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Biomedical Research (Respiratory and Cardiovascular Science)
Gain fundamental skills towards a career in biomedical research and build your knowledge of the basic physiology of cardiac function.
Gain fundamental skills towards a career in biomedical research and build your knowledge of the basic physiology of cardiac function
Understand the rationale behind the design of novel treatments for respiratory and cardiovascular disease
Advance your understanding of the physiology and pathophysiology of the heart and lungs on two research projects
Course key facts
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Qualification
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MRes
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Duration
1 year
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Start date
October 2023
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Study mode
Full-time
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Fees
£19,000 Home
£40,800 Overseas
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Delivered by
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Location
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Royal Brompton
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Course overview
Specialise in respiratory and cardiovascular science and build your biomedical research skills on this Master's course.
You'll analyse the basic physiology of cardiac function, as well as the pathophysiology of major cardiovascular diseases and major respiratory diseases.
This specialised MRes Biomedical Research stream examines the advantages and limitations of animal models of respiratory and cardiovascular disease.
You'll also explore the rationale behind the design of novel treatments for respiratory and cardiovascular disease and develop your research expertise on two extended projects.
Extensive theoretical and practical skills training will prepare you for employment roles within a biomedical environment, on a programme that incorporates grant writing, technical workshops and journal clubs.
You have the option of choosing our general biomedical research stream, or one of eight specialisms. All of our biomedical research streams have the same course structure and each stream has its own tailored set of projects alongside a core programme of lectures, seminars and practical classes.
You should consider which stream is right for you according to your career aims and background. If an offer of admission is made, it will correspond to a specific stream. Switching streams is not possible once you have commenced your studies.
- General Biomedical Research
- Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine and Intensive Care
- Bacterial Pathogenesis and Infection
- Data Science
- Epidemiology, Evolution and Control of Infectious Diseases
- Microbiome in Health and Disease
- Molecular Basis of Human Disease
- Respiratory and Cardiovascular Science (this stream)
Is this stream for you?
This stream is aimed at students with a biological or biochemical background wishing to pursue further education in a biomedically relevant area and those that want to undertake research projects aimed at understanding pathophysiological mechanisms underlying respiratory and/or cardiovascular diseases.
It is also aimed at students who want to gain a Master’s qualification with a view to undertaking doctoral training, or work in the pharmaceutical industry or in a professional biomedical technical environment.
Structure
You’ll take all of these core modules.
Core modules
Compose a grant proposal, appropriate for submission to an academic funding body.
This will correspond to your research project(s).
You'll carry out two mini research projects, exploring some of the most technologically advanced approaches currently being applied to biomedical research.
You have a wide range of research projects available to you.
The projects available to you are determined by your chosen stream.
You can also choose projects from other streams, though you will only have priority within your own stream.
Example projects
- Community football foundation to support physical activity maintenance following pulmonary rehabilitation in adults with chronic respiratory disease: a prospective cohort study
- Chronic airflow obstruction and household air pollution
- Lung volume and blood pressure
- Lung volume, anthropometry, and ethnicity
- Prevalence of respiratory symptoms with ageing
- Characterizing matured and non-matured left ventricle cardiomyocytes derived from human
- pluripotent stem cells for pharma use
- Tissue-specific expression of coagulation factor VIII in endothelial cells
Entry requirements
We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.
How to apply
Apply online
You can submit one application form per year of entry. You can choose up to two courses.
On the application form, you will need to select the Postgraduate Taught application category, and then Biomedical Research (MRes 1YFT) in the Academic Programme drop-down. You will then be able to select the stream you wish to be considered for.
Find out more about how to apply for a Master's course, including references and personal statements.
If you are applying for a taught Master’s course, you will need to pay an application fee before submitting your application.
The fee applies per application and not per course:
- £80 for all taught Master's applications excluding those to the Imperial College Business School
- £100 for all MSc applications to the Imperial College Business School
- £150 for MBA applications to the Imperial College Business School
There is no application fee for MRes courses, Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas or research courses, such as PhDs and EngDs.
If you are facing financial hardship and are unable to pay the application fee, we encourage you to apply for our application fee waiver.
An ATAS certificate is not required for students applying for this course.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching and learning methods
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Demonstrations and seminars
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Workshops
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Computing labs
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Journal clubs
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Virtual learning environment
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Tutorials
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Lab-based learning
Balance of assessment
Key
- Grant writing exercise
- Research projects
- 10% Grant writing exercise
- 90% Research projects
Assessment methods
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Laboratory-based research
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Computer-based research
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Oral presentation
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Poster presentation
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Research reports
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Oral assessment
Tuition fees
Home fee
2023 entry
£19,000
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the College, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
For 2022-23 entry, the maximum amount is £11,836. The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Overseas fee
2023 entry
£40,800
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the College, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
For 2022-23 entry, the maximum amount is £11,836. The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Your future career
Acquire transferable skills relevant to a career in biomedical research.
Become familiar with the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying respiratory and/or cardiovascular disorders.
Expert leaders in the field provide practical training for a research career.
Our graduates often pursue further study in master's programs or doctoral research.
With specialised knowledge, you'll be highly sought after in a range of sectors.
These include the pharmaceutical industry and professional biomedical technical environments.
Other potential career paths include research roles in academia, industry or government.
Further links
Contact the department
- Email: duncan.rogers@imperial.ac.uk
Course Director: Professor Tim Ebbels
Course Deputy Director: Dr Elizabeth Want
Stream Organiser: Dr Duncan Rogers
Visit the Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction website.

Our students
Meet Biomedical Research students and see what they have to say about their studies.
You can also read more about our student achievements, including funding, publications and academic prizes.

Register your interest
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Register your interest


Terms and conditions
There are some important pieces of information you should be aware of when applying to Imperial. These include key information about your tuition fees, funding, visas, accommodation and more.
You can find further information about your course, including degree classifications, regulations, progression and awards in the programme specification for your course.
Programme specifications