Exploring the Physics and Biology in Medicine Program at UCLA

The Physics and Biology in Medicine (PBM) program at UCLA, formerly known as Biomedical Physics, stands as an interdisciplinary graduate program within the David Geffen School of Medicine. This program operates at the intersection of traditional disciplines, fostering biomedical research in radiological imaging and therapy. It aims to cultivate research scientists proficient in physics, mathematics, engineering, and computer science, with a deep understanding of their application to instruments and techniques used in radiology, nuclear medicine, and radiation oncology.

Program Overview

The PBM program at UCLA emphasizes the development of research scientists well-versed in a range of disciplines, including:

Biology (and its subspecialties)
Chemistry (and its subspecialties)
Physics (and its subspecialties)
Mathematics (and its subspecialties)
Engineering or Computer Sciences (and their subspecialties, such as biomedical engineering and nuclear engineering)

The program is designed for students aiming to pursue a Ph.D. and offers several tracks, including three CAMPEP-accredited tracks: Therapeutic Medical Physics, Medical Imaging, and Molecular Imaging and Theranostics. There is also a non-accredited track in Molecular & Cellular Oncology. Graduates from the accredited tracks are eligible for accredited medical physics residencies and receive certificates of completion upon graduation.

Curriculum and Degree Requirements

The UCLA General Catalog provides detailed information on courses, instructor designations, curricular degree requirements, and fees, though these are subject to change or deletion without notice. Students should consult the Catalog for the most current, officially approved courses and curricula.

Master's Degree (M.S.)

M.S. students are required to complete the six core courses with a grade of B or better. PBMed 596 and 598 may be applied toward the degree. Students can choose to pass a comprehensive examination (Plan II) covering the material from the core and required courses or, with faculty advisor approval, use the Ph.D. written specialty examination to satisfy the M.S. comprehensive examination requirement. Additionally, students can complete a thesis (Plan I) based on a research project.

Doctoral Degree (Ph.D.)

The program is primarily aimed at students who wish to pursue the Ph.D. After selecting a specialty, students acquire sufficient knowledge by taking courses recommended for the specialty; these include the core and required courses.

The written specialty examination for admission to the Ph.D. program should be taken by the end of the sixth quarter in residence. Once this examination is passed and students have chosen a research area for the dissertation, within a reasonable time frame agreed on with the dissertation adviser, they form a doctoral committee and schedule the University Oral Qualifying Examination. This examination is based on a proposed dissertation topic. Passing the examination is a requirement for continuance in the doctoral program. It is estimated that full-time students entering the program with no undergraduate deficiencies can complete the Ph.D

Academic Senate regulations require all doctoral students to complete and pass university written and oral qualifying examinations prior to doctoral advancement to candidacy. Also, under Senate regulations, the University Oral Qualifying Examination is open only to the student and appointed members of the doctoral committee. In addition to university requirements, some graduate programs have other pre-candidacy examination requirements.

Written Qualifying Examination: This involves submitting a written research proposal to an ad hoc committee of at least two faculty members within the specialty area. The proposal must follow the NIH grant application format.
Oral Qualifying Examination: This examination is based on a proposed dissertation topic. Passing this examination is mandatory for continuing in the doctoral program.

To summarize, students must demonstrate competence in the subject matter covered in the core courses.

Course Requirements

The minimum course requirement for both the Medical Imaging and Molecular Imaging and Theranostics specialties is 60 hours. The courses for the medical imaging specialty include the six core courses and five required courses.

Progress Evaluation and Academic Standing

Progress during the first year of graduate study is evaluated primarily on grades in course work. When the grade-point average falls below the minimum 3.0, students are put on probation for the following quarter. A substantial improvement must be made at the end of that quarter; otherwise, students are subject to dismissal. A student’s progress is evaluated on performance in course work and on the academic advancement examinations (qualifying exam and first oral/dissertation proposal exam).

A graduate student may be disqualified from continuing in the graduate program for a variety of reasons, including failure to maintain the minimum cumulative grade point average (3.00), failure of examinations, lack of timely progress toward the degree, and poor performance in core courses. Probationary students are subject to immediate dismissal upon the recommendation of their department. A tentative decision to recommend academic disqualification is made in a meeting of the program leadership with the appropriate track chair and former advisors/mentors if applicable.

Progress Update Meeting

The doctoral student’s progress toward completion of the degree is reviewed in an informal meeting. This meeting may include a review of progress of individual specific aims of the proposed dissertation, timelines and other relevant issues as determined by the student’s doctoral committee. This meeting is required to occur at least annually from the time of advancing to candidacy (passing the first oral qualifying examination) until the final defense.

Research Focus

The PBM program encompasses a broad scope, including areas traditionally considered medical physics, while extending to mathematical modeling of physiological processes, systems for radiopharmaceutical production, development of database and picture archiving systems in radiology, and medical informatics. The program also features a Radiation Biology Track, focusing on the biological effects of radiation.

The research in this program is exceptionally diverse ranging from basic to translational; faculty and students in the program are typically engaged in topics that intersect traditional disciplines and are actively involved in defining new, cutting edge research endeavors.

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Thesis topics include mathematical modeling of physiological processes, systems for production of radiopharmaceuticals, development of database and picture archiving systems in radiology, medical informatics, as well as the conventional studies in diagnostic radiology, radiation therapy and medical imaging. In addition, our program has a Radiation biology Track that studies the biological effect of the radiation we use.

Faculty and Students

The program typically consists of around 45 students and 30 core faculty members, along with an equal number of associated faculty from both on-site and affiliated hospitals. Associated faculty contribute through lectures, clinical rotation supervision, and providing access to special facilities and expertise. All students receive full funding during their first year.

Program Leadership and Guidance

Entering students are assigned a faculty adviser and are expected to meet with their adviser quarterly to discuss their academic program and approve their study list. Special problems regarding graduate students are first discussed with the student’s adviser, and, as needed, during quarterly faculty meetings. These problems are brought to the attention of the program director either by the student, the student representative, the instructor or the adviser. If academic progress is satisfactory, oral evaluations are made; if the progress is unsatisfactory, the student is informed in writing by the director of the graduate program, who explains possible remedial action and the consequences of unsatisfactory progress.

CAMPEP Accreditation

The Therapeutic Medical Physics, Medical Imaging, and Molecular Imaging and Theranostics tracks are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs (CAMPEP). Graduates from these accredited tracks are eligible for accredited medical physics residencies and receive certificates of completion upon graduation.

Biomedical Physics Interdepartmental Graduate Program

The Biomedical Physics Interdepartmental Graduate Program's goal is the development of research scientists who are well versed in physics, mathematics, engineering and computer science, and who understand the application of these disciplines to the instruments and techniques used in the practice of radiology, nuclear medicine and radiation oncology.

A Vibrant Community

The UCLA Physics and Biology in Medicine graduate program has been funded by NIH through training grant for over 35 years. The current training grant (T32) is funded by NIBIB.

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