Courses & curriculum 2024 - 2025

The focus in year 3 lies on 'Translation'

Minor

Students follow a minor at Maastricht University or at another university

Placement and thesis

The Graduation Project and the Thesis is the final element of a student’s academic career at RM and students are relatively free to choose the institute where they want to conduct their placement.

Students should go through the entire research cycle, including formulation of hypotheses, planning and execution of practical work, analysis and presentation of results. In the first four weeks, students dive into the research environment, specify their research proposal and attend (online) elective workshops (such as data analysis, labour market preparation, master application (e.g. prepare CV), presentation & scientific writing skills, data visualization; all offered just-in time). Students execute their research during 3 months of practical work in a lab of their choice. The final month is devoted to writing their thesis and presenting/defending their results/work in a symposium.

The focus in year 2 lies on 'Application'

Cells: from lab to production

This course will expand the students knowledge of cells previously learned and introduces the concepts of cell potency, self-renewal capacity and lineage commitment of cells from different sources in different regenerative medicine applications. The students will learn how to combine cells with engineered constructs and which properties can be applied to enhance successful regeneration of tissue in such a construct.

Materials science in biological applications

The course ‘Materials science in biological applications’ relies on the concepts introduced in the first-year courses 'The molecular basis of life' and 'foundations of engineering'. These concepts are now further integrated to train students in solving challenges in the application of materials in regenerative medicine. The course aims to provide insight into the design, preparation and physico-chemical characterisation of organic, inorganic and composite materials.

Technological trends in regenerative medicine

Students will focus on the most relevant current medical technologies for regenerative medicine and how they interact with the human body. The knowledge obtained in 'Principles of medicine' will be applied in the context of regenerative medicine. The students will study the cell, physiological and immunological interactions with implants and medical devices. There will be an emphasis on the limitations of regenerative medicine and formulation of problems that should be solved in the future to make regenerative medicine more applicable. Students will visit the hospital for more interactive lectures to get some real life experience with regenerative medicine. 

Data Analysis & Modeling of Biosystems

This course is intended as a follow-up on the first-year’s course“Coding and data crunching” focusing on functions involving multiple variables and different types of differential equations and the regenerative medicine applications thereof. This course aims to introduce data-driven computational modelling and simulation as complementary methods to mechanistic approaches. Students use the acquired knowledge of mathematics, engineering and biology to predict cell-biomaterial interactions, biological processes and the functionality of biomedical devices and products.

Advanced technologies for regeneration

This course will give students a deeper understanding of some of the core technologies used to regenerate tissue and organs in regenerative medicine. The focus will be on the principles of bio fabrication (including three-dimensional printing, electrospinning, and other additive manufacturing technologies) and on nano- and micro technology (including soft lithography, nanoparticles, and microfluidics). Students will also learn how these technologies are applied in regenerative medicine through examples of scientific articles.

Innovation and entrepreneurship

Students will explore key topics in the field of innovation and entrepreneurship such as the different ways to shape innovation (e.g. ideation, open innovation, user innovation). In addition, legal frameworks will be explained that need to be kept in mind in terms of intellectual property (patents), market regulations and authorisations. Furthermore, quality assurance will be addressed as well. The final topic is the social aspect of innovation and commercialisation; especially the importance of contact with the clinic (doctors and patients) and the role of that contact in successful adoption of the innovation will be highlighted.