You are here: Home M. Sc. Molecular … Study Study contents

Study contents

1. Molecular Medicine and Functional Biochemistry Module

The subject, Molecular Medicine and Functional Biochemistry, deals with concepts of molecular cell biology and their importance for research and disease process explanations. In seminars and lectures, aspects of gene expression control, cell-to-cell communication, cell cycle control, apoptosis, the extracellular matrix, development of multicellular organisms, and stem cell biology are all presented. Modern textbook knowledge is supplemented by the presentation of the most current knowledge from primary scientific literature. Molecular pathomechanisms are comprehensively illustrated for selected clinical pictures, especially within the field of tumor biology. In most lectures, the focus lies on student presentation and synthesis of academic content. In addition, an extensive laboratory internship which familiarizes students with methodological approaches to questions of molecular medicine is a major component of the course. This practical section is based on the four major subject areas of molecular medicine: cell biology, genomics, proteomics and biochemistry, and is accompanied by a specialized lecture series. The range of topics covered in this series includes aspects of oncogenic signaling and systems biology. Overall, cellular pathomechanisms take a position of central importance for students of Molecular Medicine.


2. Pathology Module

As in general pathology, this pathology module is devoted to a wide range of basic research themes as well as the systematic classification of diseases, particularly from a causal and formal pathological point of view.

The module deals specifically with the diagnosis of diseases. Main tasks include the examination of tissues, e.g., biopsies or surgical specimens, and the examination of cells, e.g., from punctate or smears. As the pathologist records all dimensions of the disease ranging from macroscopy and microscopy to molecular genetics and pathology, the methods used are consequently correspondingly broad and include inspection and preparation, histology, histochemistry, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization (protein and nucleic acid detection), and extract-based analysis of nucleic acids. An overview of all clinically and pathologically recorded parameters allows the pathologist to identify the cause of the disease and to make predictive and therapy-relevant predictive statements. For this reason, the practice of pathology is characterized by constantly expanding methods. Advances in immunohistochemistry and molecular pathology allow cancer diseases to be better classified, prognostically assessed, and thus therapeutically treated. Even non-neoplastic, mostly inflammatory diseases are accessible to pathology through their expression in the tissue, thereby allowing both a better understanding of the underlying disease processes and its diagnosis.


3. Pharmacology and Toxicology Module

Pharmacology and toxicology represent scientific knowledge of the interactions between substances and living things. This definition leaves, however, the quality of the effect – be it healing or harmful – open. The term, pharmacon, therefore encompasses both drugs and pollutants. This lecture series in general pharmacology and toxicology addresses the most important principles of this subject. Pharmacodynamics describes the effects of pharmaceuticals on the organism and their molecular mechanisms of action. Pharmacokinetics describes and explains the body's reaction to pharmaceuticals, including mechanisms of absorption, distribution, storage, biotransformation and excretion. Understanding pharmacology requires in-depth knowledge of physiology, pathophysiology, biology and chemistry. In the course of lectures, current guideline-oriented therapies for important diseases are presented. Additionally, in the seminar, the latest developments in pharmacology and toxicology are discussed. In practical work, the main topics listed above undergo deepening through practical exercises.


4. Disease Processes Module - Clinical Pictures

4.1 Neurology:

Through imparting understanding of the most common neurological diseases, this lecture series provides students with a basis for situating research topics in medicine and pharmacology within an understanding their social relevance as well as within the context of current scientific knowledge.

Such knowledge includes clinical appearance, diagnosis, disease course, disease incidence and prevalence, pathomechanisms, as well as pharmacological and other therapies.

Seminar selection is based on three criteria: the identification of research areas that have a molecular medical basis; their relevancy to neurophysiology or neuropathophysiology; and lastly, as a whole, their ability to represent the broadest possible spectrum of methodological approaches.

Small group laboratory visits convey an interactive encounter with respective researchers and  everyday life in the laboratory is accordingly demonstrated and practical acquaintance with devices and methods occurs.

4.2 Internal medicine:

A number of important internal disease patterns are presented with the focus placed on explaining and illustrating pathophysiology rather than on clinical treatment. Additionally, the potential for researching such clinical pictures in the context of human clinical studies and experimental studies on related animal models are presented in detail.


5. Clinical elective module

In one of the following subjects:

5.1 Dermatology and allergology:

Students acquire extensive knowledge in basic principles of dermatology and allergology.

Knowledge is deepened on the basis of individual thematic areas including structure and composition of the epidermal basement membrane, pathogenesis and diagnosis of blistering skin diseases of autoimmune origin, regulation of the barrier function of skin and skin homeostasis, importance of proteases for the physiology and pathology of the skin, molecular diagnostics of genetic skin diseases, the role of innate immune response in allergic contact dermatitis, mechanisms of tolerance induction in the treatment of allergic diseases, and mechanisms of skin aging.

5.2 Gynecology and reproductive medicine:

Fundamental knowledge in the fields of gynecology and reproductive medicine is presented here. This includes the molecular biological causes of disease as well as diagnostic methods and therapy concepts for the most significant gynecological and obstetric diseases. Within gynecological oncology, in particular, the influence of molecular knowledge on diagnostics and therapy is highlighted, and current innovative therapeutic methods are detailed.

5.3 Pediatrics:

Via reference to clinical case studies, the molecular aetiology of genetic diseases is brought to light. Based on this molecular understanding of disease, concepts of clinical progression, diagnostics, and therapeutic options are further developed. Additionally, by way of concrete examples from current molecular research, the process of developing experimental models from clinical observations, and the incorporation of experimental observations into clinical studies, are illustrated. Particular focus is placed on the principle underlying performing research on minors.


6. Biomedicine module

Modern molecular medicine incorporates a multitude of very specialized research areas. Students are given the opportunity to select one of seven main topics (molecular cardiology, functional imaging in animal models, preclinical natural substance research, exosome biology, medical metabolomics, oncogenic signaling pathways, cell therapy in neurological diseases) and to acquire specialist knowledge and methodological competence in a chosen one. Current application-related questions and research approaches to solving specific problems are discussed in seminars, and a section of the course is additionally dedicated to demonstrating highly specialized methods, some of which are then conducted by students under supervision. Literature discussions and presentations are held in English.


7. Scientific Work Module

Laboratory work requires both technical expertise and knowledge of applicable legal regulations. Additionally, courses in genetic engineering and laboratory animal science require official certification and represent a basis for undertaking the master theses and later career entry.


8. Experimental Elective Internship

Following introductory instructions, students work towards solving a current scientific question commensurate to the length of the internship. For this purpose, students select a working group from either the areas of biochemistry and molecular biology, chemistry, developmental biology, genetics and human genetics, immunology and immunobiology, microbiology, molecular medicine, neurobiology, neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, pathology, pharmacology and toxicology, or virology. Within the course of the internship, students learn special methods needed to deal with the research question and independently apply them. Comprehensive and thorough documentation of collected data including its (self-critical) evaluation according to the rules of good scientific practice are a matter of course. Parallel to the acquisition of practical skills, theoretical familiarization with the research subject takes place through self-study of literature – as recommended by workgroup leaders – and through discussions within the workgroup itself. In addition to methodological aspects and the interpretation of original data, emphasis is additionally placed on the conceptual classification of the issues discussed.