MBBS/PhD Programme2020-2021

Grooming of Clinician-Scientists

The Cambridge

Bachelor of Medicine

(MB)/Doctor of

Philosophy (PhD):

Graduate outcomes of

the first MB/PhD

programme in the UK

Timothy M Cox, James Brimicombe, Diana F Wood and D Keith PetersClinical Medicine 2012

Remarks:ACF = academic clinical fellowshipFY = foundation year

Characteristics and

outcomes of Canadian

MD/PhD program

graduates: a cross-

sectional survey

Michael A. Skinnider,, Jordan W. Squair, David D.W. Twa, Jennifer X. Ji, Alexandra Kuzyk, Xin Wang, Patrick E. Steadman, Kirill Zaslavsky, Ayan K. Dey, Mark J. Eisenberg, Ève-ReineGagné, Kent T. HayGlass, James F. Lewis, Peter J. Margetts, D. Alan Underhill, Norman D. Rosenblum, Lynn A. RaymondCMAJ OPEN, 5(2)

National MD-PhD

Program Outcomes

Studyby Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)

Remark:NIH = National Institutes of Health

Admission requirements

4-year PhD

– Completed MBBS I, II, III and IV with good results

– Holds a Bachelor’s degree (first class honours) OR a taught Master’s degree (e.g. MSc) prior to admission to MBBS

3-year PhD

– Completed MBBS I, II, III and IV with good results

– Holds a research Master’s degree (MPhil) prior to admission to MBBS

MRes[Med] → 4-year PhD (transfer)

– Current MRes[Med] students with good MBBS results

– Transfer not later than the 8th month of MRes[Med] study, with full application, research proposal, MRes[Med] progress report AND/OR a draft manuscript

MBBS/PhD structure

• 3 or 4 intercalated years of PhD research (counting from MRes[Med] commencement for transfer students)

• Coursework prescribed by Graduate School and Faculty (advanced standing will be given for students who have completed equivalent courses under MRes[Med])

• 12 (3-year PhD) or 18 (4-year PhD) months of probation

• Optional weekly clinical sessions during PhD years

• Thesis submission in June of the last year of PhD study

• Joint HKU/U of T and HKU/KCL PhD programmes

Financial Support

• Up to 3 scholarships supported by Croucher Foundation each year with full coverage of MBBS/PhD fees:

▪ monthly stipend (Postgraduate Scholarship)

▪ bench fee to the relevant department or laboratory

▪ subsidy for a short period of overseas training or for attendance of overseas conferences beneficial to the student’s research

• Other students will also be awarded monthly Postgraduate Scholarship

• HKU Conference/travel support for Research Postgraduate Students

• Composition fees waived by HKSAR Government for local students

Note: The basic level of Postgraduate Scholarship is HK$16,660 per month, students whose candidature has been confirmed will receive a higher rate ($17,120).

Things to consider

1. Interested in research?2. Specific topics?3. Mentors?4. Challenges/Ability?5. Future career path?

Decision making

Am I interested in basic science / translational / clinical research ?

No Yes

No

Identify suitable topics and mentors

Contact us for advice

Yes

MBBS/PhD Programme

Talk to family / friends

MBBS

Previous/current MBBS/PhD projects

NameThesis Titles/

Research TopicsStatus

Mr Shea Ka Hon Graham ErbB receptor modulation by the Notch

pathway as a means to fate commitment in

bone marrow-derived Schewann cells

Conferred MBBS/PhD degrees in Nov 2012

Clinical Assistant Professor at the Department of

Orthopaedics & Traumatology and Honorary Assistant

Professor at the School of Biomedical Sciences, HKU

LKS Faculty of Medicine

Mr So Hon Cheong Genetic Architecture and Risk Prediction of

Complex Diseases

Conferred MBBS/PhD degrees in Nov 2012

Assistant Professor at the School of Biomedical Sciences,

Faculty of Medicine, CUHK

Mr Ho Chi Chun Pathogenic adaptations in emerging bacterial

infections in relation to heavy metal resistance

in beta-proteobacteria: with a focus on silver

Conferred MBBS/PhD degrees in Nov 2015

Resident at the Department of Chemical Pathology,

Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital

Mr Lam Sze Yuen Identification of Novel Drug Candidates for

Chemo-Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia

through Chemical Library Screening

Conferred MBBS/PhD degrees in Nov 2018

House Officer at the Orthopaedics Division,

Caritas Medical Centre

Miss Yiu Sze Wan Rachel Stem cells Fifth year of MBBS

Mr Lam Yin Yu Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Third year of PhD