I want to be a medical researcher but I don't know where to start?

Question

I love learning about the human body, i think its so fascinating...i really want to work in medical research, specifically genetic links to disease/cancer research...do you think it would be better to study biomedical science or study medicine, then do a research PhD?
thank u for ur help :)

Answer 1

First you take high school biology - the honors or AP section. Get an 'A' then take as much chemistry as you can. You definitely cannot get any kind of career in medical research without a knowledge of chemistry. Take regular chemistry, then Honors or AP afterwards. Really get it down cold. Then you need to know statistics well so that you can evaluate all the results of the research that you do. So take AP stats.

When you go to college, you could major in biology, but that would leave you taking a lot of courses about animals or plants or whatever that are not too relevant to human biology. So, either look for a college that has a specific major in human biology, or else allows you to concentrate in that area.. Med school would be a good plan, because if you are doing research directly on humans, most of the time an MD has to be involved to be sure that no harm comes to the subjects. Where else are you going to get four years of really concentrated study on the human body but in med school?
So, that means you have to do all your premed courses and do well in them. Organic chemistry and biochemistry especially. That's why you need a lot of chem in HS.

An alternative that bypasses some of this, would be if you were in physical therapy. That would greatly limit the areas you could work in, but the work you would be doing would be interesting and give you a good living.
The one thing you can NOT do is stop at the Bachelor's level. If you work in research with only a BA or BS you will always be some PhDs "go-fer" and make a lousy salary.

Answer 2

yeah but realise that having an MD-PhD is very expensive and time consuming and many people that are able to make it to medical school who wanted to go into research have decided against research because they make half of what MDs make. So when you look at the time and the amount of student loans you may have ( or may not, if you have it like that), it is a tough decision. but we definately need more MD-PhDs. But I know medical doctors who wished they went into research because of the more relaxed hours, not having to deal with insurance companies etc. Then I know researchers ( PhDs) who wished they went into medical school so they could earn more money and have more respect. Before you start make sure you weigh everything carefully costs included

Answer 3

you're gonna have to get a degree in biochemistry or the like and then deside if you want to do pure research or work on humans as well. for some you need the PhD/MD path, but for some just a PhD in Chemistry or Biochemistry will do. If you're unsure start looking at grad schools and find someone you could see yourself working for. then make sure you have the requirements to get in that program.

Answer 4

Get an MD and MS or PhD degrees.