The Mission
The aim of this PhD program is to accelerate the translation of discoveries arising from post-genomics, structural genomics, gene function and model organisms into a mode of delivery that will benefit human health. The proposed translational research programme will train, at the European level, novel hybrid researchers that will be able to rapidly translate scientific advances to the patient’s advantage. Building such international translational highways requires innovative educational models and career paths, with the aim of providing cross-disciplinary training for PhDs and MDs with potential bench-to-bedside round trips.
It is widely anticipated that the sequencing of the human genome, the characterization of the human proteomic map and the underlying advance in technological know-how will give rise to an unprecedented leap in biomedical science over the next half century. A major concern and potential bottleneck in the equation is the availability of well trained staff who understand the scientific data generated and are capable of translating this knowledge successfully. The ultimate goal of medical research is to incorporate research-based evidence into clinical practice.
Central to the mission of this DIMET Project is the training of PhD scientists both in the fundamentals of their chosen subspecialty of life sciences as well as with a firm foundation in clinical medicine. The goal of the DIMET PhD program is to educate students at the interface of physical and life sciences and the biomedical sciences via a flexible structure that permits exploration of the various intersections of those disciplines.
Translational medicine has gained a key role in translating basic life science discoveries into therapeutic applications. Nevertheless, the establishment of firm links between fundamental and medical research and the exploitation of knowledge, advanced technologies and their outfalls is still very difficult due to the lack of specific translational medicine training programs. The proposed PhD program DIMET, will support the development of translational medicine, contributing significantly to forward its therapeutic applications to human diseases. Clinical topics are centered on cardiovascular, cancer, genetic diseases and neurodegeneration. The proposed PhD program will foster advanced genomics, proteomics and biotechnology and their applications to experimental medicine, contributing to forward its translational medicine applications to human diseases.
Thematic areas
Thematic areas (Courses/Seminars) will cover:
• DIMET Immunology
• DIMET Cellular and Molecular Pathology
• DIMET Neuroscience
• DIMET Cardiovascular and Pulmonary (CVP) Medicine
DIMET Immunology
Immunology is influencing any aspect of modern medicine. DIMET Immunology aims to link Faculties producing internationally recognized researches in different fields of immunology. Emphasis is given to foster productive interdisciplinary research on the application of molecular approaches to problems in cellular and clinical immunology. Faculty research interests include both bench-to-bedside approaches and basic science research.
Some current research areas:
• Host-pathogen interactions with specific interest in the role of dendritic cells (Foti, Granucci, Ricciardi-Castagnoli, Ivan Zanoni);
• Preclinical modeling of cell-therapy in cancer (Biondi/D’Amico, Moro, Protti);
• Chimeric T-cell receptor for the treatment of cancer patients (Biondi/Biagi);
• Development of clinical-grade cellular therapies (Finocchiaro, Introna);
• Understanding mechanism(s) of action and development of monoclonal antibodies in therapy (Golay, Reali).
• Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) (Fleischhauer)
DIMET Cellular and Molecular Pathology
Understanding the molecular mechanism(s) at the basis of diseases is of pivotal importance for the development of new tools for both an efficient diagnosis and possible therapy. DIMET Cellular and Molecular Pathology links the Faculty with primary interests in the processes of degeneration and cancer, and in tailoring therapeutic approaches to these diseases by improving regeneration or interfering with cellular abnormal proliferation.
Some current research areas
• cellular and molecular dissection of the multistep processes ultimately leading to the pathological condition affecting different cell types and organs, including haemopoietic cells (Biondi/Cazzaniga, Ferrari, Ottolenghi, Piperno, Ronchi); neurons and glial cells (Barabino, Finocchiaro, Nicolis, Vescovi); kidney (Perego); skeletal muscle (Brunelli, Meneveri);
• understanding the molecular mechanism of drug action (Broccolo, Musumeci, Parenti); and developing new experimental approaches for novel molecular target therapy (Gambacorti Passerini, Lavitrano), including state of the art technology such as stem cell (Abrignani, Biondi/Serafini, Brunelli, Nicolis, Ottolenghi, Vescovi); gene therapy (Biondi/Serafini, Ferrari); Genome-Wide Association studies (Crimi) and nanotechnology (Masserini) and xenotransplantation (Lavitrano)
• developing innovative tools for diagnosis (Cattoretti, Cocuzza, Gorletta, Perego)
• Studies on biomedical application of nanoparticles (imaging, drug targeted delivery) to evaluate the biophysical, biological and molecular aspects of nanoparticles-cell/tissue interaction, and their biological fate and transport in biological compartments (Miserocchi, Rivolta, Sancini)
DIMET Neuroscience
DIMET Neuroscience tracks offer different levels of research in neuroscience, (from molecular and cellular to the system level), while specializing in the chosen field of research. The Faculties with a primary interest in neurobiological processes related to human disease are drawn from all basic science disciplines and encompass a wide range of research interests.
Some current research areas:
• Identification of new genes responsible for mitochondrial disorders (Tiranti, Zeviani);
• Chronic processes of axonal degeneration (Battaglia, Rugarli);
• Unravel mechanism(s) involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease (Ferrarese, Masserini);
• Epilepsy (Becchetti, Sancini);
• Neuropathology including the role of autoimmunity (Mantegazza), the chemotherapy induced-peripheral neurophaties (Cavaletti) and the neuropathic pain (Giagnoni);
• Understanding mechanism(s) involved in the endocrine and extraendocrine activities of the growth hormone secretagogues (Torsello)
• Retina Physiology (Lecchi);
DIMET Cardiovascular and Pulmonary (CVP) Medicine
The Program in CVP Medicine provides the trainee with outstanding skills in cardiovascular research. The goal of the cardiovascular and pulmonary concentration is to educate new generation of basic and clinician-investigators to have a broad understanding of Cardio vascular and Pulmonary Medicine and Biology and to be able to apply cutting edge technology to clinically relevant questions. The Faculty research interests focus in understanding the heart and the lungs as an integrated system, and to develop a multidisciplinary approach to design more effective diagnostic tools and more selective treatments.
Some current research areas:
• Stem Cells and regenerative medicine: this area encompasses diverse research problems, such as the differentiation of EC for myocardial repair (Zaza), the isolation and characterization of stem cells from the human heart (Pesce) and the translation into clinical trial of heart tissue regeneration (Pompilio). It also includes the understanding how epigenetic modifications (such as the use of HDAC inhibitors) contribute to stemness and differentation toward endothelial cells (Pesce)
• Vascular Biology/Atherosclerosis: this area encompasses the problems of vascular biology (Capogrossi, Giovannoni), atherosclerosis with emphasis on the understanding of the molecular aspects of the plaque (Biasi, Froio, Lavitrano, Mingazzini) as well the development of modelling of innovative computerized method for the plaque echogenicity Biasi, Froio, Lavitrano, Mingazzini).
• Preventive medicine (Parati) with interest to ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and analysis of cardiovascular variability. At the basic level it includes the modelling of cardiovascular neural regulation.
• Physiology and pathophysiology of the oxygen transport pathway (Ferri, Miserocchi, Pesenti) and pathophysiology of lung edema, cardiorespiratory disorders in neonatology (Miserocchi, Rivolta, Sancini), critical care (Pesenti).
Scientific Training
Training will also be offered in:
1. Science
a. Critically reading literature
b. How to prepare and deliver an excellent oral presentation
c. How to write a grant proposal
d. Efficient lab work and experimental design
2. Pathophysiology of selected diseases
a. Cardiovascular
b. Leukemia
c. Genetic
d. Neurodegeneration
3. Technical skills
a. Flowcytometry and cell sorting
b. Advanced imaging
c. Quantitative PCR
d. Microarray and genome-wide analyses
e. Pre-clinical mouse models
f. Proteomics
Before starting their research work, the trainees will prepare a PhD thesis proposal, with the help of their tutors, which will be presented and discussed with all the participating mentors.
