CAS in Translational Medicine
sitem-insel School, Unversität Bern
Translational medicine is a new, process-oriented discipline that aims to translate new findings and products emerging from private-sector development and basic research into clinical applications. It seeks to professionalize the essential interaction between basic science researchers, clinicians, regulatory bodies and investors.
This study program is designed to train professionals in scientific and medical knowledge, and simultaneously in entrepreneurship skills to enable them to successfully coordinate the development and commercialization of biomedical products. The program is open for all academic disciplines. For academics without a background in natural science, engineering or medicine, a special module «Prerequisites» has been developed.
Click here to view the full MAS / DAS / CAS TMBE Brochure.
Degree | Certificate of Advanced Studies in Translational Medicine, University Of Bern (CAS TM Unibe) |
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Start | 09/2023 |
Length | September 2023 – July 2024 |
Scope | 15 ECTS |
Cycle | Annual |
Flexible entry possible | No |
Single module visitable | Yes |
Place | Bern |
Language | English |
Admission | The program participants will be a group of postgraduate students at a high academic level. Participants should have a MS or higher degree in life science, medicine, engineering science or equivalent. |
Registration until | 2023/08/15 |
Cost | CHF 12'600 |
Organising institutions | sitem-insel School, Unversität Bern |
Partner | sitem-insel AG |
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About the program
Translational medicine is a new, process-oriented discipline that aims to translate new findings and products resulting from industrial development and basic research into clinical applications. It seeks to professionalize the essential interaction between basic science researchers, clinicians, regulatory bodies, and investors.
This study program is designed to train professionals in scientific and medical knowledge, and simultaneously in entrepreneurship skills to enable them to successfully coordinate the development and commercialization of biomedical products. Depending on your needs we offer a CAS, DAS or MAS. The program consists of 6 modules covering different aspects relevant for the development and commercialization of medicinal products and medical devices. These six modules are aligned along the translational process from the preclinical phase to the post market phase. MAS students perform activities that are designed to specially address aspects relevant to their projects. This includes regular project discussions with peers and experts, the selection of applicable case studies and site visits at companies, which will give them the opportunity to apply knowledge, skill sets and techniques that they have gained from the classroom in real life situations.

Objectives
The program offers continuing education to specialists in industry, hospitals and academia in the field of translational medicine and biomedical entrepreneurship, expertise highly needed in both industry and universities. Participants will acquire the know-how to initiate and implement the translation process of products from the stage of development in industrial or research institutions to clinical applications with the goal of their commercialization. The focus is on both diagnostic and therapeutic medical devices and medicinal products.
What to expect from this program?
- You will become proficient in medical product development
- You understand the interdisciplinary interaction in translational medicine
- Our innovative enviornment and network of experts and specialists from industry and academia provide you with a state-of-the-art platform
- We offer a unique mentoring program and large flexibility our custom designed study program
- You will be able to take your concept for your medical innovation to the next level and increase the success of your start up
Participants
The program is open for all academic disciplines. For academics without a background in natural science, engineering or medicine, a special module «Prerequisites» has been developed. It will allow those participants to acquire fundamental scientific-medical knowledge required for the program. The program addresses professionals from industry, hospitals and academia that are active in the medical sector and interested in translational medicine and biomedical entrepreneurship.
Structure of the CAS TM Program
The CAS TM is a part-time program (15 ECTS), consisting of the development of a real-life, practical translational project, and the acquisition of theoretical medical knowledge. It consists of modules in the form of e-learning activities, face-to-face sessions, and a performance review. It provides participants with the necessary knowledge and tools to the principles of research, the level of excellence needed by regulatory agencies, intellectual property, and an understanding to clinical trials. Participants choose three out of the five first modules of the TMBE Program (13 ECTS). The implementation of the course content into practice is achieved with a certificate thesis worth 2 ECTS credits. After successful participation, the University of Bern awards the Certificate of Advanced Studies.
The TMBE program is highly modular, thus allowing individual learning approaches and fast tracks (see MAS TMBE, DAS TMBE, DAS TM, CAS BE). It is also possible to book single modules in case free places are available.

Location
The study program is embedded in sitem-insel, which, in collaboration with partners, provides participants access to a vast amount of hightech facilities and services.
The study program offers «blended learning», i.e. e-learning complemented with face-toface concept lectures, peer learning sessions and interactive discussions with specialists. Consequently, the program permits you to organize your daily workload and study time according to your background and your specific needs, while the face-to-face sessions allow networking with experts and personal contact with your peers.
Modules
Organising institution and faculty
Organising institution and faculty
Organising institution
sitem-insel School, Center for Translational Medicine and Biomedical Entrepreneurship, Faculty of Medicine, Universität Bern.
sitem-insel is bringing innovation to the patient – by connecting people
Our mission is to establish, operate and develop a National Center of Excellence for Translational Medicine that professionalizes translational research for the benefit of patients, society and science.
sitem-insel is located at the Insel-Campus Bern and benefits from its proximity to the Swiss university hospital (Inselspital) as well as to the medical faculty of the University of Bern. At sitem-insel, a wide variety of units from the hospital, industry, research and education are networked under one roof in pursuit of innovation for the benefit of the patient.
An onsite cutting-edge 20,000 m2 facility is the catalyst for a multidisciplinary collaborative approach to unlocking 'bench to bedside' and 'bedside to bench' innovation.
Translational process
How to get a research idea from bench to bedside.
sitem-insel AG partners with educational institutions, infrastructure, platforms, service and networks throughout the entire translation process.
Education at sitem-insel: training tomorrow’s experts
The sitem-insel School promotes professionalization by educating researchers and training executives in the field of translational medicine, biomedical entrepreneurship and medical device regulations from a holistic perspective.
The School teaches students practice-oriented high-quality knowledge, provides a strong network between people involved in the translational process, and offers training accredited by the University of Bern.
Next to the School, the Clinical Anatomy Training and Research (CATR) unit is a cutting-edge facility, dedicated to surgical training and product development. Here we organize and host courses and workshops for medical experts, societies, foundations, hospitals, and private companies in different fields of medicine.
A faculty of industry experts
Our faculty are industry leaders in health, biomedicine, and entrepreneurship fields. They combine deep theoretical knowledge from their innovative research, with the latest practical insights from their extensive work with industry and governments.
Their combination of research activities and consultancy work for commercial clients means our lecturers use real-life challenges to illustrate the contents of the modules, guiding participants with their own projects.
- Prof. Dr. Artur Baldauf
- Dr. Andreas Wallnoefer
- Dr. Max Corbett
- Prof. Dr. Heinz Müller
- Dr. Barbara Jentges
- Sandra Soniec
- PD Dr. Sven Trelle
- Beat Lechmann
Admission
The application deadlines are 31 May and 15 August. Extensions of deadlines may be granted by the Directorate.
Fees
Tuition fees
Master of Advanced Studies (MAS): CHF 31'500.–
Diploma of Advanced Studies (DAS): CHF 23'100.–
Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS): CHF 12'600.–
The invoice for your first payment will be sent following written confirmation of admission. There is no entitlement to a refund or waiver of the course fees if parts of the course are not attended. Costs for travel, accommodation and catering are not included. Insurance is in the sole responsibility of participants (accident, travel, cancellation, etc.).
Contact
Associate Courses
CAS Biomedical Entrepreneurship
Degree | CAS |
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Start | 09/2023 |
Language | Englisch |
Cost | CHF 12'600 |
The program includes all relevant aspects of the translational process – entrepreneurial know-how in addition to all basic scientific, clinical, and technical knowledge. It covers different points relevant for the development and commercialization of medicinal products and medical devices.
DAS in Translational Medicine
Degree | DAS |
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Start | 09/2023 |
Language | Englisch |
Cost | CHF 23'100 |
The program includes all relevant aspects of the translational process – entrepreneurial know-how in addition to all basic scientific, clinical, and technical knowledge. It covers different points relevant for the development and commercialization of medicinal products and medical devices.
DAS in Translational Medicine and Biomedical Entrepreneurship
Degree | DAS |
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Start | 09/2023 |
Language | Englisch |
Cost | CHF 23'100 |
The program includes all relevant aspects of the translational process – entrepreneurial know-how in addition to all basic scientific, clinical, and technical knowledge. It covers different points relevant for the development and commercialization of medicinal products and medical devices.
MAS in Translational Medicine and Biomedical Entrepreneurship
Degree | MAS |
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Start | 09/2023 |
Language | Englisch |
Cost | CHF 31'500 |
The program includes all relevant aspects of the translational process – entrepreneurial know-how in addition to all basic scientific, clinical, and technical knowledge. It covers different points relevant for the development and commercialization of medicinal products and medical devices.