Master of Biomedical and Health Science

The Master of Biomedical and Health Science is a coursework degree to be undertaken in key research areas in the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute in the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.

You will undertake an initial year of intensive training in how to conduct research, by studying coursework units in pedagogical and research skills training and engaging in specialist research in theory units, followed by a second year of a full time research project in a research environment under the direct supervision, or co-supervision of a member of the academic staff of Monash University, training in entrepreneurship and employability, and culminating in a merit-based internship in industry or with Monash.

You will also be able to undertake elective units, which enable you to develop and expand your specialist discipline knowledge in key areas of biomedical and health sciences, in the following biomedical theory areas:

Appetite, Energy Metabolism and Obesity

This elective will provide you with knowledge of the biology and treatment of obesity and co-morbidities to conduct research on Obesity and its co-morbidities, a major health problem worldwide. The emphasis will be on how we acquire energy through food; use energy for daily activities; when and how an imbalance between intake and expenditure produces obesity and co-morbidities; and the evidence for different therapies for the treatment of obesity and co-morbidities.     

Cancer biology and therapeutics

This elective provides you with the skills to formulate a research question on cancer causing genes and the clinical applications of therapies. The emphasis is on understanding cancer biology, including the molecular mechanisms underpinning human cancers and targeted therapeutics used to treat patients with this disease.

 Cardiovascular diseases

This elective provides you with the skills to formulate a research question on the cardiovascular system in health and disease, by generalising and integrating discipline knowledge gained in this unit. The emphasis is on the cardiovascular system in disease or how disease impacts on it. You will study this from the cellular level through to integrative physiology and pharmacology, including the whole animal.

Infectious diseases and population health

This elective provides you with the skills to formulate a research question on the most important, prevalent, emerging or neglected diseases affecting humans, and conduct research to address that question. The emphasis is on those diseases affecting resource-poor or low- and middle income countries. You will study this from the molecular through to the human population level.

Neuroscience

This elective provides you with the skills to formulate a research question on the relationships between brain processes and behaviour. The emphasis is on the relationship between brain and behaviour, in health and/or disease. You will study this from the molecular through to the whole human level.

Regenerative medicine and stems cells

This elective provides you with the skills to formulate a research question on the repair or replacement of damaged human tissues and organs in health and disease and conduct research to address that question in the second year of study. The emphasis is on the cells, factors, other biological building blocks, and bioengineered materials and technologies that assist the body's regenerative capacity. You will study this from the molecular through to the whole human level.