Master's Degree in Medical Genetics

Minority diseases affect approximately 1 in 50 individuals(http://orpha.net). Current knowledge suggests that the total number of these diseases is around 6,000-8,000 (http://www.omim.org) and although each individually is not common, all together they affect a significant number of patients, with a major contribution to morbidity, mortality and global health costs. Most of them are genetic in origin. Offering genetic diagnosis to patients with minority diseases improves clinical handling of the cases, allows for specific treatments on some occasions and improves the prognostic, minimising complications. Therefore, understand the specific diagnosis allows the family to be offered an appropriate genetic evaluation and also facilitate decision-making and adaptation to the the disease or to the decisions taken. So the importance of genetics as an entity of specialised support is clear, both in terms of the numbers of patients and their specific needs.
Also, the age of latest generation sequencing and the appearance of new technologies is changing the paradigm of genetics studies and increasing the rate of diagnosis, but also creating enormous difficulties in the interpretation of the results. This growing complexity makes the presence of specialised trained professionals in the different areas of healthcare genetics even more necessary, both in medical genetics and genetic evaluation as specialists in the genetics laboratory who are familiar with the techniques mentioned and with the interpretation of complex genetic results.

Career opportunities

Specialty in Genetic Counseling. The genetic counselor is a key element in the current healthcare of patients with genetic diseases, and the need for these professionals will grow exponentially in the coming years due to the progressive implementation of omics-type tests. With the subspecialization of the healthcare field, probably each medical specialty will require genetic counselors specifically trained in each field. Genetic counseling plays a fundamental role in managing patient expectations. Career opportunities: Public and private hospitals, diagnostic sector companies offering genetic tests, assisted reproduction centers, private entities in the field of genetic counseling.
Specialty in Clinical Genetics. The clinical geneticist is also an essential piece in the diagnosis and global care of patients with congenital malformations and genetic diseases. Therefore, a necessary figure in any hospital that can assess this type of patients both in the pediatric and adult fields. The possibility of having new advanced therapies specific to the mutation or involved genes makes it crucial to obtain a clear, precise, and categorical genetic diagnosis. The clinical geneticist can help consider new phenotypes that appear when treating these diseases. Career opportunities: Public and private hospitals, diagnostic sector companies offering genetic tests, assisted reproduction centers, private entities in the field of clinical genetics.
Specialty in Genetics Laboratory. The introduction into clinical practice of next-generation sequencing techniques (exome, genome, transcriptome, methylome), along with the complexity of other specific genetic tests for numerous genetic diseases, makes the need for specialized professionals evident both in the indication and performance of the tests and in the interpretation of the resulting data. This figure must have a collaborative role as an active part of multidisciplinary teams. Career opportunities: Public and private hospitals, diagnostic sector companies offering genetic tests, assisted reproduction centers, private entities in the field of genetics, pharmacogenetics sections in pharmaceutical companies or clinical trial fields.

Internships

- Mandatory internships

- Each subject includes a program of theoretical classes and, in some cases, specific practical sessions. Attendance at the professional internships for each module is mandatory.
- The second year of the program includes a 6-month professional internship in various partner institutions.

For these internships, the Master's in Clinical Genetics is supported by the following institutions, which have expressed their willingness to establish internship agreements:
- Vall d'Hebron Hospital
- Sant Pau Hospital
- Parc Taulí Hospital
- Sant Joan de Déu Hospital
- Clínic Hospital
- Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital
- Dexeus University Hospital
- ICO (Catalan Institute of Oncology)

In addition, students who wish to carry out their professional internships in hospitals outside Catalonia or even internationally may submit a proposal to establish an ad hoc agreement, provided that the host institution meets minimum quality standards in the field of clinical genetics, as determined by the master's coordination team.

- Optional internships

In addition to the internships included in the academic program, students may complement their training with other professional experiences in the field of clinical genetics. The teaching team will actively participate in the management and coordination of these internships.

Scholarships and financial aid

Chek all the information on the possibilities for grants and scholarships in the page for UAB financial aids, grants and calls.

Coordinating centres

Departamento de Medicina
Departamento de Genética y Microbiología

Collaborating centres

Hospital Sant Joan de Deu
Dexeus Dona
ICO Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol
Hospital del Mar
Hospital Clínic
Servei de Genètica, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau
Àrea de Genètica Clínica i Molecular, Hospital Vall d' Hebron
Hospital Parc Taulí

Contact

Ana Molina Romero

Phone: 93 586 80 51

More information