The overall goal and mission of the PhD Program in Molecular Genetics, Biotechnologies and Experimental Medicine is to promote and develop an advanced training and education of PhD students in the field of Molecular Genetics, Biotechnologies and Experimental Medicine.
The PhD Programme aims to offer students updated tools, knowledge of molecular genetics, medical biotechnology, experimental medicine and medical-forensic sciences which will allow them, after obtaining the degree, to be competitive in the world of research.
Each PhD student is entrusted to a supervisor who follows the educational and training path for the development of a multi-year research project.
The supervisor stimulates writing activity in order to publish original data in international scientific journals.
The supervisor encourages the PhD student's participation in scientific conferences and the carrying out of part of the research activity at international laboratories.
The scientific and educational activities of the PhD students are carried out in English. Progress reports, journal clubs, seminars and annual reports of the research activity carried out are planned.
The PhD Programme aims to offer students updated tools, knowledge of molecular genetics, medical biotechnology, experimental medicine and medical-forensic sciences which will allow them, after obtaining the degree, to be competitive in the world of research.
The PhD Programme includes three curricula and each of these offers specific employment and professional opportunities.
MOLECULAR GENETICS APPLIED TO MEDICAL SCIENCES
The curricula in Molecular Genetics Applied to Medical Sciences develops studies related to:
- next generation sequencing (NGS);
- RNA seq for Mendelian/complex diseases;
- comparative/functional genomics studies;
- epitranscriptomics;
- RNA editing;
- ncRNA/epigenomics in the human genome;
- use of patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) for therapeutic approaches in rare genetic diseases.
BIOTECHNOLOGIES FOR HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT
The curricula in Biotechnology for Health and the Environment develops studies related to:
- food safety/nutraceuticals/nutrigenomics;
- environmental factors in the development of tumors;
- soft tissue tumors;
- genes and proteins involved in iron homeostasis in neurodegenerative diseases;
- metabolism of glycoconjugates;
- protein transport in different cellular systems and animal models;
- regeneration of cartilage and bone tissue in animal models.
MEDICAL-FORENSIC SCIENCES
The curricula in Forensic Medical Sciences develops studies in the areas of pathology, genetics and medical-forensic toxicology using the most innovative techniques such as NGS and short tandem repeat (STR) for the X chromosome.