• Medical scientists research human diseases and conditions with the goal of improving human health.
• Most medical scientists conduct biomedical research and development to advance knowledge of life processes and of other living organisms that affect human health, including viruses, bacteria, and other infectious agents.
• Past research has resulted in advances in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of many diseases. Basic medical research continues to build the foundation for new vaccines, drugs, and treatment procedures.
• Medical scientists engage in laboratory research, clinical investigation, technical writing, drug development, regulatory review, and related activities.
• Medical scientists study biological systems to understand the causes of disease and other health problems.
  • For example, some try to identify changes in cells or in chromosomes that signal the development of medical problems.
  • They use this knowledge to develop treatments and design research tools and techniques that have medical applications.
  • Medical scientists involved in cancer research may formulate a combination of drugs that will lessen the effects of the disease.
  • They can then work with physicians to administer these drugs to patients in clinical trials, monitor their reactions, and observe the results.
  • They may draw blood, excise tissue, or perform other invasive procedures.
  • Medical scientists examine the results of clinical trials and adjust the dosage levels to reduce negative side effects or to induce better results.
  • In addition to developing treatments for medical conditions, medical scientists attempt to discover ways to prevent health problems.
  • For example, they may study the link between smoking and lung cancer or between alcoholism and liver disease.
• Many medical scientists conduct independent research in university, hospital, or government laboratories, exploring new areas of research or expanding on specialized research that they began in graduate school.
• Medical scientists working in colleges and universities, hospitals, and non-profit medical research organizations typically submit grant proposals to obtain funding for their projects.
• Medical scientists who rely on grant money may be under pressure to meet deadlines and to conform to rigid grant-writing specifications when preparing proposals to seek new or extended funding.
• Most medical scientists who work in private industry conduct applied research or support product development, using knowledge discovered through research to develop new drugs and medical treatments.
  • They usually have less autonomy than do medical researchers in academia to choose the emphasis of their research.
  • Medical scientists spend more time working on marketable treatments to meet the business goals of their employers.
  • Medical scientists in private industry may also be required to explain their research plans or results to non-scientists who are in a position to reject or approve their ideas, potentially for business reasons rather than scientific merit.
  • Medical scientists increasingly work as part of teams, interacting with engineers, scientists of other disciplines, business managers, and technicians.
• Swift advances in basic medical knowledge related to genetics and organic molecules have spurred growth in the field of biotechnology.
• Discovery of important drugs, including human insulin and growth hormone, is the result of research using biotechnology techniques, such as recombining DNA.
• Many other substances not previously available in large quantities are now produced by biotechnological means; some may one day be useful in treating diseases such as Parkinson's or Alzheimer's.
• Today, many medical scientists are involved in the science of genetic engineering—isolating, identifying, and sequencing human genes to determine their functions.
• This work continues to lead to the discovery of genes associated with specific diseases and inherited health risks, such as sickle cell anemia.
• These advances in biotechnology have opened up research opportunities in almost all areas of medical science.

• Those with both a Ph.D. and M.D. are likely to experience the best opportunities.
• Much of the basic biological and medical research done in recent years has resulted in new knowledge, including the isolation and identification of genes.
• Medical scientists will be needed to take this knowledge to the next stage—understanding how certain genes function within an entire organism—so that medical treatments can be developed for various diseases.
• Even pharmaceutical and other firms not solely engaged in biotechnology have adopted biotechnology techniques, thus creating employment for medical scientists.
• However, job growth will moderate from its previous heights as the biotechnology industry matures and begins to grow at a slower rate.
• Some companies may also conduct more of their research and development in lower-wage countries, further limiting employment growth.
• Employment growth should also occur as a result of the expected expansion in research related to illnesses such as AIDS, cancer, and avian flu, along with growing treatment problems, such as antibiotic resistance.
• Moreover, environmental conditions such as overcrowding and the increasing frequency of international travel will tend to spread existing diseases and give rise to new ones.
• Medical scientists will continue to be needed because they greatly contribute to the development of treatments and medicines that improve human health.
• Medical scientists with both doctoral and medical degrees are likely to experience the best opportunities.
• Workers with both a biological and professional medical background will have a distinct advantage in competing for research funding, as certain opportunities are only open to those with both qualifications.
• Medical scientists are less likely to lose their jobs during recessions than workers in many other occupations because they are employed on long-term research projects.
• However, a recession could influence the amount of money allocated to new research and development, particularly in areas of risky or innovative medical research.
• A recession also could limit extensions or renewals of existing projects.

Other health-related specialists with similar levels of education include Dentists; Physicians and surgeons; Veterinarians

Other life science research occupations include Agricultural and food scientist; Biological scientists; Epidemiologists; Teachers-postsecondary.

Other health specialists with similar levels of education include Dentists; Pharmacists; Physicians and surgeons; Veterinarians

• Ph.D. in Biological Science
• Medical Degree