🎓 Master’s Degree in Neurometabolism and Cell Biology for Clinicians | [current-page:pager]UAO CEU

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Master’s in Neurometabolism and Cell Biology for Clinicians
Programme title

Master’s in Neurometabolism and Cell Biology for Clinicians

Academic field

Health Sciences

Length / Credits

2 academic years

90 ECTS

In collaboration with

Places

40

Format / Language

Blended / English

 
 
Student profile

This programme is designed for neurologists (paediatric and adult), doctors specialising in congenital metabolic disorders and professionals from any field of biomedicine, including graduates/doctors in medicine and graduates/doctors in biomedicine.

Admissions and Enrolment

All candidates must apply for admission to the University by email to the following Master's programme addresses: [email protected] until Juliy 27 and send the required documentation (more information in the Quality and Regulations section).

Timetable

October 2026 to June 2028.

New campus Esplugues

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Why study at the UAO CEU?

1. Excellence in clinical neurology in partnership with the Sant Joan de Déu Hospital

This international master's allows you to shape a new paradigm in clinical neurology by integrating genetic, molecular, biochemical and neural circuit knowledge. You will learn to apply pathophysiological thinking to neurology and metabolic diseases, bearing in mind that 80% of diseases have neurological components. Furthermore, this course is taught in collaboration with the Sant Joan de Déu Hospital:
https://formacion.sjdhospitalbarcelona.org/en/trainings/masters-degree-neurometabolism-cell-biology-clinicians
More information here.  

2. The Esplugues Campus: The New Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

A space designed to provide training in excellence in the field of health and life sciences. This new centre is located on the Esplugues Campus in an environment designed to promote learning, research and innovation. Covering 8000 square metres, it is located at 28-30 Avinguda del Baix Llobregat, Barcelona.

Furthermore, it is located in an area that in recent years has established itself as a true centre of reference in the healthcare sector, housing hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and research centres, which favours direct contact with the professional world.

3. Applied approach and professional skills

The programme develops professional skills geared towards innovative clinical practice, enabling students to relate the mechanisms of disease to the manifestation of symptoms. It also provides knowledge about biomarkers and treatments in neurometabolic and neurodegenerative diseases, while also integrating an understanding of the biochemical and cellular bases that explain neurological symptoms.

4. Medical commitment

We address the most advanced aspects of neurometabolism based on solid ethical foundations, developing medical knowledge and practice in service of the highest standards of professional commitment to patients and society.

5. Programme methodology and structure

The programme is taught online, with weekly classes through the virtual campus, allowing students to access the content as many times as they need. One or two sessions are held per week, complemented by a compulsory live tutoring session every Thursday from 17:00 to 18:00 (Spanish time), designed to allow students to interact with the tutor and ask questions. At the end of each tutorial, students take a short assessment test on the week's lesson. The programme also includes an annual in-person session during the Summer School in Barcelona, which takes place during the first week of July.

6. Course content

The curriculum includes 6 theoretical modules that cover most neurometabolic disorders. It examines how the brain works from a molecular and cellular perspective, including brain chemistry, neuronal communication, and the processes of development and neurodegeneration. It also studies neurological diseases such as epilepsy, movement disorders, autism and intellectual disability, along with advanced diagnostic and therapeutic tools such as biomarkers, neuroimaging, and gene and cell therapies. The training is complemented by theoretical classes, clinical cases, practical workshops, networking activities and the carrying out of a supervised research or clinical project.

 

 

Course content

Schedule for two academic years

 
First year programme ECTS  
Cellular Neurochemistry and Related Diseases

20 ECTS 

 

Nervous system compartments 1: Intracellular communication and related diseases 6 ECTS 

 

Nervous system compartments 2: Intercellular communication and related diseases 4 ECTS  
Metodology and documentary review 9 ECTS  
Summer School I 6 ECTS   

 

Second year programme ECTS  
Neurodevelopment and Systems Neurobiology

4 ECTS 

 

Clinical Syndromes and Related Biological Mechanisms 20 ECTS 

 

Biomarkers and New Treatments 6 ECTS  
Summer School II 6 ECTS  
Final Master’s Thesis  9 ECTS  

 

 

Teaching staff

Teaching staff

Scientific committee

  • Fanny Mochel. Head of Neurometabolic Diseases Unit 

  • Oscar Marín. Director of the Centre for Developmental Neurobiology 

  • Jean-Marie Saudubray. Professor of Paediatrics and Congenital Metabolic Disorders

Academic direction


Pr. García-Cazorla, MD, PhD. Head of the Neurometabolic Unit at the Sant Joan de Déu Hospital (SJD), Barcelona

 

Academic coordinators


Dr. Juliana Ribeiro. Paediatric neurologist at SJD, Barcelona

Dr. Heidy Baide-Mairena. Pediatric neurologist at SJD, Barcelona

Dr. Nazareno Lascano. Pediatric Neurologist at SJD, Barcelona

 

Teaching staff

  • Dr. Tom J. de Koning, MD, PhD
  • Dr. Barbara Plecko, MD, PhD
  • Dr. M. Estela Rubio-Gozalbo, MD, PhD
  • Dr. Marie-Cecile Nassogne, MD, PhD
  • Dr. Alejandra Darling, MD, PhD
  • Dr. Grant Mitchell, MD
  • Dr. Mar O'Callaghan, MD, PhD
  • Dr. Felipe Barros, MD, PhD
  • Dr. Letícia Pias, MD
  • Dr. Alfonso Luis de Oyarzabal Sanz, PhD
  • Dr. Shamima Rhaman, MD, PhD
  • Dr. Antonio Zorzano, PhD
  • Dr. Diego Martinelli, PhD
  • Dr. Carlo Dionisi-Vici, MD
  • Dr. Eva Morava, MD, PhD
  • Dr. Thomas Opladen, MD, PhD
  • Dra. Gabriella Horvath, MD, PhD
  • Dr. Xavier Altajaf, PhD
  • Dr. Carmen Fons, MD
  • Dr. Juan Darío Ortizoza, MD, PhD
  • Dr. Andrés Nascimento, MD
  • Dr. Carlos Ortez, MD
  • Dr. A. García-Cazorla, MD, PhD
  • Dr. Jean-Marie Saudubray, MD
  • Dr. Fanny Mochel, MD, PhD
  • Dr. Oscar Marín, PhD
  • Dr. Toni Pearson, MD, PhD
  • Dr. Roser Pons, MD, PhD
  • Dr. David Amaral, PhD
  • Dr. Alexis Arzimanoglou, MD
  • Dr. Emilio Fernandes, MD
  • Dr. Caroline Sevin, MD, PhD
  • Dr. Holger Prokisch, PhD
  • Dr. Juan Alberto Ortega Cano, PhD

Career opportunities

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

This master's degree guides you towards a highly specialised profile that combines clinical practice, research and therapeutic development, especially in the field of neurology and congenital metabolic disorders.

In collaboration with:

 

 

Price 

ENROLLMENT FEE

FIRST YEAR: €4 470*

SECOND YEAR: €4 275*

(The admission fee, 195€, is only included the first year) 

*Price valid for the 2026-27 academic year

The tuition fees correspond, solely and exclusively, to the provision of teaching as part of the programme enrolled on, and this is the only service offered in exchange for the payment of those fees. By enrolling, the student accepts that decisions made by the competent authorities may, directly or indirectly, render it necessary to carry out teaching, tutoring, work placements or assessment tests either in person or via distance learning.

The student accepts that they remain obliged to pay any such fees in full even if, for reasons beyond the control of the University, some of the educational activities included in the degree cannot be carried out as initially provided for in the course guides at the beginning of the academic year. If restrictions are put in place, the University will provide the student with a guarantee that the activity will be rescheduled when possible, taking into consideration the interests of the student and any other applicable academic criteria.

PAYMENT MODALITIES

Candidates admitted in the ordinary admissions period must reserve their place on the program by paying a deposit of 1.400€, which will count towards the total cost of the program. The reservation only needs to be made for the first course. Once the reservation of the place has been approved the remaining amount can be paid in the following ways:

  • Single Payment

Making a single payment entails a 3% discount on the tuition fee.
 

  • Payment in Installments

In 3 installments per course.


 

FINANTIAL AID

The program offers the AMN program, that permitts the acces to discounts and financial aid for those professionals who, for reasons of income or country, do not have sufficient financial means to cover the program. These aids consist of direct discounts on the cost of registration that can be requested when applying for admission to the Master. Consult de conditions here: 

https://www.uaoceu.es/sites/default/files/pdf/financial_aid_form_neurometabolism.pdf

https://www.uaoceu.es/sites/default/files/pdf/normativa_ayudas_translated_preserved_format.docx

https://www.uaoceu.es/sites/default/files/pdf/Instruccions-masters-degree-neurometabolism-cell-biology-clinicians.docx

Quality and regulations 

CANDIDATE PROFILE

This programme is designed for neurologists (paediatric and adult), doctors specialising in congenital metabolic disorders and professionals from any field of biomedicine.
• Graduates/Doctors in Medicine 
• Graduates/Doctors in Biomedicine

ADMISSION AND REGISTRATION

All candidates must apply for admission to the University by email to the following Master's programme addresses ([email protected]) until July 27 and must send the required documentation:

•    Apostilled copy of university degree certificate 
•    ID card or passport  
•    Official translation of the degree certificate (if the certificate is NOT in Catalan, Spanish, English, Italian, French or Portuguese). If a photocopy of the translation is submitted, it must be certified by a registered notary. If the original translation is submitted, certification is not required. 
•    Curriculum vitae 
•    Relevant additional qualifications (master's, postgraduate diploma and/or relevant professional experience certificates)  
•    Cover letter explaining why you wish to pursue the Master's degree and stating your country of residence/work