Call for Applications

The MSc “Development of new drugs: research, launch and access”:

• aims to provide interdisciplinary postgraduate education in the field of development of new pharmaceutical substances and medical technologies, their assessment, approval and pricing as well as their launching, both at a theoretical and research as well as at an applied level.
• is addressed to executives of Public Health Organisations, executives of pharmaceutical companies, health professionals (doctors, pharmacists, nurses, biologists, chemists, etc.) active in clinical research and the development of new drugs and technologies, as well as to those involved in the approval, assessment, pricing and launching of products in the field of health.
• is designed to uniquely combine academic knowledge and practical know-how, in perfect harmony with the specificities and needs of the modern Greek socio-political situation and the pharmaceutical market.
  The Program students shall have the opportunity to attend high level lectures delivered by University professors, distinguished researchers, representatives of institutions and high-level business executives with many years of experience and active role in the development of technologies, the provision of services, the operation of control and regulatory authorities and the formulation of health policies.

Notice

The School of Medicine of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) organizes and operates

Postgraduate Studies Program titled:

“Development of new drugs: research, launch and access“

The Programme leads to the award of a Diploma of Postgraduate Studies and a Master’s Degree (MSc).

The programme starts in February 2025 (spring semester of the academic year 2024-2025).The scope of the MSc is the interdisciplinary Postgraduate Education and the promotion of knowledge and research in the scientific field of the development of new pharmaceutical substances, their approval and certification process, their assessment and launching mechanisms and patient access thereto. The objective of the MSc is to train postgraduate students in the above scientific fields, by introducing them to research methods for the production and/or application of new knowledge.

The MSc aims:

• To bridge the knowledge field of basic, preclinical research with clinical research and the extensive clinical use of a drug.

• To deepen the requirements for the approval and launching of a pharmaceutical product by the regulatory authorities of Greece (EOF), Europe (EMA) and the United States (FDA).
• To analyze the basic principles of patents, data protection, evaluation and promotion of medicines, their negotiation and placement in the pharmaceutical market, with emphasis on how Health Technology Assessment (HTA) works.

The duration of the MSc leading to the award of the Diploma of Postgraduate Studies is  three (3) academic semesters, including the time for the preparation of the Diploma thesis.

The tuition fees for the MSc are 4.500 euros for the entire program, paid in 3 equal installments (1.500 euros each semester, for a total of 3 semesters). The MSc may award a limited number of scholarships, depending on the available funding and on predefined criteria.

The MSc accepts graduates of the Faculties of Health Sciences (Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, Biology, etc.), holders of a degree of the 1st cycle of studies of Faculties of Higher Education Institutions of Greece or abroad homologated by the Hellenic National Academic Information and Recognition Center (DOATAP), graduates of institutions of foreign countries, as well as graduates of other Faculties of the Universities or Technological Educational Institutions of Greece or abroad, if homologated, such as health professionals (doctors, pharmacists, biologists, nurses, health economists and hospital administrative officers) who work in the broader field of medicine and want to know the basic principles of development, research, approval, launch and placement of drugs in the pharmaceutical market, access of patients thereto, but also to deepen the practical application of the procedures of drugs reimbursement, assessment and pricing, etc. Indicatively, participants may include physicians with an interest in management, executives of public health sector organisations [Hospitals, Ministry of Health, National Organization of Provision of Health Services (EOPYY), National Organization for Medicines (EOF), etc.], researchers specialising in pharmaceutical research and health services, and executives of private health companies (private clinics, pharmaceutical companies, biomedical technology companies, clinical study companies, etc.).

The maximum number of students admitted to the Postgraduate Studies Programme is eighty (80).

Interested candidates may submit the application form filled, together with the necessary documents from the date of publication of the announcement until the 21^st/10/2024 by e-mail to the MSc Secretariat: drugdevelop@med.uoa.gr or at the headquarters of 3rd Pathology Clinic and the homonymous Laboratory of the School of Medicine of the University of Athens at “Sotiria” General Hospital,152 Mesogeion av., 115 27 Athens, Greece. Building Z (end of yellow line, 3rd floor, Training Office). Information: tel: 210-7700220, 6942491100 Email: drugdevelop@med.uoa.gr

Interviews of candidates shall take place from 11/11/2024 to 02/12/2024 gradually,  following telephone consultation and invitation by e-mail toapplicants.

The supporting documents submitted by candidates shall not be returned.

Candidates’ supporting documents are kept for one (1) year, under the custody of the MSc Secretariat. After this time they are destroyed.

The selection of postgraduate students is made by the Steering Committee on the basis of:

1. a) the supporting documents submitted for evaluation,
2. b) The interviews of the candidates, which shall take place following telephone consultation and invitation by e-mail.

The Director of the Postgraduate Program

Professor Konstantinos N. Syrigos