Medical research scientists use scientific methods to study countless aspects of our world. Those who specialize in medical research study diseases, drugs, microorganisms, genetics and many other areas of human and animal health. They work toward improved understanding of diseases and of environmental hazards. They play a critical role in the development of new therapeutic treatments and innovative diagnostic techniques. The medicines we take, the inoculations that protect us from infectious diseases and the processes that preserve our food were all developed by medical research scientists.
Medical research scientists can pursue a variety of specialties. These include anatomy, biochemistry, biophysics, cell biology, embryology, genetics, immunology, microbiology, molecular biology, pathology, pharmacology, physiology and many others.