Duration: 3 years
Coordinator: Prof. Raffaele Antonelli Incalzi
Introduction
The doctoral course in Integrated Biomedical Sciences and Bioethics aims to train and educate graduates in an interdisciplinary research approach, enhanced by the presence of professors from foreign universities within the College, which also boosts competitiveness in the search for a future professional opportunity. The future research doctor can expect to have professional opportunities in the fields of pre-clinical and clinical research, in academic and non-academic settings, as well as in places dealing with emerging problems relating to bioethics, such as foundations, nonprofit associations, etc. The doctorate is a privileged qualification for university researcher competitions, and participation in such competitions may not be strictly related to the curricular path followed, thanks to the interdisciplinary nature of this course and to the integration of different curricula. During these three years, the future PhD will have published in international journals and will have carried out seminars, reports, and communications at international conferences.
The doctoral course in Integrated Biomedical Sciences and Bioethics includes the following curricula:
- Endocrinology, aimed at basic and clinical research on diabetes and endocrine-metabolic pathologies as well as complications, through the study of cellular biological processes and the pathophysiological mechanisms that characterize the course of these pathologies.
- Osteo-Oncological Pathology, aimed at the study of bone biology and physiopathology, in the context of bone metastases deriving from solid tumors and osteoporosis induced by antineoplastic treatments.
- Sciences of Aging and Tissue Regeneration, aimed at analyzing and deepening the mechanisms of organ senescence and plasticity, connected to the processes of physiological aging and to the plastic modifications induced by acute or progressive stimuli.
- Neurological Sciences, aimed at the analysis of the physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms of neuromuscular diseases.
- Bioethics, aimed at acquiring theoretical knowledge of the philosophical schools that inform the different operating models of Medicine, as well as knowledge concerning philosophical personalism, work ethics and the history of medicine.
Educational objectives
The training project is based on the acquisition of skills which, in a multidisciplinary context, allow the doctoral student to develop knowledge and skills oriented toward applied research. Without prejudice to the specificity of the path in terms of training curriculum, the training process will make use of the contribution of researchers with broad experiences in applied research, and of the close collaboration between the medical area, the bioengineering area and nutrition. The individual training project is a concrete path toward a finished product that translates proof of concept to applied research. Beyond the intrinsic value of the content and purpose of the individual research, it is the acquisition of the logical-deductive process at the basis of applied or translation-oriented research that constitutes the real expected product of the doctorate, i.e. the training of researchers capable of pursuing research objectives oriented towards applicable solutions and developed in a "comprehensive" vision, which the multiple skills available to probands offer.
The curricular profile of the PhD is characterized by technical skills, orientation towards practical application, and knowledge of the relational dynamics between the world of research and the world of production, perfectly in line with the intent of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) to make increasingly more and diversified scientific skills available in areas of primary importance for the manufacturing world, including the biomedical area.
In particular, referring even only to the theme "Consequences and challenges of ageing", the doctoral course provides training that is strongly consistent with several of the proposed topics or aims to train researchers capable of contributing to their development. We mention first "Consequences and Challenges of Aging", but the training is also consistent with topics such as "Artificial intelligence: foundational aspects", "Diagnostics and innovative therapies in precision medicine", "Neuroscience and neuropharmacology", "Models for sustainable nutrition".
In particular, the development of the individual training project includes:
- Definition and sharing of the objectives and foundations of the project with the PhD student
- Assignment to the PhD student of preparatory tasks for the development of the project up to the production of the first draft. In this phase, the PhD student will benefit from a training support calibrated on the needs that will emerge during the work
- Critical review of the training project in an interactive and multidisciplinary way, without prejudice to the pre-eminent role of the tutor
- Launch of the training project, consisting of applied or basic research, but with clear translational potential
- Constant didactic support from the tutor and other professionals identified by the course coordinator
- At least six-monthly review of the progress, recognition of any critical issues and adoption of corrective measures, where required
- Annual public report that allows discussion of the results achieved with professors, experts of interest, primarily from the business world, and other PhD students
- Presentation and final discussion of the PhD product, with a focus on the practical implications, immediate or after the proof of concept state, of the same
- Critical review of the training experience aimed at producing useful suggestions for improving the teaching activities of the next cycles
- Throughout the three-year period, the teaching activities focused on the single PhD student will be integrated with those of a general nature, which will have the aim of providing solid methodological foundations of research and a "comprehensive" assessment provided for by the interaction between researchers from different faculties, even if the PhD pertains to the medical area
XXXIX cycle – Training activity
The educational offer of the Doctoral Course in Integrated Biomedical Sciences and Bioethics provides the doctoral student with a total of 14 courses with 148 hours provided.
To these hours mentioned above, hours of training activities organized for Doctoral Students by other institutions (for example summer school) can be added, subject to authorization from the coordinator of the Doctoral Course and the Teaching Body formalized by the student's supervisor. In determining the training activities, those dedicated to soft skills activities, research management, European and international research systems, entrepreneurship, intellectual property, etc., organized by companies and research bodies external to the University that finance the grants, may also be included of study
The PhD student can select the various courses according to a criterion based on his curricular and non-curricular scientific training. Doctoral students must attend at least 60 total hours of courses included within the educational activity of the training offer, of which at least 30 hours (50%) concern internal courses offered by the University. It is strongly recommended that PhD students attend the mandatory 60 total hours in the first two years so as to have adequate time in the third and final year to analyse, interpret and complete their specific research activities.
At the end of the first and second year, PhD students must submit a written report on their activities to the teaching staff or to members of the teaching staff according to their competence, identified and designated by the coordinator, who decides on admission to the following year. Furthermore, all PhD students must present their research projects according to an annual calendar through an oral presentation in front of the Course coordinator, their tutors, members of the Teaching Staff and other PhD students (doctoral meeting). On the basis of the written report and the oral presentation, the PhD student is admitted to the following year of the course after deliberation by the members of the Teaching Staff. At the end of the third year, PhD students must submit an original Thesis that is submitted to the examination of two external reviewers. On the basis of the reviewers' reports, PhD students are admitted to the Final Exam which consists in the presentation of the Thesis in front of a Commission composed of the Coordinator and at least two external Commissioners.
The Doctorate develops the Bioethical dimension at three levels: a) presence of a Curriculum in Bioethics for candidates who want to carry out a specific Doctorate in Bioethics; b) dedicated tutoring so that each Doctorate student creates a Bioethical evaluation chapter related to the object of their research project; c) a 6-hour Doctorate Course in "Biomedical Research Ethics".
Training activity included in the teaching offer of the Doctoral Course in Integrated Biomedical Sciences and Bioethics
Doctoral Course of Research in Integrated Biomedical Sciences and Bioethics, XXXIX Cycle
Research infrastructures and services available to doctoral students
The Biomedical University Campus (UCBM), with the three Departmental Faculties of Medicine and Surgery, Engineering and Sciences and Technologies for Sustainable Development and One Health, and the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Biomedico (FPUCBM), with the various complex, simple and departmental operational units directly involved, contribute to scientific coordination and make infrastructures available for carrying out specific research objectives, with the core facilities present both in UCBM than in FPUCBM, the various research and clinical laboratories, the clinical and surgical departments of the FPUCBM, and all the services and skills available for an effective and intimate multidisciplinary and multifactorial interpenetration and integration between all 3 Departmental Faculties.
Also to be added are the infrastructures made available by various external bodies, such as companies, businesses, research bodies, etc. which contribute to the Doctorate course by subsidizing scholarships for Doctoral students provided for by the regulation or which contribute in any form to the training project.
In the field of Bioethics the available infrastructures are theBioethics & Humanities Research Unit ofUCBM and theHealthcare Bioethics Center of the CBM Polyclinic Foundation.
Duration: 3 years
Coordinator: Prof. Raffaele Antonelli Incalzi
Introduction
The doctoral course in Integrated Biomedical Sciences and Bioethics aims to train and educate graduates in an interdisciplinary research approach, enhanced by the presence of professors from foreign universities within the College, which also boosts competitiveness in the search for a future professional opportunity. The future research doctor can expect to have professional opportunities in the fields of pre-clinical and clinical research, in academic and non-academic settings, as well as in places dealing with emerging problems relating to bioethics, such as foundations, nonprofit associations, etc . The doctorate is a privileged qualification for university researcher competitions, and participation in such competitions may not be strictly related to the curricular path followed, thanks to the interdisciplinary nature of this course and to the integration of different curricula. During these three years, the future PhD will have published in international journals and will have carried out seminars, reports, and communications at international conferences.
The doctoral course in Integrated Biomedical Sciences and Bioethics includes the following curricula:
- Endocrinology, aimed at basic and clinical research on diabetes and endocrine-metabolic pathologies as well as complications, through the study of cellular biological processes and the pathophysiological mechanisms that characterize the course of these pathologies.
- Osteo-Oncological Pathology, aimed at the study of bone biology and physiopathology, in the context of bone metastases deriving from solid tumors and osteoporosis induced by antineoplastic treatments.
- Sciences of Aging and Tissue Regeneration, aimed at analyzing and deepening the mechanisms of organ senescence and plasticity, connected to the processes of physiological aging and to the plastic modifications induced by acute or progressive stimuli.
- Neurological Sciences, aimed at the analysis of the physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms of neuromuscular diseases.
- Bioethics, aimed at acquiring theoretical knowledge of the philosophical schools that inform the different operating models of Medicine, as well as knowledge concerning philosophical personalism, work ethics and the history of medicine.
Educational objectives
The training project is based on the acquisition of skills which, in a multidisciplinary context, allow the doctoral student to develop knowledge and skills oriented toward applied research. Without prejudice to the specificity of the path in terms of training curriculum, the training process will make use of the contribution of researchers with broad experiences in applied research, and of the close collaboration between the medical area, the bioengineering area and nutrition. The individual training project is a concrete path toward a finished product that translates proof of concept to applied research. Beyond the intrinsic value of the content and purpose of the individual research, it is the acquisition of the logical-deductive process at the basis of applied or translation-oriented research that constitutes the real expected product of the doctorate, i.e. the training of capable researchers of pursuing research objectives oriented towards applicable solutions and developed in a "comprehensive" vision, which the multiple skills available to probands offer.
The curricular profile of the PhD is characterized by technical skills, orientation towards practical application, and knowledge of the relational dynamics between the world of research and the world of production, perfectly in line with the intent of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) to make increasingly more and diversified scientific skills available in areas of primary importance for the manufacturing world, including the biomedical area.
In particular, referring even only to the PNRR's theme, the doctoral course provides training that is strongly consistent with several of the proposed topics or aims to train researchers capable of contributing to their development. We mention first "consequences and challenges of aging," but the training is also consistent with topics such as "artificial intelligence: foundational aspects," "diagnostics and innovative therapies in precision medicine," "neuroscience and neuropharmacology," "models for sustainable nutrition ."
In particular, the development of the individual training project includes:
- Definition and sharing of the objectives and foundations of the project with the PhD student.
- Assignment to the PhD student of preparatory tasks for the development of the project up to the production of the first draft. In this phase, the PhD student will benefit from a training support calibrated on the needs that will emerge during the work.
- Critical review of the training project in an interactive and multidisciplinary way, without prejudice to the preeminent role of the tutor.
- Launch of the training project, consisting of applied or basic research, with clear translational potential.
- Constant didactic support from the tutor and other professionals identified by the course coordinator.
- At least a six-month review of the progress, recognition of any critical issues and adoption of corrective measures, where required.
- Annual public report that allows discussion of the results achieved with professors, experts of interest, primarily from the business world, and other PhD students.
- Presentation and final discussion of the PhD product, with a focus on the practical implications.
- Critical review of the training experience aimed at producing useful suggestions for improving the teaching activities of the next cycles.
- Throughout the three-year period, integration of the teaching activities focused on the single PhD student with those of a general nature, with the aim of providing solid methodological foundations of research and a "comprehensive" assessment. provided for by the interaction between researchers from different faculties, even if the PhD pertains to the medical area.
Training activity (Cycle XXXIX)
The educational offerings of the doctoral course in Integrated Biomedical Sciences and Bioethics provides the doctoral student with 14 courses with 148 hours.
To these hours, hours of training activities organized for doctoral students by other institutions can be added, subject to authorization by the coordinator of the doctoral course and the teaching body formalized by the student's supervisor. In determining the training activities, those dedicated to soft skills activities, research management, European and international research systems, entrepreneurship, intellectual property, etc., organized by companies and research bodies external to the university that finance the grants, may also be included.
The PhD student can select the various courses according to a criterion based on curricular and non-curricular scientific training. Doctoral students must attend at least 60 total hours of courses included within the educational activity of the training offer, of which at least 30 hours (50%) concern internal courses offered by the university. It is strongly recommended that PhD students attend the mandatory 60 total hours in the first two years so as to have adequate time in the third and final year to analyze, interpret, and complete their specific research activities.
At the end of the first and second year, doctoral students must present a written report on the activities carried out to be submitted to the teaching body or to members of this body according to their competence, identified and designated by the coordinator, who decides on admission to the following year. Furthermore, all doctoral students must present their research projects according to an annual calendar through an oral presentation in front of the course coordinator, their tutors, members of the teaching committee, and other doctoral students. On the basis of the written report and the oral presentation, the doctoral student is admitted to the following year of the course following a decision by the members of the teaching body. At the end of the third year, doctoral students must present an original thesis, which is subjected to examination by two external reviewers. On the basis of the reviewers' reports, doctoral students are admitted to the final examination, which consists in the presentation of the thesis in front of a commission made up of the coordinator and at least two external commissioners.
The doctorate develops the bioethics dimension at three levels: a) presence of a curriculum in bioethics for candidates who want to carry out a specific Doctorate in Bioethics; b) dedicated tutoring so that each PhD student creates a Bioethics evaluation chapter relating to the subject of their research project; c) a six-hour doctoral course in Ethics of Biomedical Research.
Teaching offerings included
Research infrastructures and services available
The Biomedical University Campus (UCBM) with the three departmental faculties of Medicine and Surgery, Engineering and Sciences and Technologies for Sustainable Development and One Health, and the Campus Biomedico University Polyclinic Foundation (FPUCBM), with the various operational units directly involved, contribute to scientific coordination and make infrastructures available for carrying out specific research objectives. With the core facilities present both in UCBM than in FPUCBM, for the various research and clinical laboratories, the clinical and surgical departments of the FPUCBM, and all the services and skills available for an effective and intimate multidisciplinary and multifactorial interpenetration and integration between all three departmental faculties.
Also to be added are the infrastructures made available by various external bodies, such as companies, businesses, research bodies, etc. which contribute to the Doctorate course by subsidizing scholarships for Doctoral students provided for by the regulation or which contribute in any form to the training project.
In the field of bioethics the available infrastructures are the Bioethics & Humanities Research Unit of UCBM and the Healthcare Bioethics Center of the FPUCBM.
