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Master in Molecular Biology and Biomedicine

Master’s thesis

(TFM)

The master's thesis (TFM) is compulsory, is worth 18 ECTS (450h) and is carried out in a company, organisation or excellent research group in Molecular Biology and/or Biomedicine. 

Academic information

Assignment of places

Inquiries on bachelor's-thesis places and UdG-tutor assignations: Master's Thesis Platform

Master's thesis report and defence

Deadlines:

Master’s Thesis Call 2025-2026

Report submission

Report defence

June

22 June

 1 - 2 July

September

7 September

16 September

* The deadline for submitting the Master's Thesis (TFM) to the platform is 11 pm (hard-copy format cannot be accepted).

Submitting reports

The thesis must be submitted as a single electronic document, preferably in PDF format, through the TFGM platform.The PDF of the thesis must be uploaded to the TFM app and saved in the following format: surname(s).name.You need to bear in mind that the Final Master’s Project preceded by the Final Master's Project Cover Sheet, which must state the title and the author of the work, the date of submission, and the name of the master's degree course.

* At the time of submission via the platform, both the author of the work and their tutor - with the approval of the tutor if applicable - must state whether or not they authorise making it publicly available in the UdG library, in the cases mentioned in article 7 of the UdG framework regulations on the TFG and the Final Master’s Project.The thesis tutor will need to validate (or not) the defence of the work via the TFGM platform.

Evaluation

The academic tutor of the UdG evaluates the TFM (they are advised to get in touch with the company tutor to agree on the evaluation), focusing on evaluating the student’s skills (30%), and the designated evaluation panel appraises the written thesis report (35%) and the presentation and defence (35%) of the work. 

Instructions (content and format)

The TFM entails a project, study or research work developed by the student in which they apply, integrate and develop the knowledge and skills required in some aspect of molecular biology and/or biomedicine.The TFG is aimed at evaluating the skills associated with the degree and concludes with the presentation of a written thesis, its public defence, evaluation and grading.

Written TFM report

A report on the work between 25 and 50 pages long will have to be deposited.The report must include the following sections: summary in two languages, Catalan or Spanish and English (between 2,000 and 3,000 characters including spaces), reflections with the gender perspective, introduction, goals, methodology, results, discussions (results and discussion can be written up together in a single section), conclusions and bibliography.The report can be written in Catalan, Spanish or English. 

Remember that a front page (cover) will have to be included, before the contents of the summary and report, stating clearly the work’s title and author, the details of the tutor (and co-tutor, where applicable) and the company or institution the work was carried out in. 

Public defence of the TFM

The student will have 15 minutes to outline the work and a further 10 minutes for questions and answers.The defence must be based on the explanation of the objectives, the techniques carried out and the discussion of results (whether positive or negative), placing them in the context of the laboratory where the work was carried out.The panel will evaluate the written report and the student’s oral defence.Each of the two scores will represent 35% of the final TFM mark.

GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE LINES OF RESEARCH AT THE DIFFERENT LABORATORY WHERE PLACES ARE AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE PRACTICAL CLASSES AS PART OF THE MASTER’S THESIS OR PRACTICAL MODULE.

Molecular Microbial Ecology Group (Biology)GRCT0002
Biochemistry of Cancer (Biology)GRCT0003
Cork Laboratory (Biology)GRCT0005
Genetic Ichthyology Laboratory (Biology)GRCT0001
Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (Technosperm) (Biology)GRCT0006
  • Effect of the acute and chronic nytril intoxication on the gonadal activity of rodents.
  • Determination of the presence of Lactobacillus sp.in the uterine fluid of female domestic donkeys (Equus asinus asinus).
  • Study of the sperm resistance at 5ºC in relation to a previous exposure at 17ºC in pigs.
  • http://www.technosperm.com
Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology of Brain Stimulation (Biology).GRCT0087
Microbiology of Intestinal Illnesses (Biology)GRCT0078
Protein Engineering (Biology)GRCT0004
Clinical Anatomy, Embryology and Neuroscience NEOMA (Medicine)GRCT0086
  • Study of the adhesion proteins involved in vestibular synaptic degeneration and repair processes in animal models.
  • Study of the molecular mechanisms of the BNDF signalling system involved in vestibular synaptic degeneration and repair processes in animal models.
  • Protective effect of the PACAP neuropeptide in the degeneration of striatal neurons that occur in the event of Huntington’s disease.
  • https://www.udg.edu/en/investiga/la-recerca-a-la-udg/grups-de-recerca/detall/grup/grct0086
Nutrition, Eumetabolism and Health Group (IDIBGi)GRCT0103
Descriptive Epidemiology, Genetics, and Cancer Prevention (ICO/IDIBGI)
Centre for Cardiovascular Genetics (IDIGBI)GRCT0086
  • Regulation of the intracellular traffic of subunits B1 and B2 of the voltage-gated sodium channels.
  • Regulation of the expression and function of the cardiac sodium channel.
  • Functional studies of relevant ionic canals in cardiac physiology.
  • https://idibgi.org/grups/genetica-cardiovascular/
Targeted Anti-tumour Therapies (Biology):GRCT0108
  • Preparation and study of metal-based complexes as potential anti-tumour agents, in particular compounds active in photochemotherapy.
  • Design and synthesis of functionalised nanoparticles with metal complexes (including photoactive compounds) for their application in anti-cancer therapy and/or in sustainable catalytic processes.
     
  • Development and production of epidermal growth factor (EGF) derivatives with anti-cancer activity and capacity to deliver chemotherapeutic agents to cancer cells.
     
  • Development and characterisation of tumour-targeting peptides and molecules for targeted cancer diagnosis and therapy.
New Therapeutic Targets (TargetsLab)GRCT0096
  • Fatty acid synthase (FASN) as a therapeutic target.
  • Resistance and breast cancer.
  • Tumour stem cells and 3D culture
Translational Medicine and Decision Sciences Laboratory (TransLab)GRCT0085
Translational Research in Cardiovascular Respiratory Diseases (IDIBGI)

  • Intersection between sleep diseases, cardiovascular risk, senescence and ageing.
  • Development of early diagnostic methods for lung cancer.
  • Study of the links between COVID-19, cardiovascular risk and the persistence of COVID.
  • Research on respiratory diseases and intestinal dysbiosis, with a particular focus on the lung-gut axis.
  • Analysis of pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary embolism and endothelial dysfunction.
  • Identification of biomarkers in cardiopulmonary diseases.
  • Implementation of 2D and 3D vascular models, organ-on-a-chip and animal models to deepen understanding of the underlying mechanisms.
  • https://idibgi.org/grups/grup-de-recerca-translacional-en-malalties-cardiovasculars-respiratories-cares/

Maternal-Fetal Metabolic Research (IDIBGI)
  • Fetal metabolic programming and its impact on infant health
  • Metabolic programming and low birth weight:
    • To study new biomarkers to identify small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants who show postnatal catch-up growth.
    • To determine the effect of metformin on catch-up growth.
  • Epigenetics and metabolic programming of childhood obesity:
    • To study the influence of placental fatty acids as predictors of childhood obesity
    • To identify epigenetic marks (miRNA and DNA methylation) during pregnancy (maternal plasma, placenta and umbilical cord) as predictors of childhood obesity.
  • https://idibgi.org/grups/metabolica-materno-fetal/

Integrated Systems Medicine and Biology (IDIBGI)

  • Role of the microbiome in metabolic health (e.g. obesity, MASLD, diabetes), behaviour (food addiction), cognitive performance, mental health (depression, anxiety) and neurodegenerative disorders (Alzheimer's disease).
  • Influence of non-bacterial biomes (viruses, archaea, protists and fungi) on cognition and metabolic and mental health.
  • Microbial histidine metabolism in MASLD and other obesity-related metabolic diseases.
  • Microbial regulation of the metabolism of tryptophan in cognition and mental and metabolic health.
  • Impact of the microbiome-gut-brain axis and the fat-brain axis on depression.
  • Role of the microbiome in the early phase and progression of Alzheimer's disease.
  • Role and mechanisms of the microbiome in ageing and age-related cognitive decline.
  • Influence of bacteria and intestinal viruses on food addiction.
  • https://idibgi.org/grups/medicina-i-biologia-integrativa-de-sistemes/

Digestive Diseases and Microbiota (IDIBGI)
  • Our main line of research is the study of the microbiota in all digestive diseases (inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, hepatic steatosis, hepatocarcioma, etc.), with the aim of finding microbiological markers for use as prognostic and diagnostic tools.
  • https://idibgi.org/grups/malalties-digestives-i-microbiota/
Paediatric Endocrinology (IDIBGI)

  • The group's main line of research is the identification of new markers that can predict the onset and progression of various postnatal growth and puberty disorders.The group's specific lines of research are as follows:

 

  • Genetic printing and growth:

  o   Study: longitudinal clinical study among cohorts of healthy pregnant women and newborns included in the health care areas in Girona and at the Dr. Josep Trueta University Hospital in Girona.

  o   Objective: To analyse epigenetic marks in genes imprinted on the placenta and umbilical cord as predictors of postnatal growth and susceptibility to developing metabolic and cardiovascular diseases in adulthood.

  o   Methods: clinical, biochemical, imaging and in vivo studies (development of animal models for the analysis of epigenetic markers in the metabolic regulation in tissues - liver and adipose tissue - of the offspring).

  o   Funding: line of research consolidated with the FIS PI13/01257, PI16/01335 and PI19/00451 projects.

 

  • Physiopathology and treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome in adolescents and precocious puberty in girls

  o   Study: studies and clinical trials in adolescents with PCOS and girls with precocious puberty included in the health care areas in Girona, and at the Dr. Josep Trueta University Hospital in Girona.

  o Objectives: 1) to develop a new effective metabolic treatment for PCOS; 2) to determine whether metabolic treatment for PCOS can slow down accelerated maturation in girls with advanced puberty; 3) to study epigenetic factors related to pubertal evolution in girls with precocious puberty.

  o   Methods: Observational studies and clinical drug trials in adolescents with PCOS and girls with precocious puberty.and                 metabolic-epigenetics of cancer and ageing.


https://idibgi.org/grups/endocrinologia-pediatrica/
Neurodegeneration and Neuroinflammation (IDIBGI)
  • Brain Pathology vs Study of miRNA profiles specific for different clinical forms of multiple sclerosis, and evolutions of the disease.
  • Study of the DNA methylation profile of patients with multiple sclerosis.
  • Study of the molecular mechanisms associated with neurodegeneration
  • Study of biomarkers of the evolution of cognitive function in patients with multiple sclerosis.
  • Determination of biological response factors (genetic and biochemical) to immunomodulatory treatments in multiple sclerosis.
  • Study of the intestinal microbiota in Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases
  • DNA, CSF and serum sample bank for neuroimmunological diseases.
  • https://idibgi.org/grups/neurodegeneratives-i-neuroinflamacio/
Cerebrovascular Pathology (IDIBGI)
  • Study of blood and radiological biomarkers that predict the evolution of cerebral ischaemic and haemorrhagic lesions.
  • Identification of blood biomarkers that predict vulnerable atheroma plaque in patients with carotid stenosis.
  • Application and usefulness of advanced neuroimaging predictors in the identification of recoverable brain tissue in the ischaemic penumbra, and predictors of progression in cerebral haemorrhage.
  • Clinical aspects in the identification of the underlying aetiopathogenesis in cryptogenic stroke and stroke of infrequent cause.
  • Basic research on molecular mechanisms related to cerebral ischaemia, cerebral haemorrhage, and the haemorrhagic transformation of ischaemic injury in experimental models in vitro and in vivo.
  • https://idibgi.org/grups/patologia-cerebrovascular/
Metabolism and Cancer (IDIBGI)

  • Metabolism and cancer

  o   Understanding the role of metabolism in the tumourogenic process

  o   Metabolic mechanisms of cancer drug resistance

  o   Identification of metabolic vulnerabilities as drug targets for the treatment of cancer

  o   Metabolomics and metabolic markers for early detection and clinical monitoring of initiation, progression and therapeutic resistance

  o   Metabolo-epigenetics: Molecular aspects, computational modelling and the development of therapeutics for precision medicine

  • Mitochondrial dynamics and cancer

  o   The role of autophagy and mitochondria in the generation of tumour stem cells

  o   Mitochondrial dynamics as a therapeutic target for cancer treatment

  • Natural biocompounds and cancer

  o   Discovery and molecular characterisation of natural biocompounds with anti-cancer properties
  o   Pre-clinical development and clinical evaluation of anti-tumour drugs based on natural biocompounds

  • Metabolo-immunotherapy

  o   Identification of the metabolites and metabolic nodes essential for the regulation of immune checkpoints in cancer cells.

  o   Metabolic and dietary interventions to increase the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).

  o   Computational development and preclinical validation of new therapeutic strategies based on metabolo-immunotherapy using an in silico clinical trial platform

  • Computational systems biology in cancer and ageing

  o   Conceptual frameworks, stochastic tools and laboratory validation of metabolic and metabolo-epigenetic models of cancer and ageing.


https://idibgi.org/grups/metabolisme-i-cancer/

Chromosomal replication (IDIBGI)

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