Molecular and Cellular Medicine (Research)

The information provided on this page was correct at the time of publication (November 2025). For complete and up-to-date information about this course, please visit the relevant University of Oxford course page via www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ucas.

The DPhil/MSc by Research in Molecular and Cellular Medicine is a research-based course exploring ways to develop transformative new therapies for chronic inflammatory and musculoskeletal conditions; training the next generation of leaders in biomedical sciences.

You will be based in either the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology (DPhil) or the Botnar Institute of Musculoskeletal Sciences (DPhil/MSc by Research), working on a research project supervised by one of the principal investigators and your supervisory team. You will take part in the extensive training programme specifically organised for graduate students within the department.

The DPhil course focuses on molecular and cellular mechanisms of immune function and inflammatory disease, using a range of approaches from experimental biology to data sciences.

You will develop your research skills during your first year, including compulsory attendance at the department's fundamentals in biomedical research lectures. During the first term you will develop, in consultation with your supervisor, a training needs plan. Your training will be tailored to your specific project and personal requirements drawing from the vast range of courses available at Oxford and covering specialist scientific methods and transferable skills. Please note that there is no formal taught component of the DPhil/MSc by Research in Molecular and Cellular Medicine; however, you will develop your research skills through a range of research training in your first year and by attending departmental/institute journal clubs and seminar series.

During the first term there is compulsory attendance at core lectures on a variety of research techniques and foci in the department including:

• immunology

• inflammation

• tissue engineering

• clinical trial design

• epidemiology

• rheumatology

• orthopaedics

• musculoskeletal diseases.

During your first year, you will be expected to attend a number of topic-related modules. Attendance on a two-day Data Analysis: Statistics Designing Clinical Research and Biostatistics course is compulsory to assist you with appropriate research design. As a component of your DPhil training, you will be expected to work with your supervisory team to write a research-specific literature review within the first year of your studies if studying full-time (first two years if studying part-time).

As a member of Medical Sciences Graduate School, you will be entitled to attend various workshops run by the Medical Sciences Skills Training programme.

MSc by Research students will be required to attend and present at annual institute student symposia, not only to develop your presentation skills but also to benefit from feedback and interactions from your peers and senior academics, additionally you will have an opportunity to present at internal institute seminar series.

MSc by Research applicants are strongly advised to visit the Botnar Institute website (also see Further Information and Enquiries) to help identify the most suitable research topic and related supervisors. Projects are available across a wide range of basic and translational immunology, inflammation, cancer and infection.