The purpose of the Master’s Degree is the theoretical and practical teaching of the methodological foundations of basic and applied research in Biology, Biomedicine and Veterinary Medicine. The fundamental objective is to provide students with the conceptual knowledge and practical skills necessary for understanding and utilizing the current and multidisciplinary experimental methods and techniques used in research in the indicated fields, including biotechnology, pathology and diagnosis.
The Master’s Degree provides students with professional and research skills for the application of the experimental methodology in the areas indicated above, with a multidisciplinary character and ranging from animal experimentation to diagnosis and including analytical, genetic engineering and biotechnological methods. These competences also include those relating to those established by Royal Decree 1201/2005 of 10 October on the protection of animals used for experimentation and other scientific purposes.
The competences granted cover the shortcomings in specialized and practical training in research methodologies in the curricula of Bachelor’s and Degree in Life Sciences (Biology, Biotechnology, Biochemistry and Environmental Sciences), Human Health (Medicine, Nursing and Physiotherapy ) and Veterinary.
The following are the specific competences according to the different modules constitutive of the Master:
Methodologies in animal experimentation, including ethics and legislation, biological characteristics, management, care, maintenance and recognition of the health and diseases of experimental animals, basic experimental procedures.
• Competency profile:
- Ability to use experimental animals according to the provisions of R.D. 1201/2005 of 10 October on the protection of animals used for experimentation and other scientific purposes.
- Competence to propose protocols of animal experimentation.
Methodologies in ex vivo and cell culture experimentation, including maintenance and physiological experimentation on isolated organs and explants, cultures of animal cell lines, plant cultures, microbiological cultures (yeast, bacteria and virus) and microbiological identification.
• Competency profile:
- Mastering of organ culture techniques, animal and plant explants, animal cell lines, microbial cultures and microbiological identification.
- Ability for systematized collection, analysis and presentation of test results performed with these methodologies.
- Competence to formulate and carry out research protocols with ex vivo and in vitro tests using methodologies of isolated organ cultures, animal and plant cell, and microbiological cultures.
Methodologies for the analysis and identification of biological molecules, including proteins, nucleic acids, and other molecules.
• Competency profile:
- Ability to handle instrumentation and analytical protocols for the identification of biological molecules.
- Ability for systematized collection, analysis and presentation of test results performed with these methodologies.
- Competence to propose and carry out analytical research trials for biological molecules.
Methodologies in engineering and genetic analysis, including genomics and proteomics, genetic modification, gene identification.
• Competency profile:
- Mastering genomic and proteomic analysis methodologies, genetic modification of microorganisms, animals and plants, analysis and identification of genes, especially those involved in diseases.
- Ability to systematize collection, analysis and presentation of test results performed with these methodologies.
- Competence to formulate and carry out studies of genomic, proteomic, engineering and genetic analysis research.
Methodologies in pharmacology, toxicology and pathology, including animal models of pathologies, pharmacokinetic models, interactions and bioavailability of drugs, detection of toxics and toxicity tests.
• Competency profile:
- Mastering the methodologies needed to perform preclinical and clinical studies of a drug, as well as safety studies including waste depletion.
- Mastering of toxicological analysis methodologies in animals and by alternative methods, techniques for the determination of the mutagenic potential of chemical agents and techniques for the study of biotransformation processes and activation of xenobiotics.
- Ability to systematize collection, analysis and presentation of test results performed with these methodologies.
- Competence to formulate and carry out research studies on chemical safety and toxicology and on drug safety and efficacy.
- Competence to plan experiments with animal models for the identification of pathogenic mechanisms and therapeutic effects in human pathologies.
Methodologies in biotechnological productions, including biosynthesis of products in microorganisms, animals and plants, development of biomedical products from cell cultures.
• Competency profile:
- Knowledge of techniques related to obtaining products through biotechnological processes that use microorganisms, small and large scale (industrial fermentations).
- Mastering of biotechnological techniques for the modification of animals and plants aimed at obtaining products of biomedical and industrial interest.
- Mastery of cell culture techniques for the production of biological material with biomedical application.
- Knowledge of biotransformation and bioremediation techniques applied to the environment and industrial products.
- Capacity for systematized collection, analysis and presentation of the results of tests performed with these methodologies.
- Competence to propose protocols and investigate problems that can be solved through biotechnological processes.
End-of-Master Work, where the student will learn to conceive, design, put into practice and present the results of an original research work.