Biomedical science is the application of scientific principles and techniques to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease. It covers a wide range of fields including immunology, microbiology, pharmacology, genetics, epidemiology and biochemistry.
Biomedical research is essential for the development of new treatments and therapies. It can be divided into basic research, which investigates the underlying causes of disease, and clinical research, which tests new treatments in patients. Basic research often takes many years to translate into clinical benefits, but it forms the foundation for all future medical advances.
There are many different career paths in biomedical science. Researchers may work in academia or industry; they may be involved in basic or applied research; they may work in laboratories or clinics; and they may specialize in a particular area such as cancer biology or developmental genetics. Biomedical scientists need to be able to work effectively as part of a team, and must have excellent communication and problem-solving skills.