M.Sc, Ph.D

The graduate programs in Pathology and Molecular Medicine offer opportunities to pursue advanced degrees under the supervision of an exceptional group of basic, clinical and translational researchers.

Our programs provide comprehensive training in basic and translational biomedical research. With a focus on cancer – 15 of our 20 investigators are cancer biologists – our department members deliver comprehensive diagnostic laboratory and clinical services to Southeastern Ontario through the Kingston General Hospital, offering great training for the next generation of biomedical research scientists and laboratory physicians.

---

"The departments that I have been involved with have shown a lot of respect for the opinions of their students, and I have had the opportunity to serve on various committees both within and outside of these departments. I have always found that my input was appreciated and respected by staff and faculty."

---

Degrees Offered / Length of Program

• M.Sc.: 2 years
• Ph.D.: 4 years

Method of Completion

• M.Sc.: course work, research demonstrating experimental competence and a thesis
  
• Ph.D.: course work, research making novel contributions to the field of study and a thesis

CIHR Cancer Training and Collaborative Cancer Programs

These programs offers stipend support and a unique opportunity for multidisciplinary training in cancer research that includes basic molecular genetic, translational, preclinical drug development and clinical trials studies - as well as opportunities to work collaboratively with pharmaceutical industry partners including term placements in private sector locations.

Supervisors and Fields of Study

We recommend that you contact potential supervisors in advance.

Cancer Research and Developmental Biology

• David Berman: Tiomarkers and therapeutic targets for bladder and prostate cancer
• Susan P.C. Cole: The investigation of mechanisms of resistance to natural product drugs that may be relevant to lung cancer and other human tumours
• Scott Davey: DNA damage and repair, understanding cell cycle checkpoints
• Roger Deeley: Structure function studies of multidrug resistance proteins (MRPs)
• Bruce Elliott: Host-tumour tissue interactions in breast cancer metastasis
• Peter Greer: Using transgenic manipulation to study the biological function of proto-oncogenes and other genes
• David LeBrun: Molecular mechanisms of leukemogenesis
• Chris Mueller: The role that regulation of the expression of the BRCA1 tumor suppressor gene plays in the risk and development of sporadic breast cancer
• Lois Mulligan: The relationship between the processes of normal and neoplastic growth with a focus on the role of the RET proto-oncogene
• Chris Nicol: The cell-specific roles of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) with respect to cancer
• Paulo Nuin: Bioinformatics, genomics and proteomics
• Martin Petkovich: Retinoic acid as an important factor in vertebrate development
• Leda Raptis: Downregulation of expression of specific cellular genes through the introduction of dominant-negative mutants or siRNA and introduction of peptides corresponding to the proteins' point(s) of contact
• Michael Rauh: Translational sudies in myeloid blood cancers and innate immune tolerance
• Mark Ropeleski: The epithelial layer of the small intestine and colon with an aim to identify and study epithelial cytoprotective genes and signaling pathways that antagonize apoptosis
• Waheed Sangrar: Systems pathology - identification of multi-component therapies in cancer
• Paul Young: Cell biology and development in the fission yeast
• Victor Tron: Clinical and molecular aspects of skin cancer
• Xiaolong Yang: The molecular and cellular function of tumour suppressors in human cancers using mouse model, human cancer cell lines and clinical tissues

Human Genetics & Cytogenetics

• Harriet Feilotter: The development of novel diagnostic tools to be used in the screening, diagnosis or treatment of cancer
• Jeremy Squire: Translational research using molecular, genomic and cytogenetic methods to provide new information and hypotheses concerning the onset, cause and progression of cancer

Hemostasis & Thrombosis Research and Vascular Biology

• David.P. Lillicrap: Understanding the molecular genetic basis of blood coagulation with a focus on the mechanisms responsible for the three most common inherited bleeding disorders; hemophilia A, hemophilia B and von Willebrand disease
• Donald Maurice: The molecular basis of cyclic nucleotide-mediated effects in vascular tissues
• Paula James: Basic, translational and clinical studies of von Willebrand factor and von Willebrand disease

Employment Opportunities

M.Sc. Graduates:

• Teaching positions in academic institutions or the private sector
• Technical positions in academic institutions or the private sector
• Marketing positions in private sector companies

Ph. D. Graduates:

• Post-doctoral work
• Research and/or teaching positions at academic institutions or the private sector
• Venture capital investment advisory roles in the financial sector

Funding Information

• M.Sc.: $21,200 minimum
• Ph.D.: $22,200 minimum

For internal, provincial and national competitive award winners, the funding package increases by 2.5%, 5% and 10% respectively.

We encourage all students to apply for additional funding through CIHR, NSERC, OGS, the Heart & Stroke Foundation, the Department of Defence and/or the American Cancer Society. Entering graduate students who win federal government tri-council awards are automatically provided a $5,000 top-up award by Queen’s.

Departmental Awards
The Pathology and Molecular Medicine Graduate Award is available to one outstanding entry-level graduate student in either the M.Sc. or Ph.D. program. The Robert Kisilevsky Fund for Research Education supports a bursary program for full-time first-year Ph.D. students.

Academic Prerequisites

Grades: We consider all of your grades, but pay particular attention to the last two years of science-related courses.

• M.Sc.: Honours B.Sc. or equivalent in life sciences, biochemistry, biology, etc. (Students with only a general degree can be admitted for a qualifying year.)
• Ph.D.: Honours B.Sc. or equivalent with first class standing or M.Sc. or equivalent

Test Requirements

For international students, if required, a TOEFL total score of at least 600 (paper-based) or TOEFL iBT minimum scores of: writing (24/30); speaking (22/30); reading (22/30); listening (20/30), for a total of 88/120. Applicants must have the minimum score in each test as well as the minimum overall score.

Program Profiles

• Doug Richardson (alumnist) - looked for a sign and found it.
• Jessica Cockburn (nee Hickey) - transdisciplinary training program, Cancer Research Institute

View this information as a PDF (657 KB)