What is biomedicine? Discover this promising new field

What is biomedicine? Without a doubt, this medical discipline is one of the most promising sectors when it comes to scientific developments that have a huge potential in practical applications to improve the lives of people. But, besides this, it’s also a professional area for a thrilling career that is rewarding in every sense.

What is biomedicine? The huge potential of a discipline that is constantly evolving

Although there are many definitions for this concept, it could be said that biomedicine is a discipline that studies the biological aspects of medicine, essentially through the analysis of genetic, cellular, biochemical and molecular factors that are part of the human body, as well as the illnesses that may affect it.

Thus, biomedicine uses resources and knowledge originating from other fields, such as chemistry, biology, physics and even math.

All of it is done with the following goals:

• Improve diagnostic capacities in all types of disorders (particularly those referring to early diagnostics)
• Contribute to the design of new treatments for already-known or newly-discovered disorders
• Participate in the development of more efficient, low-toxicity medication that also presents minimum secondary effects on the human body

As you can imagine, the potential of this scientific discipline is virtually limitless. In a complex area such as medicine, which is in constant transformation to solve even more ambitious challenges, this new focus can represent a radical change both in diagnostic capacities as well as in therapeutic treatments.

Thus, even if the future remains unpredictable, it’s clear that we’re always going to need the help of biomedicine to contribute to a topic as paramount as human health.

Milestones such as the human genome sequencing and the development of stem cell therapies are just the beginning of the great revolution that biomedicine might bring about.

Why study biomedicine?

If you want to participate in this scientific revolution and start a fascinating career, studying biomedicine is a wonderful option.

Apart from the enormous interest that the discipline arouses by itself, it’s a career option with a great potential for employability. 

Today, a multitude of universities worldwide have incorporated a degree in biomedicine. 

A typical study plan in the biomedicine degree may include the following courses:

• Anatomy
• Chemistry
• Cellular biology
• Microbiology
• Human physiology
• Genetics
• Biophysics
• Biochemistry
• Statistics
• Neurobiology
• Pharmacology
• Physiopathology
• Immunology

Master’s degrees and other specialization options in biomedicine: the best choice to expand your knowledge

Of course, apart from the degree studies, there are multiple master’s and phD degrees that deal with specific matters involved with biomedicine and other related fields. In fact, CEMP offers a Master’s in Biomolecules and Cellular Dynamics that responds to some of the most in-demand skills in the field of biomedicine.

Thus, this master’s offers the possibility of accessing a number of attractive career opportunities such as:

• Researcher in biomedicine and molecular biology
• Expert in commercial exploitation and clinical application 
• Manager for leading biotechnology institutions, such as pharmaceutical laboratories and biomedical research centers

In order to do so, the study plan involves the following main modules:

• Laboratory safety norms
• Bioinformatics applied to molecular biology
• Technologies for protein analysis and manipulation
• Genetics and molecular Biology
• Glucids and Lipids. Advances in biomedicine
• Molecular basis of cell proliferation, differentiation and Death
• Stem cell Research and Therapies

Biomedicine and bioinformatics: computers at the service of the medical science

It would be impossible to understand any of the great advancements in biomedicine without the technological basis that, specially during the last decades, computers have provided us. Growth in computing power and the design of increasingly sophisticated tools have allowed us to develop research pathways that seemed unfeasible just a few years ago.

In fact, technology applied to biomedical sciences has evolved to become a discipline in its own right: bioinformatics.

Thus, bioinformatics can be defined as the application of computational technologies and statistics to the management and analysis of biological data.

In recent years, the most important advancements in areas such as Big Data, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning have contributed to a large extent to a spectacular development of this discipline, with a real impact in medical advancements that can be directly applied to clinical practice.

In this respect, universities have also developed specific degrees in bioinformatics, helping shape the first specialists who, without a doubt, will be of much use in the future of biomedicine.

Some of the subjects included in these degrees’ education plans include the following, among others:

• Programming and algorithms
• Calculus
• Physical Chemistry and Organic Chemistry 
• Molecular and cellular biology
• Biostatistics and Data Analysis
• Genetics and genomics
• Theory of Information, Computer Architecture and Operational Systems
• Algebra
• Biophysics 
• Discrete mathematics and Optimization
• Public Databases in the Health and Life Sciences
• Algorithms and Grouping Methods in Genomics and Evolution
• Algorithms for the Analysis of Bioinformatic Sequences
• Algorithms and Data Structures
• Structural Bioinformatics
• Software Engineering
• Comparative and Functional Genomics
• High-Performance Computing
• Distributed Systems and Web Technologies
• Data Visualization
• Computational Genomics
• Statistical Learning
• System and Network Biology

What do I need to know if I want to study biomedicine?

If the biomedicine field appeals to you, you’re probably wondering whether or not to enroll in a related educational option. Before taking any decision in this respect, we recommend the following practical tips:

• Nevermind if you’re looking for a degree, a master’s or a postgraduate option, make sure you analyze the study program offered by each center. Make sure the course contents respond to your expectations and deal with the matters that you’re the most interested in. Of course, subjects should be updated in order to include all scientific advancements that take place continuously in a dynamic field such as biomedicine.
• Check the institution’s experience in the field of education, as well as the associated professors and their qualifications
• Look for a course that follows a learning methodology that adjusts to your needs. Although degrees continue to prioritize on-site options, masters and postgraduate courses often offer online education. This option presents a series of interesting advantages for students, such as:
  • 24/7 access to course contents every day of the year
  • No need to move for on-site sessions, which translates into time and economical savings. You may take part in the master’s from anywhere through an internet-connected device (laptop, tablet or even a smartphone).
  • You can work at your own pace, without the need to adapt to other people’s rythms. This means you may work as fast or as slowly as you may want or need. Besides, you’ll be able to go back to review previous content or lessons as many times as necessary, without interrupting or disturbing other people.
  • Online education typically presents lower costs to on-site education, as it allows big savings for institutions (especially when it comes to physical spaces, management options and human resources).
• The possibility of taking part in a professional internship, facilitated by the educational institution, is particularly convenient. This allows you to experience an initial contact with “real-world” biomedicine, as well as a first job experience that can be incorporated into your CV. In some cases, the internship might lead to a job opportunity in the same company where you’ve worked.
• You may look up past students’ opinions in order to get an idea of the quality of the master’s course or degree. However, they will not always offer a trustworthy image of the biomedicine studies you’re looking for. Because of this, try to always solve your questions and needs directly with the educational institution. If they’re a serious and experienced organization, they’ll gladly answer all the questions you wish to ask.

Now that you know what biomedicine is all about, would you like to take part in the future of this medical discipline?

If you’re attracted by challenges and are thrilled by the idea of contributing to advancement in the field of medicine, biomedicine may fulfill your aspirations. Learn more about our master’s program and start getting ready for a brilliant future career.