The first year of the programme is aimed at conveying specialist biotechnological knowledge in the following learning areas.
Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology
l Deepen the specialist knowledge of advanced cellular biotechnologies, ranging from the characterisation and potential application of somatic stem cells in human tissues, the molecular mechanisms underlying differentiation and morphogenesis, to the study of the characteristics and properties of microbial communities in the human body, with particular attention to the intestinal microbiota.
l Deepen specialist knowledge of topics relating to modern molecular biotechnology in the field of high-process analytical biochemistry, genetic engineering and molecular biology methods for the production of recombinant proteins and gene therapy applications.
l Provide students with practical laboratory skills in the different areas of the programme, through the implementation of a set of exercises focused on learning how to use the different instruments and the associated experimental protocols.
Morphological and Functional Sciences
l Deepen the knowledge of the morphofunctional aspects of the various organs and systems of the human organism, integrating their structural, macroscopic, microscopic and ultrastructural aspects with their functional ones.
l The ability to deepen the specialist knowledge of topics related to different disciplines in the biological and medical field, for the adequate understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the onset and development of human diseases
The second year of the programme is structured in two parts: a first common training part and a second part divided into two parallel and alternative curricular paths. The first part covers the following areas of learning:
Regulatory, Economic and Patent aspects
l Deepen specialist knowledge of the methodological, procedural, legislative and management aspects underlying the industrial development of modern biotechnology and its application in the clinical field.
l Deepen specialist knowledge of integrated methodological aspects for the analysis and validation of experimental results produced by the application of innovative biotechnologies, supported by knowledge of information algorithms and adequate consideration of bioethical issues.
The second part is divided into a therapeutic profile and a diagnostic profile, with activities carried out both in the research laboratories of Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore and at A. Gemelli University Polyclinic Foundation - IRCCS, as well as with internships at companies in the sector.
The training activities will be divided, respectively, into the following learning areas: Innovative Therapies, Regenerative Medicine and Nanomedicine (Therapeutic profile)
l Deepen specialist and multidisciplinary of different biotechnologies and nanotechnologies aimed at the development of modern innovative therapies
Advanced and high-processivity diagnostics (Diagnostic curriculum)
l Deepen the specialist knowledge necessary for the understanding, development and implementation of new technologies for advanced diagnostics in the fields of genomics, pathology, biochemistry, microbiology and forensics