About the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
The Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology has programmes of basic, translational and clinical research addressing the determinants of pregnancy complications. Work in the Department is funded by the Women's Health theme of the Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, a Wellcome Trust Investigator award, and numerous project grants (MRC, BBSRC, Wellcome Leap and a range of research charities).
The basic research in the Department is focused on improving our mechanistic understanding of placental development and function with the longterm goal of improving pregnancy outcome. This work exploits stem cells and other in vitro models, genetically manipulated mice and multiple “omic” methods.
Translational research in the Department focuses on the role of placental dysfunction in determining the risk of adverse pregnancy outcome. The unique resources that underpin this are the Pregnancy Outcome Prediction studies (POPS and POPS2). These two cohorts each include multiple biological samples and rich data from~4500 pregnant women.
Finally, clinical research in the Department uses analysis of diverse data sources to study determinants and predictors pregnancy outcome. A particular focus is the effect of metformin on the fetus and placenta and this requires analysis of short and long term pregnancy outcome data using record linkage.
This interdisciplinary work involves complex teams of molecular and cellular biologists, mathematicians, bioinformaticians, statisticians and clinician-scientists.
2 courses offered in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Medical Science (Obstetrics and Gynaecology) - MPhil
We offer our MPhil degree full-time over 12 months or part-time over 24 months. This is a research-based degree during which students undertake a research project and produce a thesis. Assessment is by oral examination based on the thesis and a broader knowledge of the chosen area of research.
The research area and supervisors will be confirmed during the application process. All students are assigned a principal supervisor and an adviser, and day-to-day supervision will take place in the laboratory alongside regular progress meetings.
Obstetrics and Gynaecology - PhD
The PhD course is a three to four years full-time, or five to seven years part-time research-based course.
All students are assigned a principal supervisor and an adviser, and day-to-day supervision will take place in the laboratory alongside regular progress meetings.
At the end of their course, students produce a thesis of 60,000 words maximum, followed by an oral examination based on both their thesis and a broader knowledge of their chosen area of research.
4 courses also advertised in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Clinical Medicine Wellcome Trust - PhD
From the Faculty of Clinical Medicine
We provide high-quality research training to clinical health professionals with an aptitude for research to enable them to become future leaders in medical and healthcare science. We offer training in an outstanding environment, spanning basic science, translational medicine, interdisciplinary, behavioural and applied health research.
We take great pride in our track record of successfully training health professionals to undertake the highest quality research across Cambridge and Norwich. We offer one of the most rewarding environments in which you could pursue your research training with world-leading researchers in The Schools of Clinical Medicine and Biological Sciences at the Universities of Cambridge, Wellcome Sanger Institute and other MRC, Wellcome & Cancer Research UK funded Institutes, Centres & Units in the wider Cambridge area, as well as the School of Health Sciences and Norwich Medical School at the University of East Anglia with other partners on the Norwich Research Park. The most important criteria we are looking for are the pursuit of research excellence, hard work and the will to make a difference to health.
The programme faculty provides mentoring and guidance on opportunities to undertake pre-doctoral research placements, enabling successful candidates to make an informed choice of PhD project and supervisor. Bespoke training and support for career development for fellows, together with support to supervisors, ensures a successful research experience. Post-doctorally, we will guide fellows based on their individual progress, to make the transition into higher research fellowships and clinical pathways, enabling ongoing training with continuance of research momentum.
MD (Doctor of Medicine) - MD
From the Faculty of Clinical Medicine
The MD degree is a doctorate, specific to the University of Cambridge, awarded to clinicians who undertake an extended period of scientific research into the science, art, or history of medicine. It provides an opportunity for doctors to receive recognition of research achievement within an approved academic programme.
The MD programme, on a par academically with the PhD, spans a maximum of six years on a part-time basis, allowing candidates to undertake their research alongside clinical or other responsibilities, at the end of which their thesis is examined by Viva. Any candidate working in a Cambridge University Health Partner institution will be assigned a University supervisor and will become a registered student of the University and a member of one of the Colleges. Any candidate intending to work at an institution outside Cambridge must already hold a Cambridge primary degree and must apply to take the MD by Special Regulations.
Medicine MRC DTP iCASE - PhD
From the Faculty of Clinical Medicine
The Cambridge Medical Research Council's Doctoral Training Programme will be offering five Industrial MRC CASE (iCASE) studentships for doctoral study, to start in October 2025, and these can be based in either the School of Clinical Medicine, or the School of Biological Sciences.
Each studentship is fully-funded for four years, to include a stipend, all course fees, plus a research training support grant.
National Institutes of Health Oxford/Cambridge Programme NIH Ox/Cam - PhD
From the Department of Medicine
This innovative programme was established in 2002 as a collaboration between the University of Cambridge and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the US. Its aim is to train outstanding students in biomedical research, taking advantage of the excellent research environments in Cambridge and the US. Students work on collaborative projects organised by co-supervisors in Cambridge and the NIH, spending two years at each institution. Students have access to all NIH facilities and are paid by the NIH. The PhD is awarded by the University of Cambridge.