Degrees leading into cancer research

[Watsername]

DS is taking his GCSEs this year and is hoping to do ALevels in Biology, Chemistry and Maths next year.

He wants to do some kind of lab-based research in the future (cancer research is the field he has mentioned the most). What degrees would be best? Is Biomedical science the right kind of thing? He's academic and aiming as high as possible.

@titchy we have a great tech industry too. 🙌

https://www.innopharmaeducation.com/our-blog/why-ireland-attracts-the-top-pharmaceutical-companies

A close friend's DC did this - 3 years relevant degree at Cambridge, with internships at The Francis Crick Centre in London, and has now started a Masters/Phd (also at Cambridge) in cancer related research. The DC is passionate about cancer studies.

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/postgraduate-study/study-abroad/study-in-ireland#:~:text=You'll%20usually%20need%20to,Central%20Applications%20Office%20(CAO).

https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/student-advice/where-to-study/studying-in-ireland#TuitionfeesinIreland

I work in this field (I have a lab)

my phd students have so far done degrees in biomedical science, biology, biochemistry, animal science, chemistry, and computer science

basically, anything numerate where they are taught how to handle large amounts of data, and do a lot of hands on work, is good

I disagree with the previous poster re biomedical science. They are usually fantastic degrees which give a broad grounding across biology, a bit of biochemistry, some computational biology work, some pharmacology

The diversity of replies from cancer researchers and life scientists is a great thing, OP. IMO it shows that there is no one correct pathway. DS can follow his strengths. He will need to do that to have the greatest impact. Many great ideas here!

I am a Russell Group STEM academic but not in Life Sciences. I say just put one foot in front of the other, don’t lose sight of your goal and keep consulting experts. You have a number of excellent but conflicting ideas to be going on with. First thing though, is to get the A levels that will open the doors to a good choice of degree programmes as your DS continues to explore the replies you’ve got so far (I am no RG snob but a good portion of the most suitable UG programmes will be RG+) Also your DS may wish to explore summer enrichment programmes related to these fields if those seem a possibility.

Very best wishes to him

Does anyone know about how to find summer enrichment type programmes in this field please?

@Turmerictolly you con contact any company themselves and they will tell you what placements and internships they have

@Watsername Nottingham do a degree in cancer studies. Huge research centre there.

www.nottingham.ac.uk/studywithus/ugstudy/courses/UG/Cancer-Sciences-BSc-Hons-U6UCANCS.html

Looks fascinating, and thank you for the link. But I must admit that my first thought was to wonder whether graduates would be suited for the same range of PhDs as graduates of typical disciplinary programmes, ot whether they would have more limited options

Yes, I am wondering whether it’s better to pursue a more general degree, rather than the specialised cancer studies one, just in case he changes his mind.

Also this degree suggests that it is great preparation for research management rather than research per se, or for leading into Graduate Medicine and a couple of other things. Its suitability as a predoctoral pathway was not mentioned (or I missed it).

@Watsername my DD did biomed as a first degree then did a Post-grad at LSHTM. She would thoroughly recommend that school, the Masters course was amazing with guest lectures from the likes of Sarah Gilbert and Chris Whitty. It was intense, she did 50-60 hours a week and it was a full year, not 9 months, but very worthwhile. Lots of her course mates were fully qualified junior doctors looking to upskill in a particular area, and from all over the world which meant there were lots of different perspectives and experiences.

Her area of expertise is vector-borne diseases rather than cancer, but still looking at lab-based research like your DS. She is currently getting a bit of work in the field prior to applying for PhDs which she is certain she will need to progress in the field.

he could also think about biomedical engineering