The Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) has received official approval from the Macao SAR government to launch the Doctor of Philosophy in Translational Pharmaceutical Sciences, with registration formalized on June, 3, 2026. The program will commence in the Fall semester of the 2026/2027 academic year. Online applications are now open until July 7, 2026. Early application is encouraged as places are limited and will be filled on a competitive basis.

The big health industry is a critical component of national and regional competitive strength and a key sector for development in Macao. The translation of pharmaceutical research into practical applications serves as a key driver for advancing this industry, creating a significant demand for high-level professionals capable of transforming major scientific discoveries into innovative products and tangible productivity. To address this need, MUST is leveraging its comprehensive and regionally leading training system in life sciences to establish this PhD program. It aims to cultivate future leaders who possess a translational pharmaceutical sciences mindset, master comprehensive knowledge and skills in innovative drug research and development, and have a sound understanding of pharmaceutical economics and management.

The program is offered by the Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and Health  (MIAR). Its core faculty, PhD supervisors, and research infrastructure are primarily supported by the State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine (SKL)—the first state key laboratory in the field of traditional Chinese medicine in China—established in 2010 based on MIAR (restructured in 2025 as the State Key Laboratory of Mechanism and Quality of Chinese Medicine). After more than a decade of development, the laboratory has established a world-class research platform for translational pharmaceutical sciences. It boasts an exceptional research team that includes Nobel Laureates and members of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and has achieved significant translational outcomes, including winning the First Prize for Technological Invention Award of the Macao SAR Science and Technology Award.