Medical scientistsMedical scientists research human diseases in order to improve human health. Most medical scientists work in research and development. Some conduct basic research to advance knowledge of living organisms, including viruses, bacteria, and other infectious agents. Past research has resulted in the development of vaccines, medicines, and treatments for many diseases. Basic medical research continues to provide the building blocks necessary to develop solutions to human health problems. Medical scientists also engage in clinical investigation, technical writing, drug application review, patent examination, or related activities. Medical scientists study biological systems to understand the causes of disease and other health problems and to develop treatments. They try to identify changes in a cell or chromosomes that signal the development of medical problems, such as different types of cancer. For example, a medical scientist involved in cancer research may formulate a combination of drugs that will lessen the effects of the disease. Medical scientists who are also physicians can administer these drugs to patients in clinical trials, monitor their reactions, and observe the results. Those who are not physicians normally collaborate with a physician who deals directly with patients. Medical scientists examine the results of clinical trials and, if necessary, adjust the dosage levels to reduce negative side effects or to try to induce even better results. In addition to developing treatments for health problems, medical scientists attempt to discover ways to prevent health problems, such as affirming the link between smoking and lung cancer, or between alcoholism and liver disease. Many medical scientists work independently in private industry, university, or government laboratories, often exploring new areas of research or expanding on specialized research that they started in graduate school. Medical scientists working in colleges and universities, hospitals, and nonprofit medical research organizations typically submit grant proposals to obtain funding for their projects. Colleges and universities, private industry, and Federal Government agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation, contribute to the support of scientists whose research proposals are determined to be financially feasible and have the potential to advance new ideas or processes. Medical scientists who work in applied research or product development use knowledge provided by basic research to develop new drugs and medical treatments. They usually have less autonomy than basic researchers to choose the emphasis of their research, relying instead on market-driven directions based on the firm�s products and goals. Medical scientists doing applied research and product development in private industry may be required to express their research plans or results to nonscientists who are in a position to veto or approve their ideas, and they must understand the impact of their work on business. Scientists increasingly work as part of teams, interacting with engineers, scientists of other disciplines, business managers, and technicians. Medical scientists who conduct research usually work in laboratories and use electron microscopes, computers, thermal cyclers, or a wide variety of other equipment. Some may work directly with individual patients or larger groups as they administer drugs and monitor and observe the patients during clinical trials. Medical scientists who are also physicians may administer gene therapy to human patients, draw blood, excise tissue, or perform other invasive procedures. Some medical scientists work in managerial, consulting, or administrative positions, usually after spending some time doing research and learning about the firm, agency, or project. In the 1980s, swift advances in basic medical knowledge related to genetics and molecules spurred growth in the field of biotechnology. Medical scientists using this technology manipulate the genetic material of animals, attempting to make organisms more productive or resistant to disease. Research using biotechnology techniques, such as recombining DNA, has led to the discovery of important drugs, including human insulin and growth hormone. Many other substances not previously available in large quantities are now produced by biotechnological means; some may be useful in treating diseases such as Parkinson�s or Alzheimer�s. Today, many medical scientists are involved in the science of genetic engineering—isolating, identifying, and sequencing human genes and then determining their functionality. This work continues to lead to the discovery of the genes associated with specific diseases and inherited traits, such as certain types of cancer or obesity. These advances in biotechnology have opened up research opportunities in almost all areas of medical science. Some medical scientists specialize in epidemiology. This branch of medical science investigates and describes the determinants of disease, disability, and other health outcomes and develops the means for prevention and control. Epidemiologists may study many different diseases such as tuberculosis, influenza, or cholera, often focusing on epidemics. Epidemiologists can be separated into two groups, research and clinical. Research epidemiologists conduct basic and advanced research on infectious diseases that affect the entire body, such as AIDS or typhus—attempting to eradicate or control these diseases. Others may focus only on localized infections of the brain, lungs, or digestive tract, for example. Research epidemiologists work at colleges and universities, schools of public health, medical schools, and research and development services firms. For example, Government agencies such as the Department of Defense may contract with a research firm�s epidemiologists to evaluate the incidence of malaria in certain parts of the world. While some perform consulting services, other research epidemiologists may work as college and university faculty. Clinical epidemiologists work primarily in consulting roles at hospitals, informing the medical staff of infectious outbreaks and providing containment solutions. These clinical epidemiologists sometimes are referred to as infection control professionals. Consequently, many epidemiologists in this specific area often are physicians. Epidemiologists who are not physicians often collaborate with physicians to find ways to contain diseases and outbreaks. In addition to traditional duties of studying and controlling diseases, clinical epidemiologists also may be required to develop standards and guidelines for the treatment and control of communicable diseases. Some clinical epidemiologists may work in outpatient settings. Related news articles Delayed Action by US Immigration Agency Imperils NIH Grant to ... - 16 Oct 2006 Chronicle of Higher Education (subscription)A Chinese-born medical scientist at Harvard University risks losing a $750,000 federal grant for breast-cancer research because the government has delayed ... UMass-Medical scientist shares Nobel Prize in medicine - Oct 2, 2006 MLive.com,By MATT MOORE and KARL RITTER. AP. STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AP) — Americans Andrew Z. Fire and Craig C. Mello won the Nobel Prize in physiology ... Researchers Find Natural Anti-viral Enzyme Helps Keep Cancer Cells ... - Oct 9, 2006 Medical News Today (press release),...postdoctoral researcher in biochemistry now at Seoul National University; Cynthia Johnson, a microbiology student in the Medical Scientist Training Program; Dr ... In Veritas Medical Diagnostics Inc. Announces New Management Team - Oct 10, 2006 Market Wire (press release)Graham Cooper stated, "Patricia is an acclaimed medical scientist who brings a rare mixture of commercial experience and acumen and an exceptionally strong ... Whose ethics? - Oct 11, 2006 Lahontan Valley News,...ethics. The medical scientist who is intent upon using someone with no cognitive brain function as a cadaver is expressing his ethics. ... Dzau looks to catapault Duke medicine - Oct 12, 2006 Duke Chronicle,In addition, the money will allow the medical school to further its Medical Scientist Training Program, which helps to foster students' careers as physician ... 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Clark trained as a medical scientist and has worked for the New Zealand Blood Service and Auckland Healthcare. ProCare ... Study Unveils How West Nile Virus Evades Immune Defenses, Points ... - Oct 5, 2006 Science Daily (press release)Brian Keller, a student in the Medical Scientist Training Program, is first author of the study. (Credit: UT Southwestern Medical Center). ... Small-town medicine - Oct 2, 2006 Seattle Times,...school. "My original plan when I headed to medical school was to be a medical scientist and never see a patient," Ward said. Then ... Study Unveils West Nile Virus Immune Evasion, Points to Vaccine ... - Oct 4, 2006 Infection Control Today,...study. Brian Keller, a student in the Medical Scientist Training Program at UT Southwestern, is the first author of the study. West ... Giving back is a deposit on future - Oct 8, 2006 The Age,Both have what one might call broadly humanist interests. McCall Smith is a medical scientist who plays the bassoon (badly) and also writes children's books. ... Has the international community endorsed Odili ? - Sep 15, 2006 The Tide,This socio-economic development capsule was invented by the medical scientist, our governor, as model for the development of the state he loves so much, Rivers ... Crocodile farms: is it cruel to keep these wild creatures captive? - Oct 5, 2006 Independent,...hatching. Dr Clifford Warwick, a reptile biologist, medical scientist and member of the Bioveterinary group in London, disagrees. ... Executive Director takes Foundation to next level - Oct 1, 2006 Scoop.co.nz (press release),Jennifer trained as a medical scientist and has worked in top executive positions in the health sector including the New Zealand Blood Service and Auckland ... Health Careers Center - Sep 20, 2006 UMN News,...engineering. Additionally, our Program has been continuously funded as a NIH Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) since 1988. More information on Medical scientists from The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook Overview of Medical scientists occupation Number of Medical scientists in the U.S. Salary and earnings for Medical scientists Working conditions for Medical scientists Significant points for Medical scientists Training requirements for Medical scientists Labor Information Home | Occupational data by city | Search Rainforests | Madagascar | What's new |