The PhD course

The PhD course in Translational Specialistic Medicine “G.B. Morgagni” offers highly competitive PhD. Programs in the biomedical field of Cardiovascular Sciences, Clinical and Translational Neurosciences, Endocrine and Metabolic Sciences, Biostatistics and Clinical Epidemiology, Thoracic and Pulmonary Sciences.

The main objective of the course is to form top-level scientists in the biomedical disciplines and offers a wide range of facilities to perform research in clinical and experimental medicine from basic science to clinics with particular emphasis on translational medicine. At the end of their research program the Ph.D. Students acquire specific knowledge concerning basic sciences and molecular medicine, technical laboratory skills, and a research method in Medicine and Surgery to be applied in the prevention, diagnosis and therapy of human diseases. Using a multidisciplinary approach to biomedical sciences, competences in epidemiology, genetics, biology and molecular pathology, regenerative medicine, physiopathology, diagnostics and therapy are integrated.

The Ph. Doctors will gain skills for designing experimental protocols, for directing research projects and for treating patients with the power of the experimental scientific method. The research project is carried out under the supervision of one of the Faculty members. The PhD course recognize a three-step training approach for the PhD students during the three-year course:

• an initial phase of training and general culture, including elements and methodologies of interest common to the different curricula, as well as acquisition of methodologies with the potential of building one's curriculum, oriented in such a way to acquired knowledge, particularly in the basic sciences such as genetics, molecular biology, biotechnology and regenerative medicine
• a second phase for acquisition of technology and methodology in basic and clinical sciences, specific to the institutional objectives and to those of research, integrated with the participation of specialized courses including seminars, conferences, and meetings in the following areas: cardiovascular sciences; endocrinological and diabetological sciences; neurosciences; biostatistics and clinical epidemiology; thoracic and pulmonary sciences
• a third phase acquisition of a complete research methodology through the allocation of Ph.D. students in different ongoing research groups within the departments of the Ph.D. Course. Such activities will culminate in the drawing up of the doctoral thesis. The research activities foresees a period of research in external national and international institutions.

The teaching activity includes frontal lessons, lectures, seminars, clinico‐pathological conferences, a summer school during the first year, an autumn school at the second year, and a winter school at the third year. The remaining time must be devoted to the research activity (Basic laboratories, Clinical and Diagnostic Activities).