About the course

The EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Sustainable Approaches to Biomedical Science: Responsible and Reproducible Research (SABS: R³) is an innovative open collaboration between the University of Oxford and 22 partner industrial organisations.

SABS: R³ is predicated on the increasing reliance of biomedical research on computational approaches, and hence on well-engineered research software. The programme aims to train first-rate biomedical scientists equipped with the skills needed to transform their research through the creation of innovative, reusable computational tools and solutions for cutting-edge biomedical research problems.

This four-year programme of research and training has strong industrial links, with each student having both academic and industrial supervision.

The programme enables students from a range of scientific backgrounds to focus on computational biomedical research problems, including the design and testing of new chemical and biological entities, the modelling of biological and physiological systems, the robust analysis of large complex datasets and the development of novel computational methods for medical and biological imaging. This cross-disciplinary work introduces students to cutting-edge software engineering, machine learning, cheminformatics, computational simulation, bioinformatics, data mining, statistical analysis, physical and structural study of biomolecules, mathematical modelling, and medical and biological imaging. Underpinning the entire programme will be an appreciation of the vital importance of taking a responsible and reproducible approach to computational biomedical research.

The CDT's industrial partners are currently AC Immune, AstraZeneca, Aurox, BenevolentAI, the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre, Diamond Light Source, Elsevier, e-therapeutics, Exscientia, GE Healthcare, Hoffmann La Roche, Immunocore, IvyFarm, Lhasa, LifeArc, Lurtis, MedImmune, Microsoft Research, Moffitt Cancer Center, Novo Nordisk, Oxford Drug Design (formerly InhibOx), Perspectum Diagnostics, Reckitt Benckiser, SimOmics, UCB and Zegami.

Assessment

During the first year students are assessed on each of the taught modules undertaken in the first two terms as well as on each of the two short rotation projects undertaken. Satisfactory achievement will be required for progression to the research stage.

Assessment during the following three years of the programme will follow the regulations of the department in which you are hosted.

Graduate destinations

The programme is part of the DTC which has a strong record of alumni success. To date, around 60% of students have gone on to pursue academic careers and 20% have entered into industrial research. The DTC’s alumni are responsible for at least 20 start-up companies and over 30 granted or pending patents. Many students who have gone onto successful careers are invited back to talk to current students within the Research Skills sessions.