Teaching and the promotion of young talent includes the training of medical and natural science students and biomedical analysts, doctoral students in medicine and natural sciences as well as the further education and training of specialists in laboratory medicine FAMH with a focus on clinical chemistry.
The Institute of Clinical Chemistry pursues the following objectives:
Clinical chemistry is an important interdisciplinary subject in medicine. Accordingly, the subject is divided into several thematic blocks of the core study program in the 3. and 4th year of the reformed medical degree program: Fundamentals; cardiovascular system; liver and gastrointestinal tract; musculoskeletal system; endocrinology and metabolism; nervous system; kidney, electrolyte and water balance.
In the clinical chemistry section of the laboratory medicine course, students learn about the various forms of laboratory diagnostics using the examples of glucose measurements and blood gas analysis as well as a tour of the institute: Central laboratory, near-patient diagnostics and patient self-monitoring. Further learning objectives are to raise awareness of the importance of pre-analysis and quality assurance for a valid evaluation of laboratory findings.
In the 6th year of study, selected topics of laboratory medicine are summarized in a clinical context: Indication and interpretation of laboratory medical examinations, problems of pre- and post-analytics, preventive examinations.
Due to its research focus, the Institute of Clinical Chemistry has special expertise in the field of lipid and lipoprotein metabolism. In the 2nd year of medical studies, the basics of the structure, function and metabolism of lipoproteins are taught as part of the “Metabolism” lecture series. For a better understanding, the molecular basis of some inborn errors of lipid metabolism are presented. The importance of lipid metabolism disorders and their treatment for arteriosclerosis are also explained.
The clinical lectures in the 3rd, 4th and 6th years of study focus on the role of plasma lipids as cardiovascular risk factors and on the differential diagnosis and treatment of lipid metabolism disorders.
The latest developments in the diagnosis and treatment of lipid metabolic disorders will be presented and discussed as part of the “Cardiovascular” and “Transport” modules.
The “Molecular Medicine” seminar series of the Master’s degree program in Biochemistry focuses on the molecular mechanisms of congenital lipid metabolism disorders, the relationship between lipid metabolism and atherosclerosis and the drug therapy of lipid metabolism disorders.
For the University of Zurich, the IKC coordinates two internships in research laboratories, a one-week internship for the Medicine degree program and a three-week internship for the Master’s degree program in Human Biology (BME 303: “Disease Patterns of the Vegetative Systems”). Numerous translational research groups at the Faculty of Medicine are involved in this. A maximum of three students carry out experiments in each laboratory, giving them an insight into the respective research focus and introducing them to modern biochemical, molecular and cell biological methods. Registrations are made via the Dean’s Offices of the Faculties of Medicine or Mathematics and Natural Sciences. In addition, the IKC offers approximately two extraordinary internships per year for (future) students from other universities.
Interested parties should send inquiries to info.ikc@usz.ch.
The IKC offers Master’s theses for students of medicine and natural sciences at the UZH and students of pharmaceutical science at the ETHZ. The themes arise from specific research areas or current challenges in the field of laboratory medical diagnostics. Interested parties should contact the head of the respective research project.
The scientists at the IKC award and supervise medical and scientific doctoral theses. The IKC is a member of two PhD programs of the Life Science Zurich Graduate School: “Integrative Molecular Medicine” and “Molecular and Translational Biomedicine“. Prof. Arnold von Eckardstein has the right to award doctorates at the Faculties of Medicine and Mathematics and Natural Sciences of the University of Zurich. Doctorates at ETHZ are also possible. Interested parties should contact either Arnold von Eckardstein or the head of the respective research project.
The Institute of Clinical Chemistry offers temporary training positions for physicians and scientists who wish to become specialists in laboratory medicine FAMH with a focus on clinical chemistry. In addition, the IKC organizes block courses for CAS Laboratory Medicine for FAMH candidates.
Dr. Katharina Spanaus is your contact person for this.
The Institute of Clinical Chemistry is involved in the training and further education of BMA at all levels. We offer internships for BMA students at the Zurich and Bern Universities of Applied Sciences.
We also run further training courses for BMAs preparing for the higher professional examination “Expert in biomedical analysis and laboratory management”.
Across institutes and clinics, the Diagnostics Department organizes the mandatory monthly training event for BMAs.
Kathrin Bauer is your contact person for biomedical analysis HF training.