PhD course in Translational Specialistic Medicine 'G.B. Morgagni'

Thoracic and Pulmonary Sciences

Pathogenesis of obstructive lung diseases (asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease -COPD and cystic fibrosis) and interstitial lung diseases (pneumoconiosis, sarcoidosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis). Study of the immunological (innate and adaptive) mechanisms involved in these diseases by structural and molecular analysis of lung biopsies (bronchial, transbronchial and surgical), bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and explanted lungs using advanced technologies such as digestion and laser or manual dissection of lung tissue, immunohistochemistry, cytofluorimetry, next-generation sequencing and multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction. Relationship between structural or molecular features and clinical or functional characteristics for a better prognostic stratification of patients. Morphological, molecular and genetic analysis in different type of neoplastic disorders (lung cancer, thymoma and mesothelioma) in order to predict prognosis and response to checkpoint inhibitors. Establishment of tumor xenografts in immunodeficient murine experimental model. Ex-vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) in lung transplantation and study of the physiological process that occur in the organ during normothermic perfusion to improve the pulmonary graft quality. Surgical reconstruction techniques of chest wall, trachea and bronchi resected for inflammatory, infectious or neoplastic processes. Multidisciplinary cooperation (pulmonologists, thoracic surgeons, pathologists and radiologists) for a more accurate interpretation of data.
 
Coordinator of the Curriculum:  Prof.ssa Marina Saetta