The web portal Study in Greece is campaigning for the promotion and international visibility of Greek Universities and the comparative educational advantages of our country. In particular, the campaign focuses on the foreign language study programs that Greek Universities offer to Greek and international students. The initiative is supported by the General Secretariat of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs and the General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. In this context, a number of educational programs and actions are presented in detail on a regular basis, such as undergraduate and postgraduate programs, summer schools etc, to inform international students about the many foreign language options offered by Greek Universities.
Study in Greece interviewed Professors Dimitrios Thanos and Maria Hadjinicolaou, Director and member of the Inter-Institutional Study Program Committee, respectively, of the MSc in Precision Medicine and Novel Therapies (PRETH) offered by the Hellenic Open University (HOU) and the Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens (BRFAA).
Professor-Academician Dimitrios Thanos, PhD, is the Director of the Inter-Institutional MSc Program PRETH. He is the Director of the Center of Basic Research of BRFAA and Chair of the Scientific Board. He is also an elected member of the EMBO (European Molecular Biology Organization) and of the European Academy of Sciences (Europaea Academia). Dr. Thanos, as a Professor at Columbia University USA and as a Research Director at BRFAA has made pioneering and seminal contributions in the elucidation of the mechanisms by which human genes are turned on and off in response to environmental stimuli and during development and cellular differentiation. His work appears in numerous high impact factor publications, with work funded by USA, EU, and Greek national funding agencies, for which he has received numerous awards.
Professor Maria Hadjinicolaou, PhD, is the Director of the Laboratory of Applied Mathematics at the School of Science and Technology of the HOU. She serves as a member of the HOU Scientific Council and as HOU delegate at the International Council of Distance Education (ICDE). She is a member of the Inter-Institutional Study Program Committee of the MSc. Program PRETH. Her research focuses on the development of mathematical methods and models for problems in biomedical sciences and continuum mechanics. Maria Hadjinicolaou has designed and coordinated many undergraduate and postgraduate study programs and modules at HOU on subjects of mathematics, bioinformatics, natural and biomedical sciences, contributing also to the creation and assessment of the educational material.
Dr. Thanos, could you provide an overview of the PRETH master’s program and its main objectives?
Precision medicine focus on targeted and personalized care derives from using big data from patients after large-scale analyses. It utilizes a multiparametric approach, which integrates data from a range of different sources, and takes into account individual differences in genes, environments and lifestyles. The overall goal is to allow physicians to select treatments that are most likely to help the individual patient by implementing precise for the person therapies.
Hence the ultimate goal of this post-graduate program “Masters in Precision Medicine and Novel Therapies” is to provide, update and transfer relevant knowledge, as well as to further to further develop the skills of professionals, who are active mainly in the field of health, diagnostics and the pharmaceutical industry. More specifically, the Program is designed such as that students will acquire specific scientific and analytical skills in collecting and evaluating laboratory data from disease models and/or patients, in the planning of the ideal treatment in the context of Precision Medicine, in scientific writing and presentation, in experimental/clinical design, as well as in raising awareness on current and important issues in the field of health, such as the implementation of new treatments and the clinical utility of biochemical and genetic analyses in the decisions of personalized pharmacotherapy.
What distinguishes the PRETH program from other similar programs in the field of precision medicine and novel therapies and why should an international student choose it?
The uniqueness and strength of this MSc Program lie in the synergistic cooperation between the Hellenic Open University (HOU) and the Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens (BRFAA). The HOU brings expertise, flexibility, a robust administrative mechanism, educational infrastructure, and a pan-Hellenic academic and social reach, including potentially global English-language study programs. The BRFAA is a leading research institution in Greece, specializing in precision medical research. This partnership provides strong guarantees for a most successful operation of this Masters Program within the distance education framework.
A second major distinction of PRETH is that students can choose to attend two hands-on laboratory modules and perform their Master’s Thesis by research done in the state-of-the-art facilities and laboratories of BRFAA. This opportunity enriches the distance and lifelong educational experience, while providing a pathway for those seeking to pursue an academic career.
Moreover, the curriculum “Masters in Precision Medicine and New Therapies” has been carefully organized as a set of core modules that focuses on all most important aspects of Precision Medicine. It also includes contemporary cutting-edge topics in the life sciences and medicine, while concomitantly addresses the new challenges in the fields of diagnostics, genetic analyses and clinical trials.
How does the program integrate cutting-edge research and technologies in its teaching?
The instructors for PRETH are all scholars with outstanding research backgrounds who apply their findings and the latest research tools and technologies in their work, daily. Therefore, the students will learn these methods, technologies, and research techniques from individuals who regularly use, enhance, or even create them, using real-life examples and frameworks. This will, in turn, enhance and refine the students’ understanding of these technologies to the extent that they may even apply and expand upon them further.
Can you provide an overview of the key facilities available on campus that support the academic and research activities of the Study program?
PRETH is supported through the electronic platform provided by HOU, the High-Performance Computational System of the Applied Mathematics Laboratory of the School of Science and Technology of HOU, equipped with suitable software, and the state-of-the-art laboratory/technological facilities of IIBEAA. In HOU the infrastructure and services for learning and student support are centralized and therefore the coverage offered is horizontal. Thus, HOU has created infrastructures such as building facilities, the auxiliary facilities, the technical material – computer and IT equipment -, as well as the other auxiliary services (transportation, telecommunications), in order to collect and manage information related to the student progress and assist in formulating strategies and policies to improve education services provided. Much of the educational material is in electronic form, and extensive use is made of asynchronous discussion spaces for question-solving and discussion of assignments and modern teleconferencing spaces for discussion or delivery of material. The students’ communication with the lecturers is mainly done by means of telecommunications and includes teleconferences in real time.
BRFAA has over 60 laboratory teams supervised by Researchers, organized under different centers (https://www.bioacademy.gr/center): The Center for Basic Biological Research focuses on understanding biological mechanisms at the cellular level, including gene expression, cell signaling, aging, and cancer mechanisms. The Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery, and Translational Research conducts studies related to clinical research, experimental surgery, and translational research for cancer, inflammatory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases. The Systems Biology Center focuses on creating predictive models of physiological and pathophysiological processes, while the Center for Environmental Health studies the effects of environmental conditions on health.
BRFAA supports research activities through state-of-the-art equipped laboratory spaces and Core Facilities. These facilities include units for Genomic and Proteomic Analysis, Biological Imaging, and Animal Models. The Hellenic Genomics Center is equipped with modern DNA sequencers and a supercomputer for genome analysis. The Biological Imaging Units include microscopy units for image analysis of embryos, tissues, and cells, as well as ultrasound and PET/CT units for examination of living organisms. The Animal Model Unit houses various animal models under controlled conditions, and BRFAA’s aquarium maintains genetically modified strains of zebrafish for research purposes. Additional infrastructure includes DNA microarrays, mass cytometry analyzers, laser microtomes, and a pharmacotechnology laboratory. The Public Umbilical Placental Blood Bank, accredited by the FACT-NETCORD network, stores and offers to hospital stem cells for medical treatments.
In summary, PRETH is supported by HOU’s High performance Computational System and IT infrastructure and IIBEAA’s state-of-the-art laboratory facilities. BRFAA conducts research through various centers focusing on basic biological research, clinical research, experimental surgery, translational research, systems biology, and environmental health. IIBEAA’s Core Facilities provide support for research activities, including units for genomic and proteomic analysis, biological imaging, animal models, and advanced research infrastructure. These facilities significantly contribute to the advancement of biomedical research in Greece.
Dr. Hadjinicolaou, what is the Hellenic Open University’s overarching strategy for internationalization, and how does the PRETH program align with this vision?
The Hellenic Open University (HOU) has managed to establish itself in Greece as a high-quality, competitive University. It has developed a strong “brand name” and a broad reach within Greece. However, internationalization is clearly the next big challenge, which we are ready to face. Being a distance learning university, with administrative competitiveness and flexibility, HOU has the potential to be attractive to various audiences, in various countries. In that direction, HOU has already developed study programs in English.
Our new strategy is to explore different possibilities, cooperations, audiences and scientific domains, to boost the international perspectives of the institution, as well as its status, not only within Greece. Therefore, we have already started developing new English-language programs in various subjects, and we plan to continue that process.
PRETH is clearly one of the examples of the above strategy. It is an innovative, multidisciplinary program offered in English, thus aiming at a broader audience. It is also the result of a fruitful cooperation between HOU and a highly respected institution, the BRFAA.
What strategies does the university employ to attract international students to its English-taught programs?
In order to attract international students, the HOU has already developed (and continue to develop) programs of study offered in English. Study in Greece has definitely played a significant role in that respect, therefore HOU will continue to participate and get actively involved in SiG’s activities.
Moreover, HOU is highly ranked in various University ranking systems, and this is well communicated in the social media and in various occasions, educational fairs, ceremonies etc. This can definitely increase HOUs status and recognizability worldwide.
Our effort should not stop there. We need to reach in a more organized way the Greek diaspora, in order to attract non-Greek speaking students of Greek origin. Moreover, we should explore the cooperation with other open universities to develop joint programs. Possibly, a cooperation with the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and some Greek Embassies, could be effective.
We have also signed numerous memoranda of cooperation with various institutions and organizations, worldwide. This also gives us the opportunity to explore possible collaborations.
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