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The Department of Medical Biophysics is a cross-disciplinary unit renowned for its pioneering work in cancer studies, therapies, and other medical advancements. Based mainly at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Research Institute, and SickKids Research Institute, it provides graduate programs culminating in MSc and PhD degrees. This innovative program bridges biology, physics, clinical medicine, and engineering, offering cutting-edge education and top-tier research opportunities.
For over five decades, the department's graduate training initiative has been fundamental to its mission, tracing its roots to cancer investigations at the Ontario Cancer Institute. Students can pursue interdisciplinary MSc and PhD programs, with the doctoral track being the primary focus. While coursework expands students' knowledge—typically coming from life or physical sciences backgrounds—the average completion time is 2.5 years for MSc candidates and 5-6 years for PhD candidates.
Stem Cells possess the extraordinary ability to transform into diverse cell types. MBP scientists explore multiple facets of stem cell behavior, including differentiation and self-renewal processes. This field builds upon groundbreaking 1960s discoveries by department professors Drs. McCulloch and Till. Regenerative medicine merges stem cell science with molecular biology and tissue engineering techniques, aiming to cultivate human tissues from embryonic stem cells or model development in laboratory settings.