed over the past five years by UCL Global Engagement in conjunction with the Doctoral School, the Academic Policy and Quality Assurance office and colleagues at KU Leuven.

UCL and KU Leuven share a strong history of collaboration in women’s health, for example a project between UCL’s Institute for Women’s Health and KU Leuven University Hospitals that led to the successful birth of a baby after in-womb spina bifida surgery in April 2019. Researchers from UCL as well as NHS clinicians from University College London Hospitals (UCLH) and Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) joined forces with KU Leuven University Hospitals to carry out the first operation of its kind in the UK.

The partnership between UCL and KU Leuven has already produced more than 1,600 co-authored research publications and collaboration on multiple EU-funded projects, demonstrating the solid academic and strategic bonds between the two institutions. Plans are also in place to expand the collaboration further, with a second double PhD programme in Neuroscience anticipated to follow soon.

The launch of this programme aligns with UCL's Grand Challenges initiative, which tackles significant global issues such as the Climate Crisis and Mental Health and Wellbeing. It reaffirms UCL's strategic commitment to enhancing its cooperative relationships and continuing its legacy of impactful research with KU Leuven.

• UCL EGA Institute for Women's Health
• UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health
• UCL Faculty of Population Health Sciences
• UCL and Europe

Professor Geraint Rees, Dr Uta Staiger and Professor Anna David with Global Engagement and KU Leuven colleagues at the framework launch in Belgium.

Unlock over 16 fully-funded PhD positions available in diverse fields at prestigious universities in Sweden and the Netherlands!

Are you looking for exciting PhD positions at esteemed universities in Sweden and the Netherlands?

Over 16 fully-funded multiple doctoral scholarships in diverse fields are available at various universities in Sweden and the Netherlands for the year 2024. These fellowships provide funding for doctoral researchers to conduct their research projects at universities, research institutions, and other organizations in these countries. These PhD positions are funded by prestigious sources including the MSCA doctoral program and other funding programs.

For detailed information on specific doctoral positions, please visit the provided links to explore corresponding PhD scholarships, which include specific requirements and application procedures.

PhD positions available in Swedish universities.

1. Computational condensed matter physics, Linköping University

2. Urban Freight Management, Chalmers University of Technology

3. eDNA environmental monitoring, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet

4. Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS), Luleå University of Technology

5. Medical Science - Regional differences in gestational duration, University of Gothenburg

6. Computational Sciences within the national Data-Driven Life Sciences program, Umeå universitet

7. Computational biology of infection, Lunds universitet

PhD positions available in Dutch/Netherlands universities.

8. Donders Centre of Neuroscience - Motor Disorder Rehabilitation, Radboud University

9. Human-aligned Video-AI, University of Amsterdam (UvA)

10. Multivariate Dependence Modelling and Statistical Machine Learning Algorithms for Patient Risk Profiling, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft)

11. Computational Cognitive Neuroscience at the Predictive Brain Lab, Radboud University

12. Atmospheric Sciences - Unraveling the mesoscale organisation of shallow convective clouds for better climate projection, Wageningen University & Research

13. Dynamic On-Body and In-Body Compression Systems, University of Twente (UT)

14. Modelling Micropollutant Removal using Charge-Mosaic Nanofiltration Membranes, University of Twente (UT)

15. Economic Life Cycle Costing and Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment of Hydropower, University of Twente (UT)

16. Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Hydropower, University of Twente (UT)

Don't miss this exceptional opportunity to advance your research career!! Apply now!

ARVO 2024: Baruch Kuppermann, MD, PhD, discusses durability of a pan-VEGF tyrosine kinase inhibitor

• Sydney M Crago

Barry Kuppermann, MD, PhD, director of the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute at the University of California Irvine, speaks about his ARVO poster presentation

At this year's ARVO meeting, the Eye Care Network spoke with Barry Kuppermann, MD, PhD, about his poster presentation. Here, he speaks about the world of wet age-related macular degeneration and extending durability of a pan-VEGF tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

Editor's note: The below transcript has been lightly edited for clarity.

Barry Kuppermann, MD, PhD : Hi, I'm Barry Kuppermann, director of the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute at the University of California Irvine. I'm here at ARVO Seattle 2024. [I'll] be presenting a poster coming up tomorrow on the EyePoint technology. That's a biodegradable polymer that stores and releases vorolanib, which is a pan-VEGF tyrosine kinase inhibitor. And we're showing some data about its pharmacokinetics, its efficacy over time. It's a summary of some of the DAVIO results, but as well as the impressive PK results. The hope is that this sort of technology to be used for the treatment of various conditions, in particular, wet age-related macular degeneration, with injections every 6 months or so, extending our durability of effect from the other anti-VEGF blockers that we have been using for so many years.

So it's an interesting product and interesting company, again, EyePoint is a company that's developed drug delivery systems for decades now, the original Vitracert and Reticert all came from them, as did the Iluvien and the Yutiq. Again, it's a company with a long-established tradition, but this is a biodegradable implant again, different from their other implants. And it's releasing a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, vorolanib, a pan-VEGF blocker for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration. The advantage of this sort of technology is the durability of the effect. We hope to mirror the very impressive results that the regular biologic, anti-VEGF agents use, this again as a TKI, but in a drug delivery system, so it can be delete released over a 6-month plus period of time. The hope being that it will be much more efficient for our patients in terms of their timing, that they could typically get 6 months plus durability, instead of the rare events that we occasionally get some patients extended out to 6 months, not very typical. Again, our target is usually 12 to 16 months with anti-VEGF agents, but this one will be more of a 6-month agent.

While the study is underway, we're still going to develop a phase 3, phase 3 study will be developed and will be enrolled. But the hope is that those pivotal trials will lead to its approval, working in concert with the FDA, and this will be a new advantage, a new opportunity for our patients. But again, still the trial to come and data to be an analysed, and hopefully all will work out.

I'm a consultant, I'm a consultant to EyePoint. I'm a consultant a variety of companies including both Eyepoint and many of its competitors.

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Letter to the editor: minimally invasive pediatric cardiac surgery: steal from the rich and give to the poor.

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Nicola Pradegan, Vladimiro Vida, Letter to the Editor: Minimally invasive pediatric cardiac surgery: steal from the rich and give to the poor, European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery , 2024;, ezae201, https://doi.org/10.1093/ejcts/ezae201

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