NIHES at a glance
RESEARCH TRAINING IN MEDICINE AND THE HEALTH SCIENCES
a new era of scientific
discoveries
what are your ambitions?
NIHES at a glance
RESEARCH TRAINING IN MEDICINE AND THE HEALTH SCIENCES
A NEW era of scientific discoveries
what are your ambitions?
From the Scientific Director
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In the years ahead, important discoveries will be made...
Our Master of Science programmes
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We offer a range of Master of Science programmes...
TOP RESEARCH-TRAINING AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
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We prepare our students for international careers...
RESEaRCH aNd TRaINING PaRTNERSHIPS
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We’re continuously expanding our network of partner universities...
Erasmus Summer Programme
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Each year, the Erasmus Summer Programme provides international students...
in summary
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Since its foundation in 1991, NIHES has become a leading international centre...
The five best reasons for choosing Nihes
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You’ll acquire specialized scientific knowledge and high-level research skills...
We prepare our students for
international careers as researchers,
executives or advisors in clinical
medicine, drug research, public
health and health-policy
development.
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From the
Scientific Director
In the years ahead, important discoveries will be made in
the medical sciences. Some of them will be made by NIHES
partner institutes, who are now conducting a huge amount
of strategic medical research. Here are just six examples:
■■ Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam (Erasmus MC) is the driving
force behind Generation R, an ongoing cohort study that’s looking at the
growth, development and health of 10,000 children. At the other end of the
age spectrum is the Rotterdam Study: since its establishment in 1990, this
has examined the prevalence, incidence and risk factors for major chronic
diseases in thousands of people aged 55 and above.
■■ The Department of Public Health of Erasmus MC coordinates Eurocadet, a
project within the EU’s Sixth Framework Programme for Research and
Technological Development. Contributing to the prevention of cancer in
Europe by studying differences in cancer risk-factor prevalence and cancer
occurrence, this project identifies effective preventive strategies, and
examines the success of their implementation. As well as estimating the
prevalence and impact of the five main determinants of cancer — smoking,
excessive alcohol use, low fruit and vegetable consumption, overweight, and
physical activity (or inactivity) — it also examines the socio-economic
determinants of health and health-related behavior.
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■■ Erasmus MC is a participant in the European Network for Genetic and
Genomic Epidemiology (ENGAGE), a research project funded by the
(NuGO). Nutrigenomics examines diet and its contributions to the development
of cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, cancer and other diseases.
European Commission. Under ENGAGE, genetic and genomic epidemiology
data generated in a wide range of population cohorts are used to develop
Whether your interests are etiological or methodological, you’ll be able to
new clinical applications. This work enables European researchers to
undertake research in your field of choice. You can work with the databases
identify large numbers of susceptibility genes that influence metabolic,
available within NIHES, use your own research findings, or link your study with
behavioral and cardiovascular traits, and to study the interactions
other university or industry-owned databases — whatever your needs dictate.
between genes and life-style factors.
There’s an enormous demand for students to work with the findings of such cohort
■■ Erasmus MC participates in Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic
studies worldwide. Thanks to work like yours, we’re expecting a steady flow of new
Epidemiology (CHARGE) Consortium. The primary aim of genome-wide
scientific publications — and, we hope, many new discoveries! Do you want to add
association studies is to identify novel genetic loci associated with
an international dimension to your career as a researcher in medicine and the
interindividual variation in the levels of risk factors, the degree of
health sciences? To combine research and clinical work? Or are you seeking to
subclinical disease, or the risk of clinical disease. The requirement for
maximize your chances of qualifying for a PhD research project? Our research
large sample sizes and the importance of replication have served as
training is designed for both. And whatever your ambition — whether you intend
powerful incentives for scientific collaboration. The Cohorts for Heart
to work as a scientist in academia, the public sector or industry — we’ll provide you
and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology Consortium and collaborating
with the knowledge and expertise you need.
non-member studies or consortia provide an excellent framework for the
identification of the genetic determinants of risk factors, subclinical-disease
Health matters
measures, and clinical events.
Health matters — for patients, their families and for whole populations. This,
in a nutshell, is the raison d’être of the Netherlands Institute for Health Sciences
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■■ The Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI) coordinates the International
(NIHES). Our work has three main objectives: to help identify the determinants
BRCA1/2 Carrier Cohort Study (IBCCS). This prospectively estimates the
of health and disease, to find factors that contribute to the efficiency of health
risks of breast, ovarian, and other cancers in the Netherlands, and assesses
services, and to further develop methods for acquiring and interpreting medical
the lifestyle and genetic factors that may modify these risks.
data.
■■ The Netherlands Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) is one
So, how do we do this? In three ways. Firstly, by pooling experts and expertise
of 22 partner institutes at the heart of the European Nutrigenomics Organisation
in quantitative medicine and the health sciences from four research centres at
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key universities and institutes in the Netherlands: Erasmus University Rotterdam,
the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands Cancer Institute, and the National
Institute for Public Health and the Environment.
Secondly, we do it by collaborating with our global network of partner institutes.
This enables us to remain at the forefront of international developments and to
support the cross-border mobility of students and teachers.
And, thirdly, we do it by encouraging young scientists — from the Netherlands
and abroad — to participate in our research training programmes. It’s not just
the choice of disciplines that’s wide: there’s also a nearly unparalleled pool of
potential supervisors. So you won’t just find the right institute — you’ll also find
the right person to guide you through your studies.
It is therefore with great pleasure that I present ‘NIHES at a glance’, which will
introduce you to the Master of Science programmes and short courses on offer at
NIHES. With MSc students and PhD candidates coming from all corners of the
“After my graduation from econometrics in
Poland, I decided to move to medicine. My
study in epidemiology at NIHES is the most
important event in my professional life. I
wrote a book, together with one of my
professors, which is still the only clinical
epidemiology book in my country. Teaching
epidemiology and biostatistics to medical
doctors in Poland is very important, since
these subjects are almost absent at medical
faculties. I try to fulfill the gap.”
world to participate in research training, NIHES is a leading institute in its field
Dr. Katarzyna Szamotulska, MSc
Prof. Albert Hofman, MD, PhD
NIHES Master of Science in Epidemiology
National Research Institute of Mother and Child
Department of Epidemiology
Warsaw, Poland
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worldwide.
If you share our dedication to health and wish to join the international
community of health scientists: welcome! NIHES will give you a wonderful
opportunity to make a contribution to outstanding research — and also to
enjoy yourselves while doing so. We hope you will join us.
Scientific Director, Netherlands Institute for Health Sciences
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Our Master of Science
programmes
We offer a range of Master of Science (MSc) programmes in quantitative
medicine and the health sciences. These include one-year and two-year
programmes: One year full-time or two-year part-time programme in Health
Sciences, two-year full time programme in Health Sciences, two-year fulltime programme in Clinical Research (offered by Erasmus MC jointly with
NIHES), two year full-time programme in Medical Informatics.
Roughly half of the curriculum is dedicated to courses and the other half to
research. By combining compulsory programme-specific courses and elective
courses, you can tailor your programme to your interests and professional
needs.
In the practical research phase, you’ll work on a project under the guidance of
a personal tutor. Your research might, for example, cover paediatric studies, the
side-effects of drugs, a major neurological or cardiovascular disease, the social
“It has been my dream to become a real
doctor. It was decisive for my career. I look
forward to pursuing my PhD programme and
combining my clinical practice with highlevel clinical research. I want to be a
professor in the future and share my
knowledge and experience with medical
students.”
or endocrinological determinants of health and disease, or end-of-life decisions
Dr. Ningping Zhang, MSc
results, you’ll be prepared for any one of a number of careers — in international
NIHES Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Zhongshan Hospital
Fudan University Shanghai Medical Center, China
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in medical practice. You’ll conclude your research by writing an article for
publication in an international scientific journal.
At NIHES you’ll gain a solid theoretical, methodological and statistical basis for
designing and conducting research. As well as learning how to publish your
research, for example, or as an executive or consultant in public health, clinical
medicine, drug research, or health-policy development.
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If you’re interested in research and have your eye on a PhD; if you’re a health
professional, or already have a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant field,
please get in touch.
Opportunities for Bachelor’s graduates
If you lack research experience, but already have a Bachelor’s degree in a
discipline related to clinical medicine and public health, take a look at our twoyear, full-time MSc programmes:
1. Clinical Research
2. Health Sciences
With specialisations in Epidemiology, Clinical Epidemiology, Genetic
Epidemiology and Public Health
3. Medical Informatics
“My impression was always that research in
public health is far more important than
just treating individual patients. As a
medical doctor, I am still not sure whether I
should continue as a researcher or a
clinician. I believe that my experience will
help me to combine the best of both
worlds.”
Akhgar Ghassabian, MSc
NIHES Master of Science in Health Sciences,
specializing in Epidemiology
Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Erasmus MC – Sophia Children’s Hospital
Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Opportunities for Master’s graduates and Health
Professionals
If you have research experience and at least a Master’s degree in a discipline
related to clinical medicine and public health, see our one-year, full-time Master
of Science programme in Health Sciences. It has specializations in Epidemiology,
Clinical Epidemiology, Genetic Epidemiology, and Public Health.
If you wish to combine your studies with work, you might consider attending
the one-year programme part-time. You could then spread the curriculum over
two years. In the case of Epidemiology, Clinical Epidemiology and Genetic
Epidemiology, it is also possible to spread it over three consecutive NIHES
Summer Schools plus two winter/spring sessions in the Erasmus Winter
Programme and subsequent electives period.
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Online application
In order to be eligible for a NIHES programme, you must have an appropriate
educational background, such as a degree in medicine or in the health sciences,
nutrition, biology, pharmacy, environmental sciences, social sciences or
economics. Please write a letter of motivation, enclosing two recent letters of
recommendation. The programme for which you qualify will depend on your
educational background, research experience and publishing record.
For an online application form and full, up-to-date details of our application
and admission procedures, check out our website. International applicants
whose native language is not English must take an English proficiency test:
either IELTS (International English Testing System) or TOEFL (Test of English as
a Foreign Language). If you need a visa for the Netherlands, we’ll help you.
We’ll also help you to find accommodation.
Deadlines
“I always liked to help people, but as a
community doctor I did not have enough
knowledge to do good research. I wanted to
be a qualified researcher, especially in
epidemiology, to help my country to better
plan and control the HIV epidemic.”
The academic year runs from early-August to the end of August the following
Bony Wiem Lestari, MSc
Year-round, we offer short courses at three levels (basic, intermediate and
NIHES Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology
Bandung, Indonesia
year. The deadline for most applications is 1 March. For those who do not
require a visa or help with accommodation, it is 1 May.
Short courses
advanced) in specific areas of quantitative medical, clinical and public health
research. While some courses have special requirements, most are open to
anyone with a good working knowledge of English.
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Top research-training
at your fingertips
We prepare our students
for international
careers as researchers,
executives or advisors
in clinical medicine,
drug research, public
health and healthpolicy development.
CLINICAL
EPIDEMIOLOGY
PUBLIC
HEALTH
CLINICAL
WORK
ACADEMIC
SCIENCES
RESEARCH TRAINING
SPECIALISATIONS
CAREER
PERSPECTIVES
PUBLIC SECTOR
EPIDEMIOLOGY
CLINICAL AND
PUBLIC HEALTH
GENOMICS
SHORT COURSES
GENETIC
EPIDEMIOLOGY
visit www.nihes.nl
INDUSTRY
TWO YEAR
RESEARCH MASTER (MSc)
IN MEDICAL INFORMATICS
120 ECTS
DOCTOR OF SCIENCE
DIPLOMA
POSTGRADUATE
TRAINING
DEGREE
PROGRAMMES
ONE YEAR
MASTER OF SCIENCE (MSc)
IN HEALTH SCIENCES
70 ECTS
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TWO YEAR
RESEARCH MASTER (MSc)
IN HEALTH SCIENCES
120 ECTS
TWO YEAR
RESEARCH MASTER (MSc)
IN CLINICAL RESEARCH
120 ECTS
BACHELOR
DEGREE
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RESEaRCH aNd TRaINING
PaRTNERSHIPs
We’re continuously expanding our network of partner universities around
the globe. We collaborate with leading universities within EU-sponsored
Master’s courses, joint doctorate programmes, and mobility schemes.
Erasmus MC University Medical Center / Erasmus University Rotterdam
Academic Medical Center / University of Amsterdam
Netherlands Cancer Institute
National Institute for Public Health and the Environment
“Evidence-based medicine was completely
new for me as a surgeon. I had to go back
to research and study design methods. I did
a Master’s programme in clinical
epidemiology part-time and continued my
surgical career. In the next 15 years I want
to do global pragmatic surgical trials.”
Christoph M. Seiler, MD, MSc
NIHES Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology
Consultant Surgeon
Head Study Center of the German Surgical Society
Department of Surgery
Heidelberg University, Germany
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ERACOL, the project in the Erasmus Mundus External
Cooperation Window Colombia, Costa Rica, Panamá.
Top-level, socially committed research training in Europe and
Latin America. To help you make a difference — everywhere.
ERASMUS MUNDUS
Action 2 Partnerships
ERACOL programmes are designed to train you for a career in
clinical, biomedical, public-health or applied research. Designed to equip you to
meet public-health challenges — not just globally and regionally, but also
locally, in the most disadvantaged parts of your society. Designed to make you
a citizen of the world — and to ensure you give your best at home. Which may
be where you’re needed most.
The ERACOL partnership comprises 11 universities:
Europe: Erasmus University Rotterdam - Erasmus MC, The Netherlands;
Karolinska Institutet, Sweden; Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium;
Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Spain; University of Torino, Italy.
Latin America: Universidad del Rosario, Colombia; Universidad del Cauca,
Colombia; Universidad de Costa Rica, Costa Rica; Universidad Autónoma de
Centro América, Costa Rica; Universidad de Panamá, Panamá; Universidad
Latina de Panamá, Panamá.
www.erasmus-columbus.eu [email protected]
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Erasmus
Summer Programme
Each year, the Erasmus Summer
Programme provides international
students and professionals with an
invaluable opportunity to spend
three weeks in Holland, bringing
themselves right up to date in
the health sciences.
‘Premature mortality in Russia: a challenge to epidemiology and public health’
Professor David Leon, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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In just three weeks, the Erasmus Summer Programme provides 30 courses
on state-of-the-art biomedical topics. Each course is designed to fully
satisfy the needs of international students with a specific interest such as
clinical medicine, general practice, public health, epidemiology, genetics
or biostatistics.
A key part in the Erasmus Summer Programme is played by the Fellowships:
three suites of courses that provide top-level instruction in clinical research
training, public health research, and genetic epidemiology. Each Fellowship is
‘Breast cancer: from epidemiology to etiology’
Professor Dimitrios Trichopoulos, Harvard University, Boston, USA
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a stimulating challenge for talented young scientists who seek leading careers
in scientific research.
Between them, the Erasmus Summer Programme and the Fellowships make a
vital contribution to life-long learning and the professional development of
students and teachers. By attracting ever greater interest each year, they reveal
the enormous international demand for a springboard to an MSc or PhD in
NIHES Media Alert
Erasmus University Rotterdam leads
the table of 2924 top European
institutions in clinical medicine in
terms of citations per paper (impact).
quantitative medicine or public health research.
Professor Albert Hofman, Nihes Scientific Director:
Source: Times Higher Education (THE), May 2009.
“It’s really exciting to see so many young and talented health professionals
Data provided by Thomson Reuters Essential Science Indicators
embarking on international careers as researchers, executives and advisors in
database, 1 January 1998 - 31 December 2008.
the health sciences. Health matters — for patients, people and populations.
NIHES is proud to help such people realize their highest ambitions.”
‘Epidemiology beyond Genomics’ Professor Albert Hofman,
Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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‘Separating the wheat and the chaff: true and false positive results again’
Professor Anders Ahlbom, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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in summary
Health matters
Since its foundation in 1991, NIHES has become a leading international
centre in its field. Over nineteen years, we’ve made a number of very
significant achievements — identifying the determinants of health and
disease, improving the efficiency of health services, and developing methods
for acquiring and interpreting medical data.
Research and Training Partnership
NIHES combines the expertise of twelve research groups and departments at
key institutes and universities in the Netherlands: Erasmus University
Rotterdam, the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands Cancer Institute,
and the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM).
“I wanted to make a difference in the
health area in my country — and definitely
through research. My aim is to contribute
to the policy-making process there and to
contribute and motivate to the training in
research of Colombian students.”
Facilities
Mónica Ortegón, MD, DSc
extracurricular activities, such as lectures, discussions, courses and
NIHES Doctor of Science in Clinical Epidemiology
Researcher & Teacher Medical & Health Sciences
School
Universidad del Rosario
Bogotá, Colombia
There’s a lot you could benefit from at NIHES. First there’s the full range of
facilities available at Erasmus University Medical Centre and Erasmus
University Rotterdam. As well as the library, sports facilities, language
courses, restaurants, bars and canteens, there’s a wide range of creative and
performances — not just in the sciences, but also in culture and the arts.
Naturally there’s the access provided by participating institutes to their
reading rooms and computer facilities. As well as standard applications such
as Microsoft Office, internet and e-mail programs, there are also calculation
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and statistical programs. Special support services are available for disabled
students.
And then there’s the greatest benefit of all: our academic staff. NIHES partner
institutes are fortunate to employ a disproportionately high number of the
world’s leading scientists — an enormous attraction in their own right, and a
wonderful reason to join us. It’s the people that make us what we are!
“One of my ambitions is to treat patients
with multiple injuries using the most novel
techniques and conducting some
randomized control trials. In ten years I
hope to be a staff surgeon in trauma
surgery, using the latest techniques and
especially doing randomized control trials.
We need more evidence-based medicine in
trauma surgery.”
Niels Schep, MD, PhD, MSc
NIHES Master of Science in Health Sciences,
specializing in Clinical Epidemiology
Traumasurgeon
Erasmus MC – Department of Surgery and
Traumatology
Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands
The five best reasons
for choosing Nihes:
1.You’ll acquire specialized scientific knowledge
and high-level research skills at one of the
world’s top institutes
2.You’ll be able to customize your programme
3.You’ll be involved in top-level research
4.You’ll have access to our extensive
international scientific network
5.You’ll widen your range of career perspectives
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www.NIHES.nl
RESEARCH TRAINING IN MEDICINE AND THE HEALTH SCIENCES
Student services
Netherlands Institute for Health Sciences - NIHES
Educational Support Center (DCO) - Room Ee302
PO Box 2040
3000 CA Rotterdam
The Netherlands
Phone: +31 (0)10 703 8450
Fax: +31 (0)10 704 4680
E-mail: [email protected]
Visit our website: www.nihes.nl
© All rights reserved – Netherlands Institute for Health Sciences – NIHES, May 2011