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Course Objectives

The PhD Program in Clinical and Experimental Sciences aims to train researchers oriented toward academic careers or positions in public/private research institutions or industrial settings. This is achieved through the acquisition and development of investigative and research methods based on a multidisciplinary and translational approach to key biomedical topics that characterize its six curricula.

The biomedical topics addressed across the six curricula provide strong interdisciplinary overlap, not only because they rely on shared research methodologies, but also because their primary objectives are similar and often overlapping. For example, understanding the mechanisms of systemic inflammation and their therapeutic modulation represents a transversal topic relevant to rheumatic, hepatic, and renal diseases. Likewise, issues related to insulin resistance, obesity, and steatohepatitis share a common methodological approach across Endocrine-Metabolic Sciences, Hepatology/Transplant Sciences, and Exercise Medicine.

Main objectives include:

- Acquisition of the methodologies typical of the multidisciplinary and translational approach applied to the topics characterizing the six curricula of the Program.

- Interdisciplinary training in biomedical sciences to address highly complex technological, diagnostic, and therapeutic strategies through multidisciplinary approaches.

- Training of experts in various clinical and experimental disciplines capable of managing emerging fields in medicine, particularly those with high biotechnological impact and involving complex bio-psycho-social conditions.

- Development of skills for working in multidisciplinary teams that include experts in basic sciences, translational research, clinical research, systems medicine, gender medicine, and precision medicine.

- Development of research projects that bridge the gap between laboratory activities and clinical sciences, facilitating the bidirectional translational process by developing and applying technologies and biological models to study pathogenic mechanisms of human diseases.

- Cross-disciplinary training related to research methodology and research objectives.

- Development of a personalized training plan focused primarily on: 1) Experimental medicine and biotechnologies; 2) Translational medicine; 3) Clinical research; 4) Rare diseases and conditions with high biotechnological complexity; 5) Systems, gender, and precision medicine.

Educational activities

The development of each PhD candidate’s research plan and training spans the three years of the Program and includes:

a) continuous monitoring of research activities by the supervisor and an annual evaluation by the entire Academic Board;
b) cross-curriculum teaching cycles designed to provide theoretical and practical training in new research and bio-imaging methodologies;
c) training in biostatistics;
d) specific preparation in key aspects of scientific research, such as drafting research protocols, applying for funding, critically reading scientific literature, developing collaborative activities with other centers, writing scientific papers, and selecting appropriate journals for submission.

All training activities will benefit from contributions by international faculty and/or research stays by PhD candidates in qualified national or international research laboratories. The Program schedule is divided into two phases:
a) first year: acquisition or consolidation of skills and autonomy in methodologies pertaining to the multidisciplinary and translational approach;
b) second and third year: design and implementation of a research project within the research lines offered by each curriculum and included in national and international research programs.

Achievement of the final objective by each PhD candidate will be evaluated based on their investigative autonomy and their ability to draft and discuss preliminary/intermediate results of the research project and the final PhD thesis, always in English, in the presence of national and international experts.

Research Areas

The PhD Program is organized into six curricula:

1) Endocrine-Metabolic Sciences and Gender Medicine

2) Nephrological Sciences, Exercise Physiology, and Nutrition

3) Hepatology and Transplant Sciences, Rare Diseases, and High Biotechnological Complexity

4) Hematological and Geriatric Sciences

5) Rheumatology and Laboratory Sciences

6) Emerging Technologies in Education and Research in Nursing and Health Professions

The topics covered in the six curricula have strong transversal aspects, not only related to research methodology but also to research goals. For example, from a translational perspective, the study of systemic inflammation—affected by environmental factors, lifestyle, gender, psychosocial factors, genetic and epigenetic determinants—is relevant across rheumatic, hepatic, renal, metabolic, cardiovascular, endocrine, hematological, and oncological diseases.

From a research approach perspective, the training plan and program objectives address experimental medicine and biotechnologies, translational medicine, clinical research, rare diseases and high biotechnological complexity, and systems, gender, and precision medicine.

Professional Profile

The PhD Program in Clinical and Experimental Sciences offers a wide range of employment opportunities in public and private institutions engaged in research, diagnostics, disease prevention, and therapy. The goal is to train researchers capable of designing and managing experimental research and generating translational outcomes.

Based on past experience, foreseeable career opportunities include:

- Academic positions at Italian and international universities as Researchers or Associate Professors

- Medical Director (Level I) positions in hospital settings

- Level I managerial positions in clinical diagnostic laboratories

- Post-doctoral positions in prestigious international universities

- Researcher roles in research institutions, medical foundations, and private companies

- Partnerships in biotech start-ups

- Positions in the biotech industry as application specialists

- Clinical trial monitors for the pharmaceutical industry

- Medical Science Liaisons / Scientific Representatives

  Curriculum

• HEMATOLOGICAL AND GERIATRIC SCIENCES
• RHEUMATOLOGICAL AND LABORATORY SCIENCES
• LIVER AND TRANSPLANT SCIENCES, RARE DISEASES AND AT HIGH BIOTECHNOLOGY COMPLEXITY
• ENDOCRINE-METABOLIC SCIENCES AND GENDER MEDICINE
• KIDNEY, PHYSICAL EXERCISE AND NUTRITION SCIENCES
• EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES IN NURSING AND HEALTH PROFESSIONS EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

  Other information

• Calls and Admissions
• The International PhD guide
• Administrative Informations