Periodic Reporting for period 1 - EMERALD (International PhD Programme for Medical Doctors)
Berichtszeitraum: 2022-01-01 bis 2023-12-31
Precision medicine is transforming healthcare, driving a demand for a deep understanding of the molecular basis of diseases alongside proficiency in cutting-edge technologies. However, the integration of this advanced knowledge into clinical practice faces significant hurdles. There are few physicians with comprehensive research training, and equally, research teams often lack specialists with direct clinical experience. This disconnect hinders the seamless translation of laboratory discoveries into effective patient care. As technology rapidly evolves, bridging this gap becomes increasingly crucial, highlighting the need for medical professionals who can navigate both the complexities of disease mechanisms and the latest advancements in medical technology.
Historically, physician-scientists have been at the forefront of integrating scientific discoveries into clinical applications, playing a crucial role in the advancement of healthcare. Despite their importance, specialized research training programmes for medical doctors are remarkably rare, with most available programmes operating on a local scale, through a non-intensive research engagement, and often narrowly focused on highly translational research, thus limiting international collaborations and mobility, comprehensive development of research skills, and diminishes exposure to frontier research approaches that lay the groundwork for translational research.
In response to these challenges, EMERALD emerges as the first European-wide PhD programme for Medical Doctors. EMERALD offers medical doctors an unparalleled opportunity to engage in intensive research experiences across 8 research centres of excellence in life sciences and biomedicine, which provide access to multi-disciplinary research teams and cutting-edge technologies, promoting both frontier and translational research approaches in 7 EU member states. Supported by 29 partner organizations from 10 EU member states, including academia, hospitals, industry, patient organizations, and NGOs, EMERALD embodies Europe's commitment to healthcare advancement.
EMERALD goes beyond traditional PhD training by equipping physician-scientists with a broad spectrum of research and transferable skills through 3 Summer Schools and additional online courses, career development opportunities, mentoring, and access to advanced technologies and facilities. The programme champions equality, diversity, and inclusion, promoting international and intersectoral mobility and employing an open, merit-based, and transparent recruitment process for 24 medical doctors. The doctoral programme is designed to foster an ecosystem that not only supports but empowers the next generation of physician-scientists, ensuring they are well-prepared to lead in both academic and clinical settings. This collaborative network underscores the importance of integrating diverse perspectives and expertise in shaping the future of healthcare.
Historically, physician-scientists have been at the forefront of integrating scientific discoveries into clinical applications, playing a crucial role in the advancement of healthcare. Despite their importance, specialized research training programmes for medical doctors are remarkably rare, with most available programmes operating on a local scale, through a non-intensive research engagement, and often narrowly focused on highly translational research, thus limiting international collaborations and mobility, comprehensive development of research skills, and diminishes exposure to frontier research approaches that lay the groundwork for translational research.
In response to these challenges, EMERALD emerges as the first European-wide PhD programme for Medical Doctors. EMERALD offers medical doctors an unparalleled opportunity to engage in intensive research experiences across 8 research centres of excellence in life sciences and biomedicine, which provide access to multi-disciplinary research teams and cutting-edge technologies, promoting both frontier and translational research approaches in 7 EU member states. Supported by 29 partner organizations from 10 EU member states, including academia, hospitals, industry, patient organizations, and NGOs, EMERALD embodies Europe's commitment to healthcare advancement.
EMERALD goes beyond traditional PhD training by equipping physician-scientists with a broad spectrum of research and transferable skills through 3 Summer Schools and additional online courses, career development opportunities, mentoring, and access to advanced technologies and facilities. The programme champions equality, diversity, and inclusion, promoting international and intersectoral mobility and employing an open, merit-based, and transparent recruitment process for 24 medical doctors. The doctoral programme is designed to foster an ecosystem that not only supports but empowers the next generation of physician-scientists, ensuring they are well-prepared to lead in both academic and clinical settings. This collaborative network underscores the importance of integrating diverse perspectives and expertise in shaping the future of healthcare.
The future of research and healthcare demands specialized research training for medical doctors not only at hospitals but also at frontier research centres, thus EMERALD works as a pilot test for the continuous improvement of the training ecosystem at levels ranging from the network, institutional, regional, national, and European.
Throughout the first two years of the programme included in this 1st Reporting Period, we recruited through 2 open, transparent, merit-based, fair, and inclusive competitive calls, 22 medical doctors (8 M; 14 F) from 16 nationalities to carry out a PhD in cutting-edge biomedical research at 7 Hiring Research Centres (HRCs), from 6 EU member states.
As part of the specialized training and career development that we offer in EMERALD, during the first 2 years of the programme we implemented 19 network-wide training courses, 11 of them focused on developing research skills and 8 of them for transferable skills, as part of 2 editions of the 1st Summer School and additional online courses, with the main educational objective to train introduce the fellows to frontier research of excellence. Besides the training provided directly through the network, the EMERALD institutes facilitated the participation of the fellows in 69 additional training courses to boost their skills and career development.
The EMERALD fellows are also very active in scientific events, having held 59 participations including oral and poster presentations in international conferences from the specific field of their individual research projects.
Throughout the first two years of the programme included in this 1st Reporting Period, we recruited through 2 open, transparent, merit-based, fair, and inclusive competitive calls, 22 medical doctors (8 M; 14 F) from 16 nationalities to carry out a PhD in cutting-edge biomedical research at 7 Hiring Research Centres (HRCs), from 6 EU member states.
As part of the specialized training and career development that we offer in EMERALD, during the first 2 years of the programme we implemented 19 network-wide training courses, 11 of them focused on developing research skills and 8 of them for transferable skills, as part of 2 editions of the 1st Summer School and additional online courses, with the main educational objective to train introduce the fellows to frontier research of excellence. Besides the training provided directly through the network, the EMERALD institutes facilitated the participation of the fellows in 69 additional training courses to boost their skills and career development.
The EMERALD fellows are also very active in scientific events, having held 59 participations including oral and poster presentations in international conferences from the specific field of their individual research projects.
At the core of EMERALD are 22 research projects being undertaken by medical doctors at leading research institutes. These projects cover vital health concerns, from oncology (the focus of almost half of the research) to neurology, immunology, genetics, endocrinology, and cardiology. The programme has effectively integrated the use of cutting-edge technologies like single-cell genomics and transcriptomics, long-reads sequencing, advanced microscopy, CAR-T Cell therapies, genome editing, and artificial intelligence, among others, equipping fellows with a blend of wet and dry lab expertise. This comprehensive approach not only enhances the fellows’ research capacity but also contributes significantly to the collective understanding of complex diseases, with the potential to influence the future of diagnostics, prognosis, and treatment, redefining patient care standards.
EMERALD's establishment as the first European-wide programme tailored for medical doctors with a focus on deep research training acknowledges a pressing need within the medical community. The high demand for positions within the programme has highlighted a greater interest in such opportunities than currently available, prompting discussions on how best to create sustainable and scalable training models for physician-scientists at the European level.
Furthermore, the programme's commitment to fostering an inclusive and diverse environment has underlined the importance of equality and opportunity in the biomedical research field. This approach has the potential to create a more democratic healthcare system where varied perspectives lead to more comprehensive care and research initiatives.
EMERALD's establishment as the first European-wide programme tailored for medical doctors with a focus on deep research training acknowledges a pressing need within the medical community. The high demand for positions within the programme has highlighted a greater interest in such opportunities than currently available, prompting discussions on how best to create sustainable and scalable training models for physician-scientists at the European level.
Furthermore, the programme's commitment to fostering an inclusive and diverse environment has underlined the importance of equality and opportunity in the biomedical research field. This approach has the potential to create a more democratic healthcare system where varied perspectives lead to more comprehensive care and research initiatives.