École de l’Inserm Liliane Bettencourt Encouraging double degrees in medicine and science or pharmacy and science to promote translational research

Bringing scientific research and care practices together

In 2007, Inserm created what became the École de l’Inserm Liliane Bettencourt to foster interaction between researchers and physicians and cross the lines between research and care. The idea was to encourage future physicians and pharmacists to invest in early training in research. The deans nominate students at the beginning of their second year of medical or pharmacy school. Sixty are admitted to a training-motivation course leading to a competitive exam to enter the second year of the school, which admits 20 to 30 successful applicants.

A dual degree

The second year of the École de l’Inserm Liliane Bettencourt offers students master’s degrees in the field of their choice and six-month full-time research internships in accredited laboratories. With this dual fundamental and experimental training, students interrupt their medical or pharmaceutical studies to prepare a second master’s degree at a laboratory of their choice in France or abroad. After finishing a doctorate, they have the choice of several research careers, usually associated with a hospital activity, in a community of physicians and pharmacists with similar training.

The involvement of the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation

In 2015, the foundation renewed its commitment, funding 10 new classes, stipends, scientific or research activities and post-doctoral work contracts. The foundation also originated the "protected research time" program, which allows young double doctorates to conduct part-time independent research projects during the first four years of their career. This support is one of its scientific sponsorship activities, which aim to speed up innovation and inseparably link research and training.