Program Overview

The unique and innovative Master of Science (MSc) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Translational Medicine are the first research-based graduate programs focused on translational medicine at both master’s and doctoral levels in Canada. The programs are entirely unique by offering a curriculum interweaving graduate level research with authentic clinical experiences in a multidisciplinary environment across departments at Queen’s University.

Our programs link graduate level research skills with a variety of clinical experiences including patient interactions, clinical observerships and medical rounds to enhance professional thinking and action. This unique curriculum offers important foundation work for future careers in the biomedical field, and provides critical skills for pursuing careers that include clinician scientists, biomedical researchers, leaders in industry and public health and/or health policy.

Both the MSc and PhD in Translational Medicine are research-based programs, which requires the completion of 12-credit courses, including three new mandatory core courses in translational medicine and 3 credits of elective course(s) chosen from students’ area of interests, and thesis research. PhD students also have the requirement of a comprehensive exam.

Core Course:
* = courses that are one term in length. Courses are 3 credits unless otherwise stated

*TMED 800 Translational Medicine**	Students are educated in the translation of medical knowledge from a variety of medical disciplines. Classroom sessions are divided into a traditional lecture, followed by an interactive discussion and a 3-minute student presentation. Clinical observerships involve direct placement within various clinics. Students are expected to write a review article on the topic of their thesis research.
TMED 801 Profession of Medicine	This course immerses students in the professional learning environment of Medicine. Course content consists of attendance at a minimum number of weekly Medical Grand Rounds, followed by facilitated small group discussions. Student seminars are held during the winter term for presentation of thesis research proposals.
TMED 802 Research Success Skills	This course provides the students with essential skills required to be a successful researcher. Instructions on study design, ethical and regulatory requirements for biomedical research are provided through completion of online modules. Library sessions are included to teach strategies to search biomedical literature. Students are expected to write a CIHR Canada Graduate Scholarship application and laboratory/research skills related to their thesis research are evaluated.

POSSIBLE ELECTIVES

Additional electives may be approved by the program director and students' supervisor, depending on the research interests of the student.

BMED 862* Cellular Techniques	This one-credit course is part of a suite of methodology courses being developed for the graduate program in Biomedical and Molecular Sciences intended to familiarize graduate students with the principles and practice of cutting edge technologies used in biomedical and molecular sciences research. The objective of this course is to familiarize graduate students with the principles and practice of cutting edge technologies used for protein and peptide analysis involved in biomedical research.
TMED 865* Cell Imaging Analysis	This 1.5 Unit course (30 hours) designed to introduce the principles of cutting-edge imaging tools integrated with methods and best practices of sample preparation. Students will have the opportunity to participate in active discussion in class, learn from demonstration and hands-on sample preparation, participate in imaging sessions [confocal, STED, live imaging and automated methods (MICA)], analyse, interpret and present image-based data.
BMED 869* Reproduction	The objective of this course is to familiarize graduate students with the principles and practice of cutting edge technologies used in reproductive and developmental biology involved in biomedical and molecular sciences research. This specific offering of the course will focus on methods to study developmental toxicity. This unit will include an introductory lecture, hands on laboratory experience and a take home assignment.
*BMED 809 Principles and Drug Discovery and Development**	This is a problem-based course focusing on and consisting of discussions of receptor theory, mechanisms of drug action, drug metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics, and drug transport. The course comprises lectures, problem-solving discussions and seminars, based on recent literature.
*BMED 811 Advanced Molecular Biology**	This course concentrates on the molecular biology of mammalian models particularly mechanisms involved in human diseases. The human genome project, forensic analysis, DNA diagnostics of human diseases, models of transcriptional and growth regulation and cancer, DNA repair, RNA processing and translation are all discussed. Emphasis on recent findings and course materials will be drawn from current reviews.
*NSCI 844 Controversies in Neuroscience**	As insight regarding the human brain expands, so do issues such as what constitutes personhood, what drives the criminal mind, intelligence-enhancing drugs and end-of-life decisions, to name a few. Lead by experts who deal daily with such concerns, this course will focus weekly on a particular topic in neuroscience which impacts on society.
*EPID 803 Public Health System in Canada**	This course provides an overview of the public health system in Canada including the provision of health care services. The first section of the course provides a history and overview of the Canadian public health care system, including how health services are organized and financed, as well as an introduction to health policy. The second section of the course highlights health care delivery, focusing on federal and provincial health care delivery, and both major and specialized health care delivery systems.
*EPID 810 Controlled Clinical Trials**	This course will cover material relevant to the design and conduct of controlled clinical trials. Design topics will include methods used to achieve unbiased results with improved precision, such as adequate sample size, randomization, blinding, pre- and post-stratification, cross-over designs, placebos and the counting of relevant events. Attention will be given to the problem of conducting multi-centre clinical trials. Topics covered will include drafting of protocols, design of data forms, logistics of data flow, methods of follow-up, data management and quality control, periodic reporting, final data analysis and the production of final reports. Ethical issues and the role of randomized trials in clinical investigation will be discussed.
*PATH 822 Experimental Cancer Therapeutics**	The aim of this course is to introduce and discuss essential questions on the basic science of experimental therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. Topics will include discussions on: new drug development; molecular and signaling pathways involved in tumour genesis; challenges with existing cancer therapeutics; molecular approaches to profiling human cancer signatures; drug discovery and delivery; imaging, preclinical and clinical testing of novel therapies to assess efficacy and validate drug targets; and clinical trial results and the molecular basis for variability in tumour responses. A general theme for the course will be how to identify an experimental target or novel therapeutic, and translate the results into an improved therapy for the treatment of cancer.
*PATH 826 The Molecular Basis of Disease**	This course covers several diseases and integrates the genetic, biochemical, physiologic, anatomic, and general etiologic factors which play a role in the progression of each disease from its inception to death or recovery. The perspective will demonstrate that each disease is the result of an evolving interplay of genetic and environmental factors.

Tuition

The tuition of our MSc and PhD in Translational Medicine is the same as other research graduate programs at Queen’s, which is set at $5,772.99 (domestic rate) and $12,927.45 (international rate for MSc) and $5,772.99 (international rate for PhD) for the 2024-25 academic year. Please visit the Office of the University Registrar for more details on tuition and fees: http://www.queensu.ca/registrar/financials/tuition-fees.

Students enrolled in the programs will receive funding packages to assist with living expenses and coverage of tuition: MSc – minimum $25,000 per year for 2 years; PhD – minimum $26,000 per year for 4 years.

Funding

We offer our Master's students a minimum funding of $25,000 per academic year for two years. PhD students receive mimimum funding of $26,000 per academic year for up to four years. This funding is provided in addition to any TA employment that our student may receive.

Other funding that TMED students are eligible for are the Translational Institute of Medicine (TIME) external and excellence awards, Ontario Graduate Scholarship, and Canadian Graduate Scholarships.

MSc in Translational Medicine

The Master of Science (MSc) in Translational Medicine requires, at minimum, the completion of 12 credit units, including three new core courses in translational medicine (TMED 800, 801, & 802) and 3-credit in elective course(s) chosen from students’ area of interests, and a thesis research project. Students registered in the MSc in Translational Medicine with first-class standing (a minimum A- average, equivalent to 3.7 GPA or 80%), and who show exceptional promise in their research may be considered for promotion to the PhD in Translational Medicine, without completion of the MSc.

MSc in Translational Medicine (duration: 24 months):

Year 1			Year 2
Fall	Winter	Spring/Summer	Fall	Winter	Spring/Summer
TMED 800		Research Proposal/ Progress Report	Research/ Thesis Draft		Thesis Defense
TMED 801 TMED 802 Elective (Fall or Winter)
Research Commences

PhD in Translational Medicine

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Translational Medicine has the same coursework requirements such that students who have completed the MSc in Translational Medicine will be granted advanced standing and have no further coursework to complete thus providing an accelerated route to PhD completion. The PhD program also requires completion of a comprehensive exam and thesis research.

PhD in Translational Medicine (duration: 48 months)

Year 1			Year 2
Fall	Winter	Spring/Summer	Fall	Winter	Spring/Summer
TMED 800		Research Proposal Progress Report (Year 1)		Comprehensive Exam (oral defense)/ Progress Report (Year 2)
TMED 801 TMED 802 Elective (Fall or Winter)
Research Commences

Year 3

Year 4

Fall

Winter

Spring/Summer

Fall

Winter

Spring/Summer

Research/Progress Report
(Year 3)

Thesis Draft

Thesis
Defense

The graduate program in cancer research is multidisciplinary collaborative program that provides students with opportunities to pursue their studies within nationally, and internationally recognized centres of Cancer Research excellence at Queen's University.

The program encourages interactions of researchers and students with common interests in cancer, regardless of departmental home, and at the same time facilitates productive interaction between individuals involved in different research areas, all focused on different aspects of cancer research.

It is jointly offered by the various graduate programs including Translational Medicine, Departments of Biomedical & Molecular Sciences, Pathology & Molecular Medicine, Public Health Sciences, and Psychology. This program provides students with centralized access to the broad range of cancer research and educational opportunities available to them within the Faculty of Health Sciences, and at Queen's University as a whole.

Faculty Members

Dr. Stephen Archer, Professor
Research Areas: Cancer Genetics, Gene Regulation and Molecular Diagnostics
Lab: Archer Lab

Dr. DJ Cook, Associate Professor
Research Areas: Epilepsy, Stroke, Brain Tumours

Dr. David Berman, Professor
Research Areas: Novel Biomarkers and Theraputic Targets
Lab: Berman Lab

Dr. Janet Dancey, Professor
Research Areas: Cancer Clinical Trials and Cancer

Dr. Annette Hay, Associate Professor
Research Areas: Immuno-oncology

Dr. Mark Ormiston, Associate Professor
Research Areas: Drug Development & Experimental Therapeutics
Lab: Ormiston Lab

Dr. Michael Rauh, Associate Professor
Research Areas: Myloid Cancers, Immuno-oncology, Clinical Trials
Lab: Rauh Lab

Dr. Wendy Parukular, Professor
Research Areas: Oncology, Cancer Clinical Trials

Dr. Lynne Postovit, Professor
Research Areas: Ovarian Cancer

For more information or to register please visit https://www.queensu.ca/cancergradprogram/.

This program is designed for exceptional Queen's undergraduate students:

1. who are interested in research and further pursue a master’s degree;

2. who have an overall minimum A- average in the previous four completed academic terms;

Qualified students may apply for admission to the combined program (permission to take graduate-level courses) between the winter term of the 3rd year (in parallel with the process for admittance to the Honours year and the thesis research project), and December 1st of the 4th year. Students admitted into this program must have an overall minimum A- average in the previous four completed academic terms of their undergraduate program. All applications will be reviewed by the Graduate Program Committee.

Admission to the combined program is a two-step process:

1. Students need to submit their application to tmed@queensu.ca, providing a copy of their transcripts, an abstract of their proposed research project (500 words) with a translational focus, an elective graduate course that students wish to enroll, and the name of a faculty member in Translational Medicine willing to supervise their 4th year thesis project. The elective graduate course could either be a combined undergraduate/graduate (400/800 level) course or a graduate only course (800 level).

To be considered for the combined program, students will need to enroll in one of the 4th year thesis project courses (including any of the 499 courses: ANAT499, CANC499, MICR499, NSCI499, PHAR499, PHGY499 or BCHM 421/422) and work with a faculty member from the Translational Medicine program. The 4th year thesis project will become the foundation for students’ MSc thesis, and the same faculty member would normally become the supervisor of the student in the MSc program.
Students must obtain the course coordinator’s permission to enroll in the elective graduate course. If the student wants to take two graduate courses in the fourth year of their undergraduate degree, one of those courses must be TMED 802 (Research Success Skills). In order for the student to be granted advanced standing in the M.Sc. degree program, they must have received a final grade of at least B- (B minus) in the graduate courses taken during the 4th year.

2. For admission to the MSc in Translational Medicine with advanced standing, students need to complete the standard SGSPA application process in their fourth year, have an overall minimum A- average in the previous two years of their undergraduate program and have demonstrated significant research potential and productivity in the 4th year thesis project.

Students will receive essential graduate research training both through the courses and in their 4th year research project, which lay the essential foundation for their master’s thesis. Therefore, students in the combined program can reduce the time to obtain the MSc degree by up to two full terms. The combined program will enrich students’ learning experiences, provide advanced standing in their graduate studies, increase their research productivity and success rates for external scholarships and awards.

MSc students currently enrolled in the TMED program with exceptional research promise and demonstrated academic excellence have the possiblity to be promoted to the PhD program without completing the full MSc (usually completed PhD within 3 additonal years).

In order to quality, current students must have the following:

Achieved first class standing (3.7 GPA or higher)
Demonstrated exceptional promise in research
Received recommendation and support of Supervisor, Advisory Committee, Graduate Program Committee and Graduate Program Director
Applied before the end of the 2nd year of the MSc program

Please note this option is only available for current MSc students of the Translational Medicine Graduate Program.

Program Handbook

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