Advanced Cell and Gene Therapies

Course description

Lead academics: Professor Mimoun Azzouz and Professor Janine Kirby

This course is designed to give you knowledge and training in a cutting-edge area of science, which you can apply to a wide range of roles in a growing industry. Whether you are a recent graduate or are already working in the field of cell and gene therapies, there are a range of qualifications and part-time options available, designed to support your studies.

You can study the genetics behind rare inherited diseases, and how cell and gene therapies provide treatment options that can be tailored to individual patients. In the laboratory, you can explore a range of topics and techniques in molecular and cellular biology. You can also learn how scientists work with industry to translate discoveries into marketable healthcare products, with module content covering topics such as manufacturing, quality control, regulation, safety and clinical trials.

As an Advanced Cell and Gene Therapies student, you will learn from the experts who run our Gene Therapy Innovation and Manufacturing Centre (GTIMC). Researchers at this multi-million-pound facility are working to accelerate the development of gene therapies into life-changing treatments. The Sheffield team works with pharmaceutical companies and other organisations in an expanding global gene therapy network, which creates unique learning opportunities throughout the degree. Some of our collaborators give lectures, and students may have the opportunity to be part of a project with one of our industry partners during a 20-week research project.

You will be based within the Sheffield Institute of Translational Neuroscience (SITraN) – an internationally recognised centre of excellence, where top researchers are working on groundbreaking treatments to improve the lives of patients with neurodegenerative disorders.

If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the school/department.

Your career

Cell and gene therapies are a growing field, and there is a high demand for graduates with the specialist knowledge and skills this course provides.

Potential employers include universities and research institutes where scientists are studying cell and gene therapies, organisations in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries that are developing, manufacturing and trialling new treatments, and the government bodies that regulate medical products.

The MSc course is also great preparation for a PhD.