Genomic medicine
The Programme
Oxford has been at the forefront of recent advances in genetics and genomic science that have the potential to revolutionise the way that medicine is practiced in the future. The outstanding research environment within the department spans the participating Institutes, centres & units in Oxford and overseas including for example the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics and Structural Genomics Consortium, offering unique opportunities to train the next generation of scientists in genomic medicine that are further enhanced by translational opportunities arising from the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford University NHS Trust and Oxford Genomic Medicine Centre (100,000 Genomes Project)
The department encourages applications for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (equivalent to a PhD) from students with diverse backgrounds. Previous experience in genetics or computational-related fields is not a requirement as a wide range of teaching and training opportunities are available. Strength in depth and diversity means that many of our projects cut across conventional disciplines to include aspects of computational science, statistics, molecular and cell biology, structural biology as well as specific clinical arenas including cancer, cardiovascular disease, infectious disease, neuroscience and immunology.
Admission is competitive and decided on excellence, and currently about half of our students are from outside the UK.
Funding
NDM Doctoral Prize Studentships are our fully funded 4 year scholarships open to outstanding students of any nationality, which are advertised each autumn for students who want to start the following October. The application deadline is early January each year and offers made early February.
Other sources of full funding include Wellcome Trust 4 year PhD programmes in Genomic Medicine and Statistics (which focuses on training in research methodologies to determine the inherited basis of disease) and in Chromosome and Developmental Biology: The Cell in Heredity and Development (which provide training in a biochemical, genetic and cell biological approaches to study chromosome and developmental biology); partnership programmes including the NIH-Oxford Scholars Program, Scripps-Oxford and the A*STAR Research Institute in Singapore and various sources of funding for clinicians including 3 year Wellcome Trust Training Fellowship Programme for Clinicians in Basic Sciences.
Doctoral Projects
Projects cover a range of areas relating to genetics and genomics notably bioinformatics and statistical genetics, genetic susceptibility to common and rare disease, technology and methodological development, genomic medicine, model organisms, pathogen genomics, innate immunity, autoimmune disease, cancer, cardiovascular and infectious disease.
Projects relating to Genetics and genomics
Training and Career Development
During the first year, students attend compulsory and optional courses and lectures in genetics, bioinformatics and statistics together with laboratory techniques, complemented by gaining experience working at the bench. The aim is to tailor this training to individual needs and bring all students up to satisfactory level in background knowledge. Later training is focused on the skills required for a successful career in independent research.
NDM students in Genetics and Genomics are part of larger group from several departments in the Medical Sciences Division. Lectures and Seminars cut across departments and collaborations are widespread within the University.