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Respiratory Clinical Science MSc

UCL's cutting edge MSc in Respiratory Clinical Science has been designed for those who want to lead the way in the growing field of Respiratory Medicine.

MSc Respiratory Clinical Science Overview

This MSc focuses on the study of the scientific and clinical basis of Respiratory diseases with all courses and modules directed towards understanding disease and the effects on patients. It will provide you with the tools to develop further careers in the area and create opportunities to interact with both clinical professions and the pharmaceutical industry. 

You will gain an understanding in the key concepts relevant to respiratory medicine. These include respiratory biology and disease, genetics, immunology, biochemistry, microbiology, lung repair and regeneration, animal models, pathophysiology, pharmacology, physiology and occupational and environmental lung disease.

Find out more and apply

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What is Respiratory Medicine and Why is it Important Today? 

  • More than one billion people across the world suffer from a respiratory illness.
  • 1 in 5 will develop a respiratory illness.
  • Someone dies from a lung disease every 5 minutes in the UK.
  • 10,000 people in the UK alone are diagnosed with a new lung condition every week.
     
  • Respiratory Medicine is an increasingly important field of medicine. The lungs are the largest internal organ in the body and the only internal organ that is exposed constantly to the external environment. Everyone who breathes is vulnerable to infectious and toxic agents in the air.
  • Respiratory disease encompasses several lung conditions including asthma, bronchiectasis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma, obstructive sleep apnoea, pneumonia/lower respiratory tract infections, respiratory tuberculosis, and sarcoidosis.
  • Causes of lung disease are known to include genetics, smoking, radon, infection, asbestos and air pollution, but not all causes are known.

A Uniquely Translational Approach

Developed and run by UCL's World Leading Respiratory Department, students will have unique access to the Department's best practice research, processes and treatments. This could include viewing procedures at UCLH, participating in diagnostic sessions, attending Multi-Disciplinary Team meetings (MDTs) where experts develop treatment programmes, or involvement in our cutting-edge research processes.

This master's in respiratory medicine offers a unique combination of translational focus with the world's best and potential access to some of the most innovative research projects in this area.

Respiratory Lung Regeneration and Development

Learn from World Leading Experts

The modules within the programme are each taught by world leaders in the various elements of respiratory medicine. Professor Sam Janes is currently in charge of the world's largest research project on Lung Cancer. Professor David Lomas is a world expert in the research of the pathogenesis of a1-antitrypsin deficiency. Professor Marc Lipman is a world expert in TB. Plus, six other experts in this exciting field. No other university can offer such a range of expertise.

Unlike other master's programmes in this area, students will have access to not just biology and lungs but also inflammation and tissue repair. 

The UCL Respiratory Department

The MSc in Respiratory Clinical Science is based at the UCL Respiratory Department in central London. We have state-of-the-art tissue culture rooms and molecular biology laboratories to support world-leading research in the fields of Lung Cancer, Airway Stem Cells, a1-Antitrypsin Deficiency, Genetic Model Organisms, Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, TB, Pneumonia, COPD, bronchiectasis, Interstitial Lung Disease and Asthma.

UCL Raynes Building Respiratory Department

The Department is located within the UCL Division of Medicine and underwent major refurbishment in 2015. 

The UCL Respiratory Department contains dedicated histology facilities housing automated tissue processing and slide staining units, embedding centre, cryostat, and microtomes. Its microscopy suite is equipped with brightfield and fluorescence microscopes, laser-capture-microdissection instruments and an automatic slide scanner.

More information / How to apply

A Range of Programme Options

The Respiratory Clinical Science MSc has a flexible structure to meet the needs of different students. You can study the Master of Science full-time over one year or part-time over two years. Versions of the programme are offered as PG Diplomas or PG Certificates upon entry or as a conversion during the master's programme.

Career Opportunities

ucl respiratory masters
The programme provides an outstanding background for those looking to pursue a career in respiratory clinical science or related industries such as biotech and pharmaceuticals. It also provides a range of transferable skills for PhD study at UCL or elsewhere.

What our students say

"It was inspiring to pursue my postgraduate studies in a world class university that put students first and to be taught by the pioneers of modern respiratory medical sciences. The challenging year never affected the teaching quality or the amount of support we received." Aya Fayyomi
"I really enjoyed studying the MSc Respiratory Clinical Science. It offers great insight into the scientific and clinical aspects of respiratory medicine, from lung regeneration to interpreting x-rays. The lab research project and clinical tutorials allowed me to apply the knowledge I gained through lectures into real-life settings, which was definitely a highlight." Suvetha Ragavan
"The research project gave us the opportunity to work with and learn from the best researchers in the world. All the teachers and staff are amazing, friendly, and helpful. My gratitude goes to Dr Vitor Teixeira, who has been the kindest and most supportive mentor during the pandemic." Tiasha Tasnim
 "It has been a very challenging year, but the MSc Respiratory Clinical Science delivered an excellent quality of teaching and supporting. I have learned a lot during this year. Many thanks to our programme director and all modules leads." Tarfah Alsabhan

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Meet the Programme Lead - Vitor de Sousa Teixeira

Dr Vitor De Sousa Teixeira is an Associate Professor, Director of the Respiratory Clinical Science MSc programme, Tutor for Postgraduate Taught Degrees, and the Deputy Postgraduate Research Tutor at the UCL Division of Medicine. His roles include designing and leading the MSc Respiratory programme. He teaches immunology, lung biology and respiratory diseases across the core modules as well as overseeing research projects.

He was awarded in 2022 the UCL Faculty of Medical Sciences Education Award (category academic support). After obtaining BSc and MSc degrees in Portugal, he went on to do his PhD in Biomedical Sciences in Paris. Dr Teixeira’s research group at UCL Respiratory Medicine department is currently investigating the role of microbiome in lung cancer progression. He has contributed to several significant scientific publications in journals such as Nature Medicine, Cancer Discovery and Elife. He is also a tutor of undergraduate and postgraduate students and a PhD supervisor. More about Vitor.

dr vitor teixira of ucl

UK's Biggest Lung Cancer Study

Professor Sam Janes, Head of the Lungs for Living Research Centre and one of the lecturers on the Respiratory Clinical Science MSc, is running the UK's biggest ever lung cancer screening study.

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Centre for Inflammation and Tissue Repair

Centre for Inflammation and Tissue Repair (CITR) conducts world-leading fundamental and translational research in the field of inflammation and tissue repair within the setting of respiratory disease and tissue fibrosis.

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Lungs for Living Research Centre

The Lungs for Living Research Centre conducts world-leading airway stem cell biology and lung cancer research. The aim is to delineate the biological processes supporting airway homeostasis and to identify the earliest cellular and molecular events causing lung cancer. They also seek to develop innovative methods of lung cancer diagnosis, staging and treatment, as well as tissue engineering strategies to replace damaged airways.

Airways Widefield

Centre for Respiratory Biology

This group focuses on understanding disease mechanisms and the search for novel therapies. Find out more

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World Leading Partners

While the course is based at UCL Respiratory, students will have a unique opportunity to study and potentially conduct a research study with one of our prestigious partners in London:

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