About the course

Course overview

The MPhil in Therapeutic Sciences provides students with an opportunity to undertake a period of study and research in therapeutic sciences. The MPhil is offered by the Faculty of Biology as a 11-months, full-time period of study and research, in-person in Cambridge.

The course covers both conventional and developing therapeutic modalities, including biological pathways and therapeutic mechanisms, diagnostic and prognostic tools, identifying novel targets, and characterising the pharmacologic profiles of new compounds including adverse effects and toxicity. 

Particular emphasis is placed on innovative therapeutic approaches such as, recombinant protein technologies, gene therapy, cell-based therapies, regenerative medicine, electroceuticals, artificial intelligence and machine learning. Students will develop a solid understanding of the broader context in which therapies are developed and introduced including the social, ethical, legal, financial and policy implications. The programme also addresses key drivers of innovation in healthcare, such as demographic change, the increasing impact of chronic and rare diseases, advances in genomics and microbiome research, scientific and technological convergence and the impact of healthcare providers who require cost-effective scientifically substantiated new therapies.

Aim of the course

The main aim of the course is to create the next generation of scientific and business leaders in the therapeutics and healthcare sector and to bridge the gap between academic research and translational therapeutics. Students will gain the quantitative and practical skills required to design, implement, and evaluate cutting-edge therapeutic strategies, alongside an understanding of how scientific discoveries are translated into real-world healthcare solutions.