Join the UK Medicine & Disease Olympiad Competition Today!

Cell Biology & Genetics

This section dives deep into the structure and function of cells, DNA replication, gene expression, genetic inheritance, and molecular biology. Expect questions on everything from the central dogma to CRISPR, mitosis to meiosis, and classic Mendelian genetics to modern genomics.
If you don't know the difference between a ribosome and a mitochondrion, now’s the time to find out. Spoiler: one makes protein, the other makes power.

Human Anatomy & Physiology

This is where we zoom out and look at the big picture — literally. This section explores how the human body works, from the tiniest capillaries to the brain’s electrical wizardry. Topics include the major body systems (nervous, circulatory, respiratory, digestive, endocrine, etc.), homeostasis, and physiological mechanisms.
It's not just naming bones — it’s understanding how muscles contract, how kidneys filter, and why your heart doesn't randomly quit (usually).

Human Diseases

Now for the dramatic stuff: what happens when the body goes off-script. This section covers infectious diseases, genetic disorders, immune system malfunctions, cancers, neurological conditions, and more. Expect to explore both mechanisms of disease and their clinical presentations.
You’ll need to know how pathogens invade, how the immune system retaliates, and how things sometimes spiral into chaos. Warning: may cause a sudden urge to become a doctor.

Below is a curated list of textbooks and resources to help students like you prepare for national and international Medicine and Disease Olympiads. These resources cover the core topics tested across the competitions — including cell biology, genetics, physiology, pathology, and human disease.

Core Biology & Medical Science

Campbell Biology (11th or 12th Edition)
Lisa Urry, Michael Cain, Steven Wasserman, et al.
✔ Gold standard for biological sciences. Deep dives into cell biology, genetics, and physiology. If you could only get one book, this is your MVP.
Human Physiology: An Integrated Approach (6th or 7th Edition)
Dee Unglaub Silverthorn
✔ Clear explanations, lots of diagrams, and clinical correlations. Great for mastering body systems.
Molecular Biology of the Cell (6th Edition)
Bruce Alberts et al.
✔ Warning: Not for the faint of heart. But if you're aiming for the top 1%, this will take you there.
Essential Cell Biology (5th Edition)
Bruce Alberts et al.
✔ A gentler version of the above — same authors, fewer headaches. Excellent for foundational understanding.

Human Disease & Pathology

Robbins Basic Pathology (10th Edition)
Kumar, Abbas, Aster
✔ The bible of pathology. Dense but thorough. Ideal for high scorers aiming for IMDO gold.
Pathophysiology of Disease: An Introduction to Clinical Medicine (8th Edition)
Gary D. Hammer, Stephen J. McPhee
✔ Covers disease mechanisms and clinical reasoning. Bridges textbook theory and real-world medicine.

Bonus Resources (If You Want to Go Full Mad Scientist)

Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology (14th Edition)
John E. Hall
✔ A step up in complexity. Used in med school, but readable for advanced students.
Lippincott Illustrated Reviews: Biochemistry (7th Edition)
Denise R. Ferrier
✔ Colorful, concise, and covers the biochem essentials. Ideal for visual learners.
Clinical Microbiology Made Ridiculously Simple (6th Edition)
Mark Gladwin, William Trattler
✔ Funny, quirky, and genuinely useful for understanding bugs, drugs, and immune battles.

For inspiration

Useful Websites for UKMDO / USMDO / IMDO Preparation

Whether you're just starting your Olympiad journey or gunning for gold at the international level, these websites offer essential content, practice materials, and updates for all things medicine and disease.

Biolympiads.com

Your one-stop shop for everything competitive biology.
✔ Offers prep courses, quiz banks, past paper analysis, and blog posts covering topics from cell biology to medical physiology.
✔ Frequent updates on competitions like the UKMDO, USMDO, IBO, and Brain Bee.
✔ Run by people who actually know what they're talking about — and aren’t afraid to challenge the textbook status quo.
If you’re prepping for anything biomedical and you're not using this site… you’re doing it wrong.

USMDO.org

Official website of the US Medicine and Disease Olympiad.
✔ Provides competition rules, registration info, and exam details.
✔ Sometimes posts results and cutoffs — useful for benchmarking.
✔ Essential for US-based students but also informative for anyone eyeing the IMDO format.

IMBDO.org

The official hub for the International Medicine and Disease Olympiad.
✔ Get the global competition overview, format, and country-specific qualification routes.
✔ Check out past winners (if you like a little motivation/fear).
✔ Crucial for understanding what the international level actually expects.

HHMI BioInteractive

Free, high-quality interactive resources from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
✔ Excellent animations, videos, and case studies — great for visual learners.
✔ Topics include genetics, cell biology, and physiology, all explained in engaging formats.
✔ Use it to reinforce textbook content without falling asleep.

The Brain Bee Website

Great for overlapping content in neuroscience, physiology, and disease mechanisms.
✔ If you're already prepping for the Brain Bee, you’re halfway ready for UKMDO’s nervous system questions.
✔ Check out the Brain Facts PDF — packed with medical relevance.

Khan Academy

Good old Khan. Free, simple, and surprisingly deep.
✔ Strong modules in health and medicine, especially anatomy and physiology.
✔ Bite-sized lessons make it easy to plug knowledge gaps.
✔ Use the "Health & Medicine" and "Biology" sections for targeted review.

PubMed

Not for the faint of heart — but excellent for high-level prep.
✔ Search for clinical cases, reviews, and disease overviews from real medical journals.
✔ Use sparingly, or risk getting lost in the academic rabbit hole.

NCBI Bookshelf

Free access to actual medical textbooks online.
✔ Includes gems like Molecular Biology of the Cell, Biochemistry, and Pathophysiology.
✔ If you can't afford the big-name books, start here. Just don't blame us if you end up reading for 4 hours straight.