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Course Objectives

The main objective of the PhD Course in Molecular Medicine is to train researchers with strong scientific independence and in-depth biological knowledge to be applied to medicine, in order to understand the molecular bases of diseases and to develop new diagnostic systems and therapeutic tools tailored to the individual.

The primary goal of the Course is to train researchers with strong scientific independence and advanced biological expertise that can be applied to medicine to understand the molecular bases of diseases and to develop new diagnostic systems and therapeutic tools targeted to the individual (Precision Medicine). These competencies will be mainly applicable in the medical, biotechnological, and pharmaceutical fields. The aim is to train professionals capable of designing and developing biomedical research projects, both basic and translational.

Particular emphasis is placed on developing competencies that are essentially unique to our PhD program, such as big data analysis, generation and analysis of single-cell transcriptomic datasets, the biology of embryonic and somatic stem cells, nuclear reprogramming, tissue regeneration, viral and bacterial pathogenesis, the identification of small molecules with therapeutic potential, and mechanisms of tumorigenesis. These topics will be presented to PhD candidates through their multidisciplinary complexity, including the development of animal models, the study and application of biomaterials and biopolymers, gene editing, and analytical biochemistry.

Another objective is to promote the exposure of PhD candidates to the international scientific community through participation in international conferences and seminars, active involvement in numerous European projects in which the PhD faculty participate, and through possible study periods abroad.

The Course is organized into two curricula: Biomedicine and Regenerative Medicine, both focused on the development of basic and translational research projects.

Research Areas

Basic research is focused on identifying the molecular mechanisms involved in cell differentiation, stemness, and the pathogenesis of degenerative, neoplastic, and infectious diseases. Topics include: signal transduction mediated by growth factors and hormones; enzymes involved in redox homeostasis; biosynthesis of the extracellular matrix; mechanical stimuli and the healing process; structure and function of viral genes; mechanisms of resistance to antiviral and antibacterial drugs; pathogenetic mechanisms in bacteria and viruses; development and characterization of murine models.

Translational research focuses on the development of preventive agents, diagnostic tools, and therapeutic strategies. The main themes include gene therapy and regenerative medicine, the study of the dynamics of infectious disease spread, the identification of new drugs, the development of new biomaterials for the growth of stem cells under GMP conditions, the search for biomarkers of therapeutic response in chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, the development of biomimetic surfaces (metallic, polymeric, and natural), the design, synthesis, and delivery of adhesion, growth, and differentiation factors and of pro- and anti-angiogenic agents, tissue substitutes, the search for drug targets, and the development of drug delivery techniques.

Educational Activities

The teaching program includes courses common to both curricula, aimed at providing PhD candidates with a solid understanding of the subjects covered. Special attention is given to enhancing research through targeted communication of results, the ability to prepare funding proposals, and the development of entrepreneurship in the biomedical field and in emerging technologies, such as bioinformatics applied to the structure of the epigenome and to the study of tissue complexity at the single-cell level.

The research training program of the PhD Course, characterized by a strong interdisciplinary nature, is carried out through laboratory activities, seminars both internal and by Italian and foreign scholars, and lectures. PhD candidates are encouraged to attend national and international conferences and to spend time in laboratories of other Italian or foreign universities.

The Course also organizes an annual retreat during which PhD candidates present their work to colleagues and faculty members, providing an opportunity for discussion, exchange of ideas and challenges, and the development of the critical skills essential for a researcher.

Professional Profile

Graduates of the PhD Program in Molecular Medicine will have extensive experience in Biomedical Research and Medical Biotechnology. They will also have biomedical and healthcare-related competencies in the fields of human pathology, reproductive and regenerative medicine, infectious diseases, biochemistry, molecular and imaging diagnostics, risk assessment, and responses to infectious emergencies.

For these reasons, they will be able to pursue professional careers in academia, industry, or healthcare. In academia, they may access postdoctoral fellowships, research grants, and eventually academic positions. In industry, they may find opportunities in the Biotechnology–Biomedical sector, the Pharmaceutical sector, and the Agri-food sector, both as researchers and as managers capable of independent project development. In healthcare institutions, they may work in research, quality control, planning, consulting, and management.

  Curriculum

• Biomedicine
• Regenerative medicine

  Other information

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