Translational and Molecular Medicine – DIMET

The Molecular and Translational Medicine Doctoral Program (DIMET) is an interdisciplinary
project organized by the Doctorate School of the University of Milan-Bicocca.

Objectives

The post-genomic era is bringing a revolution in the understanding of human diseases and the design of related therapies. However, clarifying the cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating complex systems requires a deep interaction between basic and applied research.
Therefore, the educational objective of DIMET is to train scientific excellence with high-level skills for conducting research activities in the fields of biology, medical biotechnologies, molecular medicine, and their applications in both diagnostic and therapeutic settings, in clinical
and surgical contexts. DIMET aims to train "translational" professionals with a solid background in basic research and equipped to bridge the gap between laboratory research and clinical investigation. This objective is pursued through numerous training activities promoted by
researchers from various biological, biotechnological, and medical sectors, with the ability to promote research priorities, develop joint and targeted research, and promote the rapid clinical application of scientific discoveries.

This educational path requires innovative educational models and well-defined professional paths to provide the critical mass necessary to implement Translational and Molecular Medicine, transferring the results acquired through basic science from the laboratory bench to the patient's bedside.

 

Coordinator: Prof. Francesco Mantegazza
Deputy Director: Prof. Giovanni Cazzaniga
Organizational Secretary: Silvia Scuotto

The training project of DIMET focuses on Translational Medicine based on Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies. The course is interdisciplinary and internationalized through contacts with foreign research groups and research experiences abroad. Many DIMET doctoral students conduct part of their research and training activities in foreign laboratories. The training program is innovative and based on advanced didactics, with great attention to the developments of new biomedical technologies. Research activities within the DIMET doctoral program can start from both medical issues requiring the development of new biological systems and basic studies that can have a significant impact on medicine. The close relationship with the world of work is achieved through contacts in the healthcare sector, the bioindustry, and with international and national institutions of excellence.

The DIMET doctoral program is structured into 3 general research areas and 4 specialized areas of scientific research.

 

General research areas:

1) Cellular and molecular mechanisms. Understanding molecular and cellular mechanisms is of fundamental importance for studying specific diseases and for the development of new technologies that allow efficient diagnosis and effective therapy.

Dissection of cellular and molecular process networks leading to dysfunction of different organelles, cell types, and organs including:

2) Clinical and regenerative medicine. Clinical medicine refers to the development and implementation of advanced therapeutic approaches that may involve expertise in gene or cell therapy, tissue engineering, pharmacology and pharmacogenomics, and the development of new molecular therapies. In this area of ​​scientific investigations, researchers with clinical and basic research training converge and collaborate.

3) Technological platforms, nanomedicine and diagnosis. The development of new technological platforms, nanomedicine, new techniques for diagnosis, patient stratification or administration of therapeutic molecules are of fundamental importance for modern biomedicine. In this research area the projects are focused on: Identification of biochemical, molecular and proteomic markers related to the onset and progression of diseases, with particular reference to tumors and rare diseases and study of the biomedical applications of nanoparticles and their characterization for diagnostic purposes or therapeutic.

 

Specialized research areas:

1) Oncology and hematology disorders. Tumor pathologies are destined to become the first cause of death in the near future and this has led to an increase in scientific research conducted on all fronts of oncology, from the development of experimental models to advanced biological therapies, up to the development of diagnostic imaging and prevention. DIMET's research programs in this area are related to neoplastic transformation and growth, diagnosis and therapies in solid and hematological tumors.

2) Neurodegenerative, neurological and muscular disorders. The study of neurodegenerative and muscular diseases includes various levels of investigation linked to molecular and cellular experimental models. Neuromuscular disease is a very broad term that includes many disorders that impair the functioning of muscles, either directly (pathologies of the muscle) or indirectly (pathologies of the nerves or neuromuscular junctions). In particular, DIMET addresses neurotransmission and excitation in the cerebral cortex, epilepsy, chronic processes of axonal degeneration, mitochondrial disorders and neurodegeneration with cerebral iron accumulation syndromes and other conditions.

3) Cardiovascular and pulmonary disorders. DIMET research programs in this field provide research experiences in the field of cardiovascular medicine, in order to train basic or clinical researchers with a solid background in biology and pulmonary and cardiovascular medicine, to apply latest generation technologies and models to the clinic's needs.

  • iPS-derived cardiomyocytes, channel mutations and arrhythmogenic mechanisms; “late Na+ current” and cell damage (Prof. Antonio Zaza)
  • New molecular and cellular mechanisms of cardiac arrhythmias causing sudden death; cardiomyocytes derived from induced pluripotent stem cells as experimental model for the study of cardiac arrhythmias (Prof. Ilaria Rivolta)
  • Vascular biology/atherosclerosis and molecular aspects of plaque (Prof. Marialuisa Lavitrano)
  • Mechanobiology: relationship between single cell nanomechanics and illness (Prof. Francesco Mantegazza)
  • Lipidomic and metabolomic in cardiovascular diseases, Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and progressive fibrosing interstitial lung diseases (Prof. Valerio Leoni; Prof. Paola Faverio)

4) Immunological and infective disorders. Immunology influences nearly every aspect of modern medicine. The study of immunopathology and infectious pathologies is focused on the development of interdisciplinary research projects in cellular and clinical immunology and in innovative cellular approaches. Research interests in this area include host-pathogen interactions, immune surveillance, microbial pathogenesis and antibiotic resistance, vaccine development and immunotherapy.

DIMET students find natural placement in public and private research centers, clinical centers of excellence, biomedical and biotechnological industries, both nationally and internationally. The expected career opportunities are those requiring interactions between basic and applied research and in contexts where "translational" professional profiles are required, with a solid background in basic research combined with the ability to transfer new knowledge to biomedicine to produce advanced diagnostic tools or innovative and effective therapeutic options. Professional figures such as researchers in academia, biotechnology companies, or within the healthcare system are opportunities available to those who have completed the DIMET doctorate.

The structure and programs of the DIMET Doctoral Course are based on the multidisciplinary nature of modern Biology and Medicine and the mutual need for biologists and medical professionals to familiarize themselves with medical and basic biology issues. The almost equal participation in training activities aimed at doctoral students by scientists from both basic and clinical research, and the organization of seminars for all students ensure productive interactions among the various components.

Teaching activities within DIMET develop starting from the skills and interactions in various research areas, both in broad areas of investigation (molecular and cellular mechanisms) and in more specialized contexts (neurological and neuromuscular diseases; oncology and hematology; infectious and immune diseases; pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases). Teaching emphasizes the translational approach in the transfer of skills, with application and further development in diagnostic or therapeutic research programs (clinical and regenerative medicine; technological platforms, nanomedicine, and diagnosis). The proposed doctoral programs will take place in an advanced biotechnological context.

Teaching activities can be consulted on the e-learning platform

Azzoni Emanuele University of Milano-Bicocca
Balduzzi Adriana Cristina University of Milano-Bicocca
Barabino Silvia Maria Luisa University of Milano-Bicocca
Barisani Donatella University of Milano-Bicocca
Becchetti Andrea University of Milano-Bicocca
Bellani Giacomo University of Trento
Bianchi Cristina University of Milano-Bicocca
Bigoni Marco University of Milano-Bicocca
Brunelli Silvia University of Milano-Bicocca
Cazzaniga Giovanni University of Milano-Bicocca
Citerio Giuseppe University of Milano-Bicocca
Colombo Miriam University of Milano-Bicocca
Corbo Claudia University of Milano-Bicocca
Facciotti Federica University of Milano-Bicocca
Faverio Paola University of Milano-Bicocca
Fruscio Robert University of Milano-Bicocca
Gambacorti Passerini Carlo University of Milano-Bicocca
Granucci Francesca University of Milano-Bicocca
Invernizzi Pietro University of Milano-Bicocca
Lavitrano Marialuisa University of Milano-Bicocca
Leoni Valerio University of Milano-Bicocca
Magni Fulvio University of Milano-Bicocca
Mantegazza Francesco University of Milano-Bicocca
Mologni Luca University of Milano-Bicocca
Nicolis Silvia Kirsten University of Milano-Bicocca
Ornaghi Sara University of Milano-Bicocca
Paglia Giuseppe University of Milano-Bicocca
Pagni Fabio University of Milano-Bicocca
Piazza Rocco Giovanni University of Milano-Bicocca
Re Francesca University of Milano-Bicocca
Rivolta Ilaria University of Milano-Bicocca
Russo Laura University of Milano-Bicocca
Santambrogio Carlo University of Milano-Bicocca
Savino Angela Maria University of Milano-Bicocca
Serafini Marta University of Milano-Bicocca
Smith Andrew University of Milano-Bicocca
Torsello Antonio Biagio University of Milano-Bicocca
Zaza Antonio University of Milano-Bicocca
Barberis Matteo University of Surrey, UK
Broccoli Vania Istituto San Raffaele, Milano, ITA
Campagnolo Paola University of Surrey, UK
Chini Bice Istituto di Neuroscienze - CNR
D’Amico Giovanna Fondazione M. Tettamanti Onlus, Monza , ITA
Gaipa Giuseppe Fondazione M. Tettamanti Onlus, Monza, ITA
Genovese Pietro Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA  
Lanzavecchia Antonio Fondazione Istituto Nazionale Genetica Molecolare (INGM), Milano, ITA
Lanzuolo Chiara Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, ITA
Martinez Estrada Fernando University of Surrey, UK
Pellegatta Serena Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, ITA
Pesce Maurizio Centro Cardiologico Monzino, ITA
Taroni Franco Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, ITA
Tiranti Valeria Sonia Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, ITA
Zanoni Ivan Harvard University, Boston, USA  
by Scuola di dottorato, last updated on 04/11/2024