The Master of Biomedical Sciences (MBS) is a course-based master’s program offered by the Ontario Veterinary College that draws on expertise across three departments: Biomedical Sciences, Clinical Studies, and Pathobiology. The MBS program may be completed in one-year and involves completion of coursework and a major research project (or literature review) or practicum placement. MBS students complete the degree under the supervision of a faculty advisor and advisory committee. Course selection and the topic of the research project or practicum placement are decided in consultation between the student and advisory committee.

The MBS offers opportunities for study in the fields of:

• Biomedical Toxicology and Pharmacology
• Cancer Biology
• Cellular and Molecular Basis of Health and Disease
• Comparative Immunology and Infectious Diseases
• Neurosciences
• Reproductive Biotechnology
• Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine
• Veterinary Sciences

The Department of Biomedical Sciences specializes in scientific disciplines that are basic to human and veterinary medicine. Within this context, the research activities of the faculty are focused under the general umbrella of biomedical science and biotechnology. The MSc and PhD programs in Biomedical Sciences provide emphasis in one of the following seven major fields:

• Reproductive Biology and Development
• Cellular and Molecular Basis of Health and Disease
• Cancer Biology
• Cardiovascular Physiology
• Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine
• Biomedical Toxicology and Pharmacology
• Neuroscience

The department also participates in the Doctor of Veterinary Science (DVSc) program.

Administrative Staff

Chair
Tarek Saleh (2633 Ontario Veterinary College, Ext. 54700)
tsaleh@uoguelph.ca
Graduate Program Coordinator, MBS
Laura Favetta (3621 Biomed, Ext. 56212)
lfavetta@uoguelph.ca
Graduate Program Coordinator, MSc and PhD
Craig Bailey (2602 Biomed, Ext. 54954)
baileyc@uoguelph.ca
Graduate Program Assistant, MBS
ovcsas.gradresearch@uoguelph.ca
Graduate Program Assistant, MSc and PhD
Heather Hamilton (2509 Stewart Bldg., Ext. 54780)
bmsgrad@uoguelph.ca

Graduate Faculty - MBS Program

This list may include Regular Graduate Faculty, Associated Graduate Faculty and/or Graduate Faculty from other universities.

Graduate Faculty - MSc and PhD Programs

This list may include Regular Graduate Faculty, Associated Graduate Faculty and/or Graduate Faculty from other universities.

MBS Program

Admission Requirements

Applicants should have an Honours baccalaureate degree in the Biological Sciences (or in a relevant field), or a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree (or the equivalent) with a minimum 'B' standing in last four semesters of study. Letters of reference from two individuals who can adequately evaluate the academic and research capabilities of the applicant must be provided with the application. In addition, a short statement of the applicant's area of interest and career goals is required to assist in the selection of faculty advisors. Students may be admitted into the Fall, Winter, or Summer semester, with the exception of the Reproductive Biotechnology field which has a mandatory Fall semester start. 

Provisional acceptance may be granted to students who do not meet this 'B' standard if there is additional evidence that the applicant is capable of successfully completing the graduate program (e.g., outstanding letters of recommendation, or evidence of prior relevant work or research experience). Transfer to regular status will normally be recommended when the student obtains a minimum grade of ‘A-’ in their first two graduate course and displays current research ability to their advisory committee. These courses will be credited to the degree program.

Program Requirements

The MBS program requires 4.00 credits of coursework, including completion of a research project or a practicum placement. The program is typically completed within three semesters of full-time study. 

Research projects are varied in topic and scope and tailored to each student’s area of interest, determined in conjunction with a faculty advisor. Practicum experiences also vary in topic and nature, expose students to real-world applications of their areas of study, and connect them with employers in government agencies, consulting firms, and research organizations.

Students must obtain at least an overall weighted average of 'B-' in prescribed courses. The number of course credits prescribed will not be fewer than 4.0 credits. As part of their studies, all MBS students must complete either a research project through BIOM*6900 Research Project in Biomedical Sciences or an applied practicum through BIOM*6910Practicum in Biomedical Sciences. The remaining courses selected will depend on the student's prior experience and the nature of the research project or practicum. All students are required to present a poster seminar as a component of BIOM*6900 Research Project in Biomedical Sciences or BIOM*6910 Practicum in Biomedical Sciences. The program is completed when all components of BIOM*6900 Research Project in Biomedical Sciences or BIOM*6910 Practicum in Biomedical Sciences have been submitted and the related written report is deemed appropriate by the student's Advisory Committee.

MSc Program

Admission Requirements

Applicants should have an Honours baccalaureate degree in the Biological Sciences or a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree (or the equivalent) with a minimum 'B+' standing in the final two years of study. Letters of reference from two individuals who can adequately evaluate the academic and research capabilities of the applicant must be provided with the application. In addition, a short statement of the applicant's research interests and career goals, is required to assist in the selection of faculty advisors. Students may be admitted into the Fall, Winter or Summer semester. Provisional acceptance may be granted to students who do not meet this 'B+' standard if there is additional evidence that the applicant is capable of successfully completing the graduate program (e.g., outstanding letters of recommendation, or evidence of prior relevant work or research experience). Transfer to regular status will normally be recommended when the student obtains a minimum grade of ‘A-’ in their first two graduate course and displays current research ability to their advisory committee. These courses will be credited to the degree program.

Program Requirements

Students may wish to focus their MSc degree in one of the following fields:

1. Reproductive Biology and Development;
2. Cellular and Molecular Basis of Health and Disease;
3. Cancer Biology;
4. Cardiovascular Physiology;
5. Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine;
6. Biomedical Toxicology and Pharmacology; and
7. Neuroscience.

The research project may involve: molecular, cellular or developmental aspects of tissue or animal differentiation and growth; physiological, morphological or biomechanical investigations of normal function or disease processes in a variety of organs and tissues; or pharmacological mechanisms related to therapy and drug toxicity.

Students must obtain at least an overall weighted average of 'B-' in prescribed courses. The number of graduate course credits prescribed will not be fewer than 1.5 credits. Prescribed and additional courses are selected by the student in consultation with the student's advisory committee. The courses selected will depend on the student's prior experience and the nature of the research project. Although not required, students are strongly encouraged to take BIOM*6100 Research Proposal in Biomedical Sciences.The student must also prepare and defend an acceptable thesis and meet the Department’s minimum scientific communication requirement. The minimum scientific communication requirement is one conference presentation (oral or poster) at a suitable Regional, National or International scientific conference. If this requirement has not been achieved, written justification must be provided to the Department of Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program Committee outlining the reasons why these requirements have not been achieved. The Chair of the Department of Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program Committee will provide a written response outlining the decision of the Graduate Program Committee to either grant or reject the request that the defence proceed even though the minimum scientific communication requirement has not been completed. All students are required to present two departmental seminars during their program. The thesis research proposal, developed by the student in consultation with the advisor, must receive approval from the supervisory committee no later than the end of the second semester of the program. The program is completed by the successful oral defence of a written thesis.

PhD Program

Admission Requirements

Students entering the PhD program must show evidence of potential for independent, productive and original research. Admission to the PhD program generally requires completion of an MSc program with a research component, a minimum 'B+' average in the prescribed courses taken during the master's degree program, and strong recommendations from referees who have a sound knowledge of the student's strengths and weaknesses. In addition, a short statement of the applicant's research interests and career goals is required. In exceptional cases, where a candidate has demonstrated excellence in academic work and extraordinary ability to plan and initiate original research, transfer to the PhD program without completion of the MSc program may be recommended. This transfer must take place before the end of the fourth semester in accordance with university regulations. In all cases, students who do not hold an approved research-based MSc degree must register as MSc students regardless of their ultimate goals. Students may be admitted into the Fall, Winter or Summer semester. In those cases where the student is continuing their MSc research program into the PhD program, the student must clearly explain how the PhD research program represents a significant advance over that of the MSc.

Program Requirements

Students may undertake a PhD degree in aspects of

1. Reproductive Biology and Development;
2. Cellular and Molecular Basis of Health and Disease;
3. Cancer Biology;
4. Cardiovascular Physiology;
5. Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine;
6. Biomedical Toxicology and Pharmacology; and
7. Neuroscience.

Wherever appropriate, students are encouraged to incorporate the methodologies of more than one of these fields into their research project. The PhD program is research based and provides instructional opportunities and experiences that are intended to develop the student's ability to formulate hypotheses and design and execute experiments or to conduct observational studies.

The PhD program offers opportunities for students to become investigators in veterinary and human-health-related sciences. Students will be expected to demonstrate the originality and skill needed to contribute to the knowledge base in a manner that transcends the mere acquisition of data. All students are required to present departmental seminars (one per annum). Students must also successfully complete a qualifying examination. Details of the qualifying examination which includes written and oral components can be found on the Department’s website Successful completion of the qualifying examination is a prerequisite for continuation in the PhD program. The advisory committee is required to evaluate the student's research productivity periodically and to report on the student's progress to the Department Graduate Program Committee each semester in which the student is registered.

The PhD program culminates in the preparation, presentation and defence of the thesis, which contains a substantial component of original research. Preparation and defence of an acceptable thesis based on research data and hypotheses generated during the duration of the study are the main criteria used to assess the satisfactory completion of the PhD program. In addition the student must meet the Department’s minimum scientific communication requirements. The minimum scientific communication requirements are two manuscripts which must at least have been submitted to a scientific journal prior to the student graduating with their PhD degree. One of these manuscripts must be based on the student’s PhD research project and the student must be the first or senior author on this manuscript. The second manuscript may be either an original research manuscript or a review manuscript. The student is not required to be the first author on this manuscript but the manuscript must be generated during the student’s tenure as a PhD candidate (i.e. the manuscript cannot be based on work performed while an undergraduate student or work presented in an MSc thesis). Students transferring from the MSc program to the PhD program can use any publications generated while enrolled in the graduate program of the Department of Biomedical Sciences. If these requirements have not been achieved, written justification must be provided to the Department of Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program Committee outlining the reasons why these requirements have not been achieved. The Chair of the Department of Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program Committee will provide a written response outlining the decision of the Graduate Program Committee to either grant or reject the request that the defence proceed even though the minimum scientific communication requirements have not been completed.

DVSc Program

The Department of Biomedical Sciences participates in the DVSc program offering specialization in clinical science. This program provides a balance between advanced training in the discipline, in-service training and a thesis research project.

Collaborative Specializations

Neuroscience

The Department of Biomedical Sciences participates in the MBS/MSc/PhD collaborative specialization in neuroscience. Please consult the Neuroscience listing for a detailed description of the MBS/MSc/PhD collaborative specialization.

One Health

The Department of Biomedical Sciences participates in the collaborative specialization in One Health. MSc and Doctoral students wishing to undertake thesis research or their major research paper/project with an emphasis on one health are eligible to apply to register concurrently in Biomedical Sciences and the collaborative specialization. Students should consult the One Health listing for more information.

Regenerative Medicine

The DVSc program participates in the collaborative specialization in Regenerative Medicine. DVSc students wishing to undertake thesis research with an emphasis on regenerative medicine are eligible to apply to register concurrently in the DVSc program and the collaborative specialization. Students should consult the Regenerative Medicine listing for more information.

Toxicology

The Department of Biomedical Sciences participates in the master's/doctoral collaborative specialization in toxicology. The research and teaching expertise of these faculty include aspects of toxicology; they may serve as advisors for master's and doctoral students. Please consult the Toxicology listing for a detailed description of the master's/doctoral collaborative specialization.

Courses