Why Become a Researcher? Exploring Health Research Beyond the Laboratory
From 2 to 6 November 2026, Université Paris Cité’s Graduate School Cardiovascular & Blood Sciences invites students and the wider research community to explore the purpose, responsibilities and impact of health research.
Why pursue a career in research? For many, the ambition is to improve lives. Keeping that purpose at the heart of scientific work means looking beyond publications and personal recognition. It also means understanding what we know, acknowledging what remains uncertain, and recognising the ethical boundaries that must guide how we advance knowledge.
These questions underpin the Graduate School’s interdisciplinary elective course, organised with support from the ANR-funded SMARTS-UP programme (Investissements d’avenir, ANR-20-SFRI-0013). Bringing together 15 speakers over five days, the course offers an opportunity to examine health research beyond the laboratory.
Who can take part?
The elective is open to all first- and second-year Master’s students affiliated with a Université Paris Cité graduate school, across disciplines. Students can earn 3 ECTS credits, subject to regular attendance and continuous assessment through quizzes.
The online sessions, from Monday 2 to Thursday 5 November, are open to everyone, including students, PhD candidates, researchers and anyone interested in health research, whether or not they are taking the course for credit.
Programme
Monday 2 November — Rethinking Research
Online via Zoom
- Paradigm shifts — Antonino Nicoletti
- Research methodology — Eric Vicaut
- Environmental health — Robert Barouki
Tuesday 3 November — Exploring Life
Online via Zoom
- The history of animal experimentation — Jane Salmon-Fabiani
- Global health — Jean-Philippe Empana
Wednesday 4 November — Research and Institutions
Online via Zoom
- Health evaluation — Dominique Le Guludec
- Translating research into impact — Iman Makeh Hajar
- Clinical validation of AI-based medical devices — Sarah Zohar
- From quantum physics to stents — Christophe Bureau
Thursday 5 November — Communicating Science
Online via Zoom
- Science communication — Emilie Groyer
- Medicines information — Solène Lellinger
- From evidence-based medicine to medical misinformation — David Smadja
Friday 6 November — Scientific Integrity from the Inside
In person, Vulpian Lecture Theatre, Odéon
The final day features a workshop on scientific integrity with Raphaël Lévy, Maha M. Said and Perrine Desmichel, followed by “Tricheuse”, an exploration of fraud through fiction.
The programme will close with a drinks reception and a group photograph.
