Medical biotechnology is the use of living cells and cellular materials to research and produce pharmaceutical and diagnostic products that help treat and prevent human disease. Most medical biotechnologists work in academic or industrial settings. In academic laboratories, these professionals perform experiments as part of medical research studies; Industrial biotechnologists work to develop drugs or vaccines. The field of medical biotechnology has helped commercialize microbial pesticides, insect-resistant crops, and environmental cleanup techniques.
Examples of discoveries in the field of medical biotechnology include insulin and growth hormone. Both discoveries were the result of research studies related to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Many scientists in the field of medical biotechnology study genetic engineering. This involves isolating, identifying and sequencing human genes to determine their functions. Work in this field may possibly lead to cures for certain diseases, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's syndrome.
Academic biotechnologists work in universities, hospitals, government laboratories, or nonprofit organizations. Some may conduct research on studies that began in graduate school. Others may initiate new areas of biotechnological medical research.
Industrial biotechnologists often work for private companies that conduct applied research, which is aimed at solving a particular medical problem. Their findings often lead to new pharmaceutical drugs and medical treatments. Work in the industrial field tends to be geared more toward the financial goals of the business that employs these scientists. Industrial biotechnologists may be required to explain or defend their work to non-scientists who have decision-making power in the business.
Entry-level jobs in the field of medical biotechnology fall into several categories. These include research and development, quality control, clinical research, manufacturing, regulatory affairs, information systems, and administration. Professionals entering the field may start as research assistants, quality control analysts, clinical coordinators, or biostatisticians.
There are generally two paths to postgraduate study. Prospective biotechnologists can pursue a master's degree followed by a doctorate or enroll in a joint medical doctorate/doctor of philosophy (MD-PhD) program. Earning a master's and doctorate in the field of medical biotechnology typically takes about six years. Students in this program choose a specialty such as genetics, pathology, or bioinformatics. The MD-PhD path typically takes eight years, with students receiving clinical and research skills.