MRM PhD Program Overview

Overview

Rules for the organization  of the PhD Course can be found  here .

The PhD program offers doctoral students the opportunity to develop a research project, over a three-year period, answering important scientific questions in the field of biomedicine and is structured in two different curricula.

The "Molecular and Regenerative Medicine" curriculum The curriculum in “Molecular and Regenerative Medicine” aims to develop basic and applied knowledge (for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes) of the molecular mechanisms responsible for the onset and progression of rare genetic and acquired diseases of epithelial and musculoskeletal tissues, as well as pathologies in the fields of onco-hematology, rheumatology, inflammatory, and cardio-metabolic disorders. In this context, the program addresses:

a) The study of gene expression regulatory mechanisms;

b) Cutting-edge research and the identification of specific target molecules or therapeutic targets necessary for the development of targeted gene and cell therapies;

c) The development and validation of cellular and animal disease models capable of mimicking human conditions;

d) The study of innovative therapeutic protocols in the field of experimental and translational onco-hematology;

e) The bioinformatics analysis of data obtained from the application of high-throughput and single-cell analysis technologies in the biomedical field.

Furthermore, through innovative methodological and biotechnological approaches, the systematic study of stem cells is addressed. This track is not only aimed at understanding their biological processes of self-renewal and differentiation into various cell lineages but is also geared toward tissue engineering and/or cellular regeneration, in order to restore or replace the normal physiological function of organs and tissues damaged by diseases or trauma.

The "Nanotechnology and Modelling for Industrial Biomedical Applications" curriculum aims to provide multidisciplinary skills for the development of new technologies for medical use. By integrating approaches from chemistry, physics, materials science, and biotechnology, the doctoral student will be able to develop devices and materials for personalized diagnosis and therapy. Emphasis is placed on developing skills for controlling the properties of (bio)materials at the nanoscale, through the development of nanobiotechnological applications based on the controlled integration of biological systems (nucleic acids, proteins, microorganisms) with inorganic or organic materials. An example of the significant impact of this approach is the development of biosensors for the early diagnosis of diseases and for frequent and low-cost monitoring of patient status, and more generally, the development of materials and devices for biomedical applications. A portion of the curriculum focuses on the application of computational structural biochemistry protocols and methods to the study of diseases. Through computational experiments (structure prediction, molecular modelling, and simulation) and in vitro experiments, the doctoral student approaches the study of the relationships between the structure, dynamics, and function of biological macromolecules, aiming to understand, at the atomic level, the determinants of disease. The atomistic approach to the study of pathologies also includes the targeted design of precision therapeutic agents based on the target's atomic structure.

An interdisciplinary and international environment, with cycles of lectures and seminars held in English, allows PhD students to exploit and combine different scientific approaches, with the aim of developing new diagnostic and prognostic tools or therapeutic approaches based on an advanced understanding of molecular and cellular mechanisms at the basis of human diseases.

Opportunities

The preparation acquired with this training course, also through the possibility of benefiting from High Apprenticeships grants, represents the preferential way to undertake research and development activities not only in the University or in Public and Private Research Institutions, but also in Industries in the area of health, pharmaceutical and biomedical products.
Finally, the possibility to work in laboratories actively included into international networks, facilitates the possibility of carrying out periods for further studies (post-doc training) in prestigious foreign laboratories.

Travel Funding for PhD Students

By resolution of the PhD Board, travel expenses for courses and conferences up to €1000 over the three-year period can be charged to the PhD program's funds. Please note that using these funds requires active participation in the event, such as a poster or oral presentation.

At least two months before the event, PhD students must email a request to the PhD Coordinator, completing the relevant forms available here:

Form 1: This is the travel authorization document that must be signed by the PhD supervisor and the Director of the Department of Life Sciences; if funding comes from the PhD budget, the coordinator indicates the fund code to be used and also signs as the fund holder.

Form 2: This document must clearly indicate the total budget requested from the PhD funds, along with a description of the course/congress type and the nature of the contribution (poster, oral presentation, etc.).