Historically, many scientific disciplines were isolated, but pandemics like Covid-19 teach scientists to rethink. Medical doctors were barely connected to experimental researchers; lab diagnostics mainly provided services for other specialists but were not involved in the treatment of patients. In recent years, this dynamic has changed and will continue to do so; especially if we want to provide the best care for individual patients. Diagnostics is just one of the vital steps on the way to personalized medicine. Sharing knowledge with scientists from different fields is fast becoming indispensable.
This need to connect and collaborate is reflected in the training of young clinicians in graduate schools. In Switzerland, for example, a graduate school has been established as a joint initiative between two leading academic research centers, ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich. At the Life Science Zurich Graduate School there are 18 doctoral programs available and students have access to an established interdisciplinary network. This helps to establish new relationships and collaborations to encourage transfer between research groups.
We spoke with six students from five different countries. They describe their passion for research, the need to collaborate with others, and the improvements required in communication and resources between disciplines in the future.
Text: Santina Russo
Photos: Raphael Zubler
