PhD Program Overview

Overview

The PhD Program in Drug Area and Innovative Treatments is an interdisciplinary doctorate characterized by the central theme: “Improvement of human health through the identification of new active ingredients, both synthetic and natural, and new therapeutic treatment strategies.” This theme brings together different methodologies from the ERC – European Research Council areas (PE – Physical and Mathematical Sciences, LS – Life Sciences, and one concerning the genomics of epilepsy with a bioinformatics approach based on the use of “Big Data”). Some of the topics explored in recent years, fully in line with those identified by the PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan), concern Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology, Models of Sustainable Nutrition, Diagnosis – Innovative Therapies in Precision Medicine, Emerging Infectious Diseases, Consequences and Challenges of Aging, Development of “Human-based” Preclinical Models. A network of scientific relationships with leading international universities makes it possible to offer cultural exchanges for student training.

The PhD program is organized into two curricula: "Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Sciences" and "Pharmacology, Toxicology and Innovative Treatments". It involves the relevant CUN Areas related to the Drug Area (CUN Areas 05, 03, 06) and the following scientific-disciplinary sectors:

 

BIOS-11/A – Pharmacology

CHEM-07/A – Pharmaceutical Chemistry

CHEM-08/A – Technology, socio-economics and regulation of medicines and health and wellness products

CHEM-07/B – Food Chemistry

CHEM-01/A – Analytical Chemistry

MEDS-05/A – Internal Medicine

MEDS-14/B – Pediatric and Child Surgery

MEDS-15/A – Neurosurgery

MEDS-20/A – General and Specialized Pediatrics

MEDS-20/B – Child Neuropsychiatry

MEDS-26/D – Advanced Medical and Surgical Technical Sciences

Curriculum in Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Sciences

The curriculum in Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Sciences is based on an educational-scientific program aimed at training experts and scholars in the field, providing them with the multiple skills that must characterize highly specialized professionals destined to enter research laboratories in pharmaceutical industries, academic institutions and research bodies. Areas of expertise include the design and synthesis of new drugs, optimization of their formulation, purification of natural compounds, their characterization and quality control of both synthetic and natural molecules, in the final product as well as in biological media, along with the study of bioactive metabolites from food and medicinal plants. Graduates in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Pharmacy, Biotechnology and Chemistry are considered particularly suited to this curriculum.

 

Specializations: Design, synthesis and molecular modeling of drugs; natural substances of plant origin; innovative pharmaceutical technologies for drug optimization; advanced methodologies in pharmaceutical analysis.

 

Curriculum in Pharmacology, Toxicology and Innovative Treatments

The curriculum in Pharmacology is aimed at providing PhD candidates with the cultural background and methodological preparation necessary to successfully conduct preclinical and clinical research activities, both academic and industrial, in the fields of Pharmacology, Pharmacognosy and Toxicology. The goal is to train high-level researchers ready to meet the challenge of identifying, studying and applying innovative treatments, ranging from natural substances and products, small synthetic molecules, biotechnological drugs and cell therapy. Advanced technologies are available to PhD students for the study of new therapeutic targets and for the evaluation of the efficacy and safety of new products. Graduates in Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Biotechnology and Medicine are considered particularly suited to this curriculum.

Specializations: Pharmacology and toxicology of the cardiovascular system; pharmacology and toxicology of the nervous system; pharmacology and toxicology of hormones and autacoids; pharmacology and toxicology of inflammation and cell proliferation; antitumor pharmacology.