Thanks to the work of researchers around the globe, knowledge and skills are developing rapidly in clinical research and the health sciences. At the center of each new development are a healthcare professional who has successfully posed the right questions about patient-related problems and a researcher who has formulated the research protocol to address those questions. As well as providing a comprehensive background to clinical, epidemiological, and public health research methods, our master programmes give a working knowledge of research in a specialist area. An important part of these programmes is dedicated to a research project in which students work under the guidance of a supervisor, to whom they are assigned at the start of the academic year. These activities lead to the writing of a thesis and may lead to the submission of an article to an international scientific journal.
Research Themes Guide
The chapters below represent the research activities and research lines of the departments and research groups participating in the Clinical Research and Health Sciences programmes. It is extensive but not exhaustive and serves as a guide to our students. Our students also have the option to propose their own project. The projects listed keep changing over time as the research evolves and as priorities change – we do our best to keep the list updated but you may find that we have missed something or that some projects have in the meantime been completed. Consider this guide a starting point to inspire you and please explore the possibilities that appeal to you. We sincerely hope that this guide will entice you to join this challenging program and to find a project that you would like to work on!
Professor Bettina Hansen, MD PhD
Programme director Health Sciences and Clinical Research
Research within the majors:
There is a growing need for physicians who can not only understand and interpret research but also actively contribute to it. Clinical epidemiology is ideally suited to meet this need, as it equips healthcare professionals with the skills required to conduct and apply research that is directly relevant to patient outcomes. The field encompasses a broad range of studies—diagnostic, prognostic, preventive, and therapeutic—all grounded in quantitative research designs. A strong foundation in study design, data analysis, and interpretation is essential for producing high-quality clinical research.
Research within this major focuses on the development and evaluation of methods to assess the value of healthcare interventions. Topics include economic evaluations of new treatments, measuring quality of life, preference elicitation, early HTA, and the societal impact of health interventions. There is particular attention to a wide type of health issues in (mental) health, youth care, chronic diseases, and public health.