Research PhDCurricula

Curricula

Curriculum #1: Development of Innovative Products, Preclinical Testing, and Pharmacotherapy

This curriculum is structured into thematic modules including the development of the following areas:

• Advanced molecular biology techniques, including gene editing, next-generation sequencing (NGS), and gene expression analysis.
• State-of-the-art imaging, with a focus on confocal microscopy, molecular imaging, and 3D visualization systems for studying pathophysiology and therapeutic efficacy.
• Bioinformatic analysis and data science approaches for interpreting omics data (genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic) and applying predictive models in the development of new drugs and medical devices.
• Pathological-molecular investigation techniques aimed at characterizing biomarkers and personalizing therapeutic strategies based on molecular and cellular evidence.
• Integrated and comprehensive management of clinical trials, including regulatory, ethical, and organizational aspects for the proper conduct of clinical studies.
• Development of new biomedical and therapeutic technologies, with potential applications in personalized medicine and innovative pharmacotherapy.
• Technology transfer and patenting, promoting the practical application of research through the creation of patents with tangible impact in the biomedical field.

Contact: Prof. Domenico Edoardo Pellegrini-Giampietro

Curriculum #2: Clinical Research and Quality of Clinical Care

This curriculum is structured into thematic modules including the development of the following areas:

• Epidemiological analyses, pathophysiological insights, and clinical trials in perioperative medicine, with a focus on multimodal prehabilitation in frail patients, intraoperative monitoring and precision medicine in anesthesia, metabolic stress response control, analgesic techniques and opioid-sparing strategies, prevention of postoperative complications, and enhanced recovery after surgery.
• Epidemiological analyses, pathophysiological insights, and PK/PD evaluations in critical care medicine, focusing on extracorporeal organ support, infections and antibiotic therapy in critically ill patients, communication and end-of-life care in intensive care.
• Epidemiological analyses, pathophysiological insights, qualitative analyses, and phenomenological explorations in palliative medicine, with focus on acute and chronic pain management, vascular access in oncology and non-oncology patients, basic and specialized palliative care, including simultaneous and end-of-life care.
• Epidemiological and pathophysiological characterization of major acute and chronic diseases in pediatric age. Cross-cutting studies in pediatric specialties such as immunoallergological diseases, congenital immune defects, autoimmune and autoinflammatory manifestations, allergological disorders, infectious diseases (community-acquired, mother-to-child transmission, nosocomial, immigrant/refugee/adopted/traveling children), and auxoendocrine diseases including immune-mediated, metabolic, genetic, and bone metabolism disorders.
• Development of preventive and diagnostic models and clinical trials in immunoallergology, infectious diseases, and auxoendocrinology. Special focus on advanced technologies for pediatric vaccinology, molecular surveillance for infectious diseases and antibiotic resistance, secondary prevention practices such as neonatal screening, scoring systems, early diagnostics for rare congenital diseases and socially impactful disorders like childhood obesity, developmental defects, and immune dysregulation.
• Optimization and innovation in pediatric care, focusing on equity, shared and personalized care, evaluation of new target therapies, implementation of non-invasive treatments to improve the quality of life of pediatric patients and their families.
• Epidemiological analysis of skin diseases and the development of innovative diagnostic-therapeutic approaches, including artificial intelligence models for chronic inflammatory skin diseases, autoinflammatory conditions, pigmented lesions, and skin carcinomas. AI developments will include: a) Diagnostic algorithms using generative techniques to enhance classification of pigmented lesions and skin cancers. b) Diagnostic algorithms based on severity scores, for testing, validating, and implementing personalized therapeutic plans in clinical practice for chronic inflammatory skin diseases.

Contact: Prof. Elena Chiappini

Curriculum #3: Promotion and Protection of the Right to Health

This curriculum is structured into thematic modules including the development of the following areas:

• Health Literacy: improving access to, understanding and use of health-related information at both individual and community levels.
• Promotion of healthy lifestyles, health education, and prevention of communicable and non-communicable diseases, with a special focus on vaccine prevention. Emphasis on vaccines and vaccination strategies, epidemiological impact of immunization policies, and preventive communication and training, including digital tools for citizens and health professionals.
• Health Technology Assessment: analysis and development of clinical, epidemiological, and economic models supporting decision-making in healthcare, aiming for equitable access to care and personalized health protection.
• Research on ethical, regulatory, and governance aspects related to patient safety, care relationships, communication and informed consent, professional and institutional responsibility, and risk management, including the use of AI-based systems.
• Development and practical implementation of innovative models for the identification, care, and protection of vulnerable individuals, persons with disabilities, abuse victims, and victims of gender and hate crimes.
• Innovative approaches in forensic disciplines (pathology, odontology, toxicology, psychopathology, and criminology) and in assessments related to the identification of living persons and human remains to safeguard human dignity and human rights.

Contact: Prof. Vilma Pinchi

Curriculum #4: Psychological Well-being, Mental Health, and Psychopathology

This curriculum is structured into thematic modules including the development of the following areas:

• The conditions of psychological vulnerability and their determinants, both internalizing (e.g., anxiety, depression, trauma) and externalizing (e.g., antisocial behavior).
• The psychological and neurobiological processes involved in the pathogenesis of mental suffering and in the maintenance of mental well-being.
• The role of personality studies, clinical phenomenology, and psychopathology in the development of various mental health conditions.
• In-depth analysis of mental disorders, with a particular focus on: eating disorders and their neuropsychological correlates; the intersection of gender and psychopathology; psychopathology of grief and trauma-related events, psychological adaptation processes; personality disorders and their impact on psychosocial functioning; behavioral addictions, substance use, and technology-related dependencies.
• Psychological and psychiatric interventions, with a focus on the phenomenological foundations of care and on the most innovative psychotherapeutic approaches, as well as their potential translational and pharmacological developments.

Contact: Prof. Giovanni Castellini