
International Master ‘From fundamental molecular biosciences to biotherapies’ (M1 and M2)
The aim of the international Master's programme "From fundamental molecular biosciences to biotherapies" is to offer an integrated high-level training in fundamental molecular biosciences applied to biotherapies through a multidisciplinary approach in line with the trends and evolution of this discipline.
Presentation
The field of biotherapy relies on the use of molecules designed from a living organism to treat diseases. Biotherapies comprise cell and tissue therapy, gene therapy and therapies using biological molecules synthesized by eucaryotic cells or bacteria, as antibodies, bioactive proteins, biomaterials and nanoparticles. This domain has considerably evolved during the recent years thanks to the research progress in vectorology, stem cells and regenerative medicine, biomaterials, omics and computational biology, which have transformed the practices of research laboratories in fundamental biology and biotherapy. Numerous developments in this field have reached the stage of clinical trials thus raising scientific, societal and ethical issues that need to be addressed by experts in the area of biotherapy. Future researchers in this field require a strong education in the molecular basis of the physio-pathological processes to develop new biotherapeutic strategies. The aim of our international master ‘From fundamental molecular biosciences to biotherapies’ is to offer an integrated state-of-the-art training in fundamental molecular biosciences applied to biotherapies through a multidisciplinary approach that conforms to the trends and development within the field.
Objectives
The program offers students the opportunity, in addition to a high quality education in Molecular Biosciences delivered at Sorbonne Université (Paris), to choose a specialisation option among the different fields of biotherapies in different partners universities:
- Cancer biology: Heidelberg university (Germany)
- Immunology and biotherapies: Prague Charles University (Czech republic), Sao Paulo University (Brasil)
- Stem cells, Development and Evolution: Lisbon University (Portugal), Heidelberg University (Germany)
- Bioinformatics for health sciences: Heidelberg University (Germany) and Barcelona Pompeu Fabra University (Spain).
- Fundamental molecular biosciences in biotherapies: Sorbonne Université (Paris).
The program’s objective is to attract motivated students to a fully integrated Master course that combines the best elements of existing courses delivered by the consortium members.
Organization
M1S1: Fundamental molecular biosciences (30 ECTS): Sorbonne Université, Paris
M1S2: Mobility in one partner university depending on the chosen option among the different fields of biotherapies: theoretical courses (12 ECTS) and junior internship (18 ECTS).
M2: Specialization in the different fields of biotherapies: theoretical courses and workshops (30 ECTS) and senior internship (30 ECTS): Sorbonne Université, Paris.
The courses taught in English at the Master 1 degree. Click on this link to open the document: HERE

Targeted audience
The program is opened to students with a Bachelor’s degree in Life sciences or an equivalent diploma and to medical and pharmacy students, students in veterinary medicine and those from engineering schools.
Prerequisite
The minimum graduate admission requirements are a bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution, with a basic background in Genetics, Immunology, Cell and Developmental biology. For the ‘Bioinformatics for Health sciences’ option, a robust academic training in Mathematics, Bioinformatics and/or Computational Biology is required. Students must also possess a certification of proficiency in English (e.g, TOEFL or equivalent, minimum CEFR level B2).
Career opportunities
Training managers in the public and private sectors in the field of biotherapy research or staff members in research and development departments in biotherapy companies. Preparing a PhD which will make it possible to be recruited as a research scientist, lecturer and engineer in the public sector or to equivalent positions in private companies.
- Heidelberg University, Germany (Alliance 4EU+) (Andrea Wolk, Ilse Hofmann, Ursula Kummer, Victor Winter)
- Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic (Alliance 4EU+) (Jan Cerny and Magdalena Krulova)
- Lisbon University, Portugal (Gabriela Rodrigues and Elio Sucena)
- Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain (Cristina Pujades and Nuria Centeno)
- Sao Paulo University (Brasil) (Roger Chammas)
1. First application phase :
The application is opened from January 15th until March 1st.
From March 15, you will receive an email confirming the receipt and completeness of your application for the international master program ‘From fundamental molecular biosciences to biotherapies’ at Sorbonne Université. Admissible (complete) files will then be examined by the committee. Results will be communicated to the applicants from April 1 to May 31.
The applicants must fill in the following form
and send it back with the required documents in a single pdf file to sciences-imbiosc@sorbonne-universite.fr
2. Second application phase :
The application is opened from March 28th until June 1st on the Sorbonne University application platform, ecandidat (English version available).
First semester Sorbonne Université (Paris) 30 ECTS
Practical in molecular and cellular biology (12 ECTS) MU4BM001
Fundamental molecular biosciences (15 ECTS) MU4BM010
Language course (3 ECTS)
Second semester in one partner university
Theoretical courses (12 ECTS) and a junior internship (18 ECTS) in a laboratory on a topic related to the chosen option. Evaluation: written report and oral presentation.
Second semester at Sorbonne Université
Theoretical courses (12 ECTS, to be chosen among the following ones):
Molecular biology of eucaryotes (6 ECTS) MU4BM112
Schmid training course (6 ECTS) MU4BM113
Fundamental and integrated immunology (6 ECTS) MU4BM123
Embryonic models for genetic disease and cancer (6 ECTS) MU4BM148
Introduction to stem cell biology (6 ECTS) MU4BM169
Theoretical and practical introduction to epigenetics (6 ECTS) MU4BM142
Junior internship (18 ECTS) in a laboratory on a topic related to the chosen option. Evaluation: written report and oral presentation.
First semester (30 ECTS) Sorbonne Université
Introductory course: Transverse and translational approaches in biotherapies (6 ECTS) MU5BM566
Specialization course: (depending on your options) (12 ECTS):
Molecular biology of the cell (Institut Pasteur) MU5BM212
Advanced course in cell biology (Sorbonne Université) MU5BM215
International developmental biology course: from stem cells to morphogenesis (Institut Curie/Sorbonne Université) MU5BM211
Stem cell biology (Sorbonne Université) MU5BM216
Translational immunology and biotherapies (Sorbonne Université) MU5BM534
Systems immunology (Sorbonne Université) MU5BM537
Scientific project (6 ECTS)
Optional course (6 ECTS to choose among the following ones):
Seminars in developmental biology (6 ECTS) (Institut Curie/Sorbonne Université) MU5BM220
Seminars in stem cell biology (6 ECTS) (Sorbonne Université) MU5BM217
Development of marine organisms (6 ECTS) (Marine station of Villefranche-sur-Mer, Sorbonne Université) MU5BM200
Regulation of gene expression: translation and cell cycle (6 ECTS) (Marine station of Roscoff, Sorbonne Université) MU5BM232
Proliferation and cell death (6 ECTS) (Sorbonne Université) MU5BM285
Advanced course in cell dynamics (3 ECTS) (Institut Curie) MU5BM286
Cell biology and cancer (3 ECTS) (Institut Curie) MU5BM222
Seminars in allergy and hypersensitity (6 ECTS) (Sorbonne Université)
Data analysis in immunology (6 ECTS) (Sorbonne Université) MU5BM578
Immuno-monitoring (6 ECTS) (Sorbonne Université) MU5BM575
Non-coding genome (6 ECTS) (Institut Curie) MU5BM429
Epigenetics, From nuclear organization to metabolism and cell fate in normal state and diseases (6 ECTS) (Institut Curie) MU5BM460
Second semester (30 ECTS)
Laboratory internship
Click on this link to open the document:
Teaching language
English