Experimental Models in Molecular Biomedicine (EMMB)

If you want to pursue a research career in life science research or biomedicine, then this course is the right one for you! Learn about the generation, use, application and limitations of experimental model systems in the context of life science research and molecular biomedicine.

This BIP will provide you with knowledge on different experimental models commonly used in current biomedical research, as well as on the principles of scientific methods and experimental approaches. Under the supervision of scientists and teachers from seven CIVIS universities, you will practice by designing and discussing experiments and projects to address real research questions.

Experimental Models in Molecular Biomedicine (EMMB) is an international CIVIS Blended Intensive Programme coordinated by the University of Bucharest in partnership with six leading European universities: Sapienza University of Rome, University of Tübingen, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Université Libre de Bruxelles, University of Salzburg and Université de Lausanne. The programme brings together students and researchers from diverse academic backgrounds to explore how experimental model systems contribute to understanding molecular mechanisms underlying health and disease.

The course combines a long-term virtual learning phase with an intensive five-day on-site mobility period in Bucharest, creating a fully integrated blended-learning experience. Through a series of thematic workshops, students are introduced to a wide range of experimental models, including yeast and mouse models, stem cells, angiogenesis models, RNA biology approaches, and emerging systems for studying human diseases. The programme emphasises the scientific method, critical thinking and the design of research strategies capable of addressing complex biomedical questions.

Participants work in international and interdisciplinary teams, developing collaborative research projects while benefiting from lectures, tutorials, presentations, peer feedback and interactions with experienced scientists from the partner institutions. The physical component further strengthens learning through laboratory activities, research facility visits and academic discussions that connect theoretical knowledge with real-world biomedical applications.

Designed primarily for Master's and PhD students in life sciences, biomedicine, biotechnology, molecular biology, biochemistry and related disciplines, EMMB provides both scientific and intercultural training. By exposing students to diverse experimental approaches and collaborative problem-solving, the programme prepares future researchers to address contemporary challenges in molecular biomedicine within an international scientific environment. 

Teaching within this BIP is based on team-active and peer-learning activities. You will be able to choose between 3 or 6 ECTS by selecting the number of virtual workshops you like to attend. Each workshop is scheduled for two weeks with virtual face-to-face sessions (1 or 3h/ week), pre-recorded lectures and peer-group tasks. The BIP concludes in one final week of physical face-to face sessions in Bucharest/Romania.

BIP structure:

• presentation & introductory lectures: 1 week (compulsory: 3h; 1h/lecture)
• research workshops: 4 or 7 models of your choice, 2 weeks/ workshop (compulsory: 1h 1st week + 3h 2nd week)
• physical mobility: 5 days

Every workshop will have the same structure:

• 2 weeks of face-to-face work: Monday, Wednesday & Friday 3:00-4:00 PM (CET); compulsory attendance: week 1 - only Friday; week 2 - all three sessions for teamwork & presentations and peer evaluation;
• pre-recorded 1 h lecture (most important concepts behind the scientific project) plus an 1h seminar on the teacher's research, available from the week before. Teachers will be online Monday and Wednesday for optional Q&A sessions (non-compulsory);
• 2 sessions (1 h each) of teamwork (3-4 students) aimed at proposing and designing experiments to address the assigned specific research questions raised at the end of the seminar. The teacher will tutor these sessions (teams will be split into different virtual rooms). Teams will also prepare a simple 3-4-slide presentation.
• 2 final sessions (1 h each) in which the teams will present their proposals. These will be evaluated by both the teacher and the peer teams. Both the teacher and students will be provided with evaluation rubrics.

The compulsory introductory lectures (week 1) will be on scientific methods, different types of experiments, the dynamics of an experimental approach, how to design research projects, how to prepare effective presentations.

Research workshops (virtual phase):

1. C. elegans as a model to study in vivo nervous system development & function
2. Yeast as a biotechnological tool with multiple applications: a model for dietary toxicology
3. RNA Modifiers as Therapeutic Targets in Cancer
4. Behavioral phenotyping of mouse models
5. Human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells differentiation for tissue engineering applications
6. Cancer Treatment Research
7. Riboseq to understand proteostasis in disease
8. Models to study angiogenesis
9. Novel approaches to study human diseases

Bucharest program (physical phase): 

• written and oral individual presentation (for individual evaluation);
• general discussions on each of the models;
• personal feedback from scientists;
• visits to companies and/or university facilities;
• closing ceremony including keynote speeches from young and senior researchers and diplomas delivery;
• city tours and local cultural activities will make the mobility experience the most enriching for all international participants.

During this BIP, students will be exposed to a realistic research situation that is highly relevant and important for their future careers as scientists but is typically not covered in traditional teaching programs. They will be confronted with scientific questions and asked to develop their own research strategy to solve them. To do so, they will need to apply both previous and knowledge gained within the BIP.

The course will lead to the following learning outcomes:

• knowledge of scientific methods, experimental approaches, basics of experimental design;
• knowledge of the rationale and characteristics of different experimental models in biomedical research: yeast, advanced molecular research (epitranscriptomics, single cell-NGS), in vivo (mouse and non-mouse) approaches, novel models for physiological and pathological conditions (patient-derived tumour chips and xenografts, organoids, tissue engineering, 2D- and 3D- cell systems...);
• practice in designing experiments, assigning controls, delineating outcomes, and predicting interpretations directed to answer specific research questions;
• ability to synthesise and apply all previous theoretical knowledge;
• improvement of presentation skills.

The physical component of this BIP will be hosted by the University of Bucharest (Romania) from 28 June to 02 July 2027.

Monday, 28 June:

• welcome & introduction;
• wrap-up seminars by workshop teachers;
• individual evaluation (written and presentation preparation).

Tuesday, 29 June – Thursday, 01 July:

• morning: debates on all models, individual presentations; individual feedback tutorial;
• afternoon: visits to institutions, research facilities, cultural visit of the city & social programme.

Friday, 02 July:

• course wrap-up;
• inspiring talks by one young and one senior relevant local researchers;
• certificate/ diploma ceremony;
• farewell party.

During the virtual phase (01 February - 25 June 2027) - students will participate in the introductory workshop (compulsory) and up to eight workshops (2 weeks per workshop, 3h/ week).

01-05 February: Introductory workshop (compulsory):

• Monday, 15:00 - 16:00 CET: Introductory session on Experimental Models
• Wednesday, 15:00 - 16:00 CET: Training on project design
• Friday, 15:00 - 16:00 CET: Training on presentation skills

In the following weeks, the individual workshops will take place. During that time, students will be confronted with actual research questions and will address these questions in an interactive learning environment. Within peer groups, they will discuss with fellow participants how to address these questions and design within their group a detailed experimental study plan:

• 8-19 February 2027: C. elegans as a model to study in vivo nervous system development & function
• 22 February - 05 March 2027: Yeast as a biotechnological tool with multiple applications: a model for dietary toxicology
• 08 - 19 March 2027: Non-coding RNAs and RNA modifications in cell differentiation and disease
• 22 March - 9 April 2027 (including Easter free days): Behavioural phenotyping of Mouse Models
• 12 - 23 April 2027: Human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells differentiation for tissue engineering applications
• 26 April - 14 May 2027 (including Easter free days): Cancer Treatment Research
• 17 -29 May 2027: Riboseq to understand proteostasis in disease
• 1-11 June 2027: Models to study Angiogenesis
• 14- 25 June: Novel approaches to study Human Diseases

All workshops (2 weeks per workshop) will follow the same structure:

Before the workshop: preparation phase - watch the two pre-recorded lectures prepared by the trainer

1st workshop week:

• Monday, 15:00 - 16:00 CET: Q&A session I with trainer (optional)
• Wednesday, 15:00 - 16:00 CET: Q&A session II with trainer (optional)
• Friday, 15:00 - 16:00 CET: teamwork I (compulsory)

2nd workshop week:

• Monday, 15:00 - 16:00 CET: teamwork II (compulsory)
• Wednesday, 15:00 - 16:00 CET: team presentations & peer evaluation I (compulsory)
• Friday, 15:00 - 16:00 CET: team presentations & peer evaluation II (compulsory)

Assessment will comprise teacher and peer evaluation. A rubric will be provided with all the details on the course organisation, and it will be fully explained in the first session.

Continuous evaluation (formative assessment):

• individual questionnaires - 15%;
• teamwork & presentations (up to 7 in total) - 35%  (20% teachers + 15% peer teams).

Individual exam & presentation (summative assessment):

• written exam - 30%;
• presentation - 20%.

Assessment criteria for presentations include:

• Presentation (40%): design (font, colours), message (titles, diagrams), content (needed, supports speech) - 1/3 each
• Scientific proposal (60%): approach (models), experiments (methods, controls), discussion (results, readout & interpretation) - 1/3 each

Motivation Letter

Level of english (According to CEFR)

CV

Applications will be evaluated based on:

• Academic performance
• Molecular, Cell Biological, Life Science course background (ECTS number & grades)
• Prior experience with experimental models/ future need for knowledge about the application of experimental models
• Motivation Letter: career plan, expectations, research interests, reasons to choose the course

Each partner will provide the participants of the BIP with different perspectives on the role and application of "Experimental Models in Molecular Biomedicine":

• Georgia Rapti (Université libre de Bruxelles, Belgium) studies C. elegans as an experimental model
• Lavinia Ruta (University of Bucharest, Romania) engineers yeast and plants to model toxicology studies;
• Alessandro Fatica (Sapienza University of Rome, Italy) works on epitranscriptomics in different physiological and pathological conditions;
• Thorsten Schmidt (University of Tübingen, Germany) models neuropathologies involving ataxia genes in the mouse and performs pre-clinicalanalyses;
• Monica Roman-Trufero (Centre hospitalier universitaire vaudois, University of Lausanne, Switzerland) studies proteostasis regulation in cancer using Riboseq and other -omics approaches;
• Sorina Dinescu (University of Bucharest, Romania) works in adult stem cells;
• Isabel Sánchez (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain) investigates molecular mechanisms of antitumoral new metal drugs with different approaches and experimental models;
• Maud Martin (Université libre de Bruxelles, Belgium) studies the role of microtubules during vascular bed-specific angiogenesis;
• Dirk Schmidt-Arras and Peter Krenn (Paris Lodron University Salzburg, Austria) use innovative ex vivo models to study human diseases;
• Carmela Calés (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain) assists the course coordinator.

Blended Intensive Programme

This CIVIS course is a Blended Intensive Programme (BIP): a new format of Erasmus+ mobility which combines online teaching with a short trip to another campus to learn alongside students and professors across Europe.

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