MAS in Translational Medicine and Biomedical Entrepreneurship

Translational medicine is a new, process-oriented discipline that aims to translate new findings and products resulting from industrial development and basic research into clinical applications. It seeks to professionalize the essential interaction between basic science researchers, clinicians, regulatory bodies, and investors.

This study program is designed to train professionals in scientific and medical knowledge, and simultaneously in entrepreneurship skills to enable them to successfully coordinate the development and commercialization of biomedical products. Depending on your needs we offer a CAS, DAS or MAS. The program consists of 6 modules covering different aspects relevant for the development and commercialization of medicinal products and medical devices. These six modules are aligned along the translational process from the preclinical phase to the post market phase. MAS students perform activities that are designed to specially address aspects relevant to their projects. This includes regular project discussions with peers and experts, the selection of applicable case studies and site visits at companies, which will give them the opportunity to apply knowledge, skill sets and techniques that they have gained from the classroom in real life situations.

Objectives

The program offers continuing education to specialists in industry, hospitals and academia in the field of translational medicine and biomedical entrepreneurship, expertise highly needed in both industry and universities. Participants will acquire the know-how to initiate and implement the translation process of products from the stage of development in industrial or research institutions to clinical applica­tions with the goal of their commercialization. The focus is on both diagnostic and therapeutic medical devices and medicinal products.

What to expect from this program?

• You will become proficient in medical product development
• You understand the interdisciplinary interaction in translational medicine
• Our innovative enviornment and network of experts and specialists from industry and academia provide you with a state-of-the-art platform
• We offer a unique mentoring program and large flexibility our custom designed study program
• You will be able to take your concept for your medical innovation to the next level and increase the success of your start up

Participants

The program is open for all academic disciplines. For academics without a background in natural science, engineering or medicine, a special module «Prerequisites» has been developed. It will allow those participants to acquire fundamental scientific-medical knowledge required for the program. The program addresses professionals from industry, hospitals and academia that are active in the medical sector and interested in translational medicine and biomedical entrepreneurship.

Structure of the MAS TMBE program

The MAS TMBE is a two-year part-time program (60 ECTS), consisting of the development of a real-life, practical translational project, and the acquisition of theoretical medical and entrepreneurship knowledge.
The theoretical knowledge acquired during the six modules will be directly and specifically applied to the students' projects. Participants are expected to present a mature project from both a translational and entrepreneurial perspective. The master thesis is supervised and assessed by a partner from industry and an academic clinician. After successful participation, the University of Bern awards the degree Master of Advanced Studies. The certificate will disclose the contents and achievements of the program.

The program is highly modular, thus allowing individual learning approaches and fast tracks (see DAS TMBE, DAS TM, CAS TM, CAS BE). It is also possible to book single modules in case free places are available.

Your project

The program aims at empowering participants to develop and present a mature project from both a translational and entrepreneurial perspective at the end of the program. 
One of the main objectives is that students work – together with our faculty –  on continuously develop their own project or venture, as this is an integral part of the thesis. The theoretical knowledge acquired during the six mandatory modules can be directly and specifically applied to the individual projects. 
The course activities are designed to address relevant topics students may encounter in their projects, and to provide strategies on how to handle them. Such activities are regular project discussions with peers and experts, case studies and industry and academic content. Company site visits provide an opportunity to apply the knowledge, skills and techniques gained in the classroom in real life scenarios. 

Location

The study program is embedded in sitem-insel, which, in collaboration with partners, provides participants access to a vast amount of hightech facilities and services.

The study program offers «blended learning», i.e. e-learning complemented with face-toface concept lectures, peer learning sessions and interactive discussions with specialists. Consequently, the program permits you to organize your daily workload and study time according to your background and your specific needs, while the face-to-face sessions allow networking with experts and personal contact with your peers.

Since 2017, the sitem-insel School has been able to provide financial support to our program participants through scholarships. We keep partnering with industry, scientists from universities, researchers, regulatory agencies, and collaborators who help us promote a new generation of innovative minds in many biomedical fields. 

What does the program offer? 

Scholarship recipients benefit from financial aid, comprehensive training in scientific-technical/medical, as well as entrepreneurial skills and access to a large network of experts in the field. If your application is selected by our committee, you will benefit from:

• A scholarship towards the MAS Translational Medicine and Biomedical Entrepreneurship program fee, worth between CHF 10'000 and CHF 30'000.
• A one-off opportunity to bring your project to life – i.e. a medical product or a service – and change patients’ lives.
• A large network of experts and international, like-minded professionals like you to collaborate with.

For detailed information on the program click here.

Am I eligible?

All MAS TMBE applicants are eligible to apply for a scholarship. Bursaries are limited and competition is extremely high due to the number of projects and start-up proposals we receive every year. Please see the academic and professional requirements to apply for the TMBE program first in the admissions section.

How to apply? 

Applicants are required to submit the completed scholarship application form provided and a CV in addition to their regular program registration. Please add these documents to your dossier (zip-folder) when submitting your program application.
The application deadline for Scholarships is 31^st of May.
Participants will be informed whether they have been awarded a scholarship shortly before the start of the new program of that year.

Scholarship sponsors

The scholarship sponsors dedicate a portion of their income to helping students acquire knowledge in the field of translational medicine and biomedical entrepreneurship and in supporting future leaders and professionals to bring their idea to market. Our partners are renown companies that operate nation-wide and internationally (e.g. CSL Behring AG, Kellerhals Carrard, Arcondis, Bonny Stiftung für die Freiheit).

Contact

Please don't hesitate to reach out to us via email in case of questions or to book a call: school.sitem@unibe.ch.

Swiss Institute for Translational and Entrepreneurial Medicine (sitem-insel)

sitem-insel is the Swiss Institute for Translational and Entrepreneurial Medicine. It is located on the Insel Campus Bern and benefits from its proximity to Switzerland's largest university hospital (Inselspital) as well as the University of Bern. At sitem-insel, a wide variety of units from clinics, industry, research, and education are networked under one roof, driving innovation for the benefit of patients. Our mission is to establish, operate and develop a National Center of Excellence for Translational Medicine that professionalizes translational research for the benefit of patients, society, and science. An onsite cutting-edge 20,000 m² facility is the sitem-insel catalyst for a multidisciplinary collaborative approach to unlocking ‘bench to bedside’ innovation. 

sitem-insel AG partners with educational institutions, infrastructure, platforms, service and networks throughout the entire translation process.

Education at sitem-insel: training tomorrow’s experts

The sitem-insel School promotes professionalization by educating researchers and training executives in the field of translational medicine, biomedical entrepreneurship and medical device regulations from a holistic perspective.
The School teaches students practice-oriented high-quality knowledge, provides a strong network between people involved in the translational process, and offers training accredited by the University of Bern.
Next to the School, the Clinical Anatomy Training and Research (CATR) unit is a cutting-edge facility, dedicated to surgical training and product development. Here we organize and host courses and workshops for medical experts, societies, foundations, hospitals, and private companies in different fields of medicine.

A faculty of industry experts

Our faculty are industry leaders in health, biomedicine, and entrepreneurship fields. They combine deep theoretical knowledge from their innovative research, with the latest practical insights from their extensive work with industry and governments.
Their combination of research activities and consultancy work for commercial clients means our lecturers use real-life challenges to illustrate the contents of the modules, guiding participants with their own projects.

• Prof. Dr. Artur Baldauf
• Dr. Andreas Wallnoefer
• Dr. Max Corbett
• Prof. Dr. Heinz Müller
• Dr. Barbara Jentges
• Sandra Soniec
• PD Dr. Sven Trelle
• Beat Lechmann

Admission Process

Admissions requirements are a completed study program in medicine, life science or engineering. Exceptional admission sur dossier may be approved by the study commission. If the applicant has no prior academic degree or professional experience, the study commission may define further conditions for the applicant to successfully complete the course.To complete the application, you will need the following documents:

• Copy of your resume/curriculum vitae (CV)
• Recent passport photo (see guideline) and a copy of the passport/ID
• Signed copy of Confidentiality Declaration (see documents below)
• copy of highest relevant academic degree

Upon successful registration, the participants will get a Campus Account from the University of Bern, which allows access to the student area of the University websites, the University´s WLAN network (eduroam), the use of library databases and of e-journals. MAS students will also receive a UNICARD and have access to sports, childcare and counselling facilities offered by the University of Bern.

Prospective students who would like to attend single modules may be admitted, provided places are still available. For details, please refer to the study regulations of sitem School. There is no claim to admission.

Application Deadlines

Regular application deadline for the MAS TMBE Program: 15 July. 
The application deadline to apply for a Scholarship is 31 May.
Extensions of deadlines may be granted by the Directorate.

Tuition fees

Master of Advanced Studies (MAS): CHF 31'500.–
Diploma of Advanced Studies (DAS): CHF 23'100.–
Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS): CHF 12'600.–

The invoice for your first payment will be sent following written confirmation of admission. The fee for the DAS/MAS can be paid in full at once or in three installments. There is no entitlement to a refund or waiver of the course fees if parts of the course are not attended. Costs for travel, accommodation and catering are not included. Insurance is in the sole responsibility of participants (accident, travel, cancellation, etc.).
Withdrawal of the registration before the registration deadline is possible without cost consequences. In case of withdrawal after the registration deadline, the full course fee must be paid.