The PhD (Clinical and Translational Research) is a full-time inter-institutional thematic structured PhD programme running over 48 months from the date of first registration for the programme, offered collaboratively by UCC, NUIG, UCD and TCD. Students on the programme are awarded their PhD by their host institution. Students registered in UCC for the programme are awarded their PhD by UCC on successful completion of the programme.

For the PhD (Clinical and Translational Research) programme applicants must possess a primary degree (minimum 2H1 or equivalent) in a science, health, health science or related subject. Preference will be given to those who also possess a Master's degree in a science, health, health science or related subject. Candidates will be invited to formal interview; interviews will be coordinated by MMI (Molecular Medicine Ireland). The interview board will be chaired by an independent chair and will comprise of representatives of the host universities and representatives from among industry, IMB and HSE.

Students registered for the PhD (Clinical and Translational Research) undertake a four year programme of study comprising a total workload equivalent to 360 ECTS including taught modules to the value of 90 credits over Years 1, 2 and 3, as detailed below.

Programme overview:

Year 1:

• Graduate education modules (including placements in academic labs, industry and clinical research facilities), 70 ECTS.
• Students start PhD research project towards the end of Year 1.

Years 2 and 3:

• PhD research project.
• Graduate education modules in Years 2 and 3, 10 ECTS to be completed in each year.

Year 4:

• PhD research project

Yearly:

• Annual review by host department from Year 2.
• 6 monthly progress review for UCC students by UCC programme committee.
• Annual Scientific Meeting where students present a report on their research to an audience of relevant supervisors, co-supervisors, research teams and colleagues from each of the four member Universities, in addition to MMI-associated personnel and management.

Students registered in UCC on this programme will be governed by UCC's regulations on monitoring and progression (available here). This process may involve the inter-institutional programme team.

Year 1
In Year 1 students take modules to the value of 70 credits in total (15 credits of core modules; 10 credits of elective modules; 45 credits of placement modules) as follows:

Core Modules (15 credits)
SH7009 Molecular Mechanisms of Disease Pathogenesis (2.5 credits) (Co-lead TCD, UCD)
SH7010 Molecular Medicine: Human Disease (2.5 credits) (Co-lead TCD, UCD)
SH7011 Biological Imaging (2.5 credits) (Co-lead TCD, UCD)
SH7012 Integrated Pharmacology (2.5 credits) (Co-lead TCD, UCD)
SH7017 Communication, Teamwork and Research Ethics (2.5 credits)
SH7018 Biostatistics (2.5 credits) (NUIG)

Elective Modules
Students select 10 credits from the following:
SH7001 Introduction to Biomarker Discovery (2.5 credits)
SH7002 Neonatal Brain Injury (2.5 credits)
SH7003 Cardiovascular Biology (2.5 credits)
SH7004 Gastrointestinal Health: Mouth to Anus (2.5 credits)
SH7013 Translational Research: Haematology/Oncology (2.5 credits) (NUIG)
SH7014 Stem Cells and Gene Therapy 1 (2.5 credits) (NUIG)
SH7015 Making Clinical Research Change Practice (2.5 credits) (NUIG)
SH7016 Drug Development and Clinical Trials Design (2.5 credits) (NUIG)

Placement modules (45 credits)
SH7005 Industrial Research Facility Placement (20 credits)
SH7006 Clinical Research Facility Placement (5 credits)
SH7007 Academic Laboratory Placement 1 (10 credits)
SH7008 Academic Laboratory Placement 2 (10 credits)

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module descriptions may be found here.
Year 2
In Year 2 students take 10 credits as follows:

Core Modules
SH7030 Project Management in the Research Context (2.5 credits) (UCD)
SH7031 Intellectual Property in the Research Context (2.5 credits) (UCD)
SH7032 Epidemiology (2.5 credits) (NUIG, lead)
SH7033 Regulation of Medicines and Medical Devices (2.5 credits) (TCD, co-lead UCC, co-lead IMB)

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module descriptions may be found here.

Years 3
In Year 3 students take 10 credits as follows:

Core Modules
SH7019 Case Studies in Research Ethics (2.5 credits) (UCD)
SH7020 Skills and Professional Development (2.5 credits) (NUIG)
SH7021 Case Studies in Drug Discovery and Development (2.5 credits) (UCD)
SH7022 Principles of Medical Device Design (2.5 credits) (NUIG)

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module descriptions may be found here.

Student workload in Years 2, 3 and 4 will be spent primarily on their research, in which they must demonstrate adequate on-going progress. The thesis may be submitted at the end of Year 4, and the degree will be awarded solely on the basis of the examination of the thesis in line with standard practice for the PhD examination in UCC.

Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical and Translational Research, (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
Students who successfully complete and pass the taught modules to the value of 70 credits in Year 1, following consultation with their supervisor and the local programme committee and then with the MMI programme steering committee, may exit at any point during the programme and be awarded with a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical and Translational Research.

Examinations
Full details of regulations governing Examinations for each programme are contained in the Marks and Standards 2019/2020 Book, and for each module in the Book of Modules, 2019/2020

Programme Learning Outcomes for PhD (Clinical and Translational Research) (NFQ Level 10, Major Award)
The primary learning outcome of this thematic structured PhD is that of all PhD degrees, i.e., the generation of new knowledge in the field which is publishable in whole or in part as a work of serious scholarship. The degree will accordingly be awarded solely on the basis of the thesis.

In addition, consistent with the national understanding of the goals and objectives of structured PhD education, the inclusion of a formalised programme of structured training and education undertaken in parallel with the thesis research adds several learning outcomes which ultimately enhance the breadth of education and in particular the career opportunities of the doctoral graduates.

In this case, on successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Conduct patient-focused and disease-oriented research demonstrating a high level of discipline-specific skill developed through coursework, placements and the conduct of independent research;
• Describe the requirements of good laboratory practice and good clinical practice and the maintenance of a laboratory book;
• Illustrate a deeper understanding of practical translational research through laboratory rotations in disease-oriented research groups;
• Demonstrate understanding of the complexity of patient-focused research studies and clinical trials following a placement in a Clinical Research environment;
• Demonstrate ability to work collaboratively in maintaining a three-way 'dialogue' between bench, bedside and business so that real clinical outcomes result from the research activity;
• Describe in detail the translation of innovative research to the clinical and commercial arena;
• Demonstrate awareness of the development and protection of Intellectual Property;
• Demonstrate an understanding of the regulatory environment governing the commercialisation of patient-oriented research;
• Demonstrate a high level of generic skills in management and communication of research.

Programme Learning Outcomes for Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical and Translational Research (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate a knowledge of patient-focused and disease-oriented research methods;
• Demonstrate a high level of discipline-specific skills developed through coursework and placements;
• Describe the requirements of good laboratory practice and good clinical practice and the maintenance of a laboratory book;
• Illustrate an understanding of practical translational research through laboratory rotations in disease-oriented research groups;
• Critically discuss the complexity of patient-focused research studies and clinical trials following a placement in a Clinical Research environment;
• Demonstrate ability to work collaboratively in maintaining a three-way 'dialogue' between bench, bedside and business so that real clinical outcomes result from the research activity;
• Describe the translation of innovative research to the clinical and commercial arena.