PhD PROGRAMME NAME: Translational medicine of development and active ageing

COORDINATOR: prof. Palmiero Monteleone

PRESENTATION

The PhD programme lasts three years and comprises four curricula: 1. Integrated management of frailty, chronic conditions and multimorbidity; 2. Translational and clinical medicine; 3. Molecular, radiological, clinical and cognitive-behavioural markers of development and functional decline; 4. Innovative technologies in translational medicine. PhD students are trained in the principles and practice of translational medicine through theoretical and experimental research and monographic seminars held by in-house teaching staff or by visiting lecturers and experts. Face-to-face teaching is integrated with seminars and conferences on specific topics so that doctoral students can acquire the fundamental knowledge and skills required to ensure professional expertise in translational medicine. PhD students attend the face-to-face lectures of all four curricula, but laboratory and thesis activities are organised according to their chosen curriculum. In addition, they can perform supplementary teaching and tutoring activities within the master’s degree courses held by the PhD teaching staff.

DESCRIPTION OF THE TRAINING PATHWAY AND PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES

Frail elderly people are defined as those over 65 years of age, suffering from multiple chronic diseases and unstable health, frequently disabled, and in whom the effects of ageing and disease are often complicated by socio-economic problems. Pathological ageing is characterised by frailty, as opposed to ‘normal’ ageing, also called active ageing by the World Health Organisation. Active ageing is characteristic of elderly people who, despite being subject to the inevitable functional decline typical of senescence, retain a functional capacity until the end of their days that enables them to live independently and free of disability. Supporting the frail person in an active and healthy lifestyle is the challenge that must be overcome in order to improve quality of life and reduce pressure on healthcare systems. In this regard, the European Commission has proposed an innovative partnership aimed at fostering initiatives to address the challenge of ageing, by promoting the preservation of health and the active role of elderly people in society (European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing). Experimental evidence suggests that the mechanisms of ageing are inherent in the stages of growth. Nevertheless, disorders arising during the developmental stage can, in turn, have a negative impact on overall development by slowing, redirecting or halting it. It is thus essential to understand the mechanisms that regulate development and their possible alteration so as to reduce the possibility of frailty in adulthood and old age.

PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES

The PhD programme comprises four curricula: (1. Integrated management of frailty, chronic conditions and multimorbidity; 2. Translational and clinical medicine; 3. Molecular, radiological, clinical and cognitive-behavioural markers of development and functional decline; 4. Innovative technologies in translational medicine), which ensures multidisciplinary research training and a focus on specific features in each curriculum.

The educational objectives of the PhD programme include:

1) to increase knowledge of the mechanisms of development, ageing and disease through extensive application of modern experimental and clinical methodologies;

2) to assess the long-term sustainability and efficiency of health and care systems;

3) to train researchers in the understanding and application of experimental translational methodologies. The inherently multidisciplinary approach of translational medicine provides expertise and lays out the pathway that will identify innovative technologies for use in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of developmental and ageing disorders.

OCCUPATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL OUTCOMES

As the PhD programme comprises four curricula (1. Integrated management of frailty, chronic conditions and multimorbidity; 2. Translational and clinical medicine; 3. Molecular, radiological, clinical and cognitive-behavioural markers of development and functional decline; 4. Innovative technologies in translational medicine), it entails a high degree of interdisciplinarity and trains professional figures with multiple skills spanning experimental research and clinical management. The PhD in Translational Medicine of Development and Active Ageing seeks to train professional figures capable of fully integrating competences from a wide range of fundamental and clinical disciplines. This requires an interdisciplinary approach to both research and clinical practice, enabling a comprehensive study of the etiopathogenesis and treatment of human diseases, with a particular focus on the developmental and ageing stages. Professional outcomes are envisaged in the following areas: universities; hospitals; local health authorities; scientific institutes for research, hospitalisation and healthcare; pharmaceutical industries; biotechnology development industries; public and private research centres; national health services.

PhD PROGRAMME CURRICULA

• INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF FRAILTY, CHRONIC CONDITIONS AND MULTIMORBIDITY

Frailty is the end result of a process of accelerated psycho-physical decline that, once triggered, tends to progress. It is widely acknowledged as being the expression of the organism’s extreme homeostatic precariousness resulting from the simultaneous impairment of several anatomical-functional systems. These may be induced by the effects of ageing worsened by damage resulting from an unhealthy lifestyle and from diseases in progress or suffered in the course of life. The management of these conditions calls for integrated skills spanning various basic and clinical disciplines. The aim of this curriculum is to foster a multidisciplinary approach in the search for cures for complex, chronic and disabling human diseases.

• TRANSLATIONAL AND CLINICAL MEDICINE

Translational medicine transforms scientific discoveries from laboratory, clinical or population studies into new clinical tools and applications that improve human health by reducing the incidence, morbidity and mortality of diseases. The aim of this curriculum is to train PhD students so that they can transfer the results of basic research into clinical practice through an ongoing and far-reaching interaction with research staff working in different areas of expertise. Significant differences may emerge from this process and subsequently become the object of experimental validation in the laboratory. This will enable a proper identification of such differences as well as their clinical validation.

• MOLECULAR, RADIOLOGICAL, CLINICAL AND COGNITIVE-BEHAVIOURAL MARKERS OF DEVELOPMENT AND FUNCTIONAL DECLINE

On this curriculum, PhD students will acquire the necessary skills to study and characterise biological and cognitive-behavioural markers that can serve as diagnostic and/or preventive markers of the main developmental alterations and psycho-physical decline. Genetic, biochemical, radiological and cognitive factors are the main research objectives in this field. The identification of these markers involves the use of the most sophisticated techniques of gene sequencing, structural and functional imaging, biochemical analysis of biological tissues and fluids, and assessment of higher mental functions through validated batteries of neurocognitive and psychodiagnostic tests.

• INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES IN TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE

This curriculum focuses on the acquisition of specific skills in the use of translational research methods. Particular attention is paid to the use of cutting-edge biotechnologies as well as data management and analysis using the most advanced techniques of bioinformatics and statistical analysis. Once acquired, these skills ensure the application/translation of knowledge from basic research (in vitro or in laboratory animals) to the understanding of the etiopathogenesis of human diseases and their appropriate management and prevention.

Structure of the training pathway

The PhD programme lasts three years and comprises four curricula: 1. Integrated management of frailty, chronic conditions and multimorbidity; 2. Translational and clinical medicine; 3. Molecular, radiological, clinical and cognitive-behavioural markers of development and functional decline; 4. Innovative technologies in translational medicine. PhD students are trained in the principles and practice of translational medicine through theoretical and experimental research and monographic seminars held by in-house teaching staff or visiting lecturers and experts. Face-to-face teaching is integrated with seminars and conferences on specific topics so that doctoral students can acquire the fundamental knowledge and skills required to ensure professional expertise in translational medicine. PhD students attend the face-to-face lectures of all four curricula, but laboratory and thesis activities are organised according to their chosen curriculum. In addition, they can perform supplementary teaching and tutoring activities within the master’s degree courses held by the PhD teaching staff.

Description of training activities

Training activities are structured as follows:

Scheduled teachings	YEAR 1 1. Fundamentals of statistics for basic and clinical research 2. Research computing 3. Developmental physiology: from single cells to multicellular systems 4. Neurodevelopmental psychopathology 5.Viruses and neurodegeneration English Language Course  (Level C1)  YEAR 2 1. The pathophysiology of active ageing and frailty 2. Analytical instruments and biomarkers in biomedical research 3. The ageing brain: from physiology to pathology 4. Methodology of research studies YEAR 3 1. Multiomic disciplines 2. Translational research: meanings, methods and applications 3. Regenerative medicine in the musculoskeletal system: realities and opportunities 4. Intellectual property in research; patents and patenting procedures 5. Cardiovascular ageing
Language	The PhD course includes: teaching and seminars in English; an ‘English language enhancement’ course (University Language Centre); the use of English in the presentation of achievements is encouraged
IT	The use of IT networks is promoted through the availability of access to the University’s IT system, which is in the GARR network with the Italian University and Research system. The PhD course includes theoretical and practical courses in computer science, medical statistics, statistical network analysis models, and mediation and moderation analysis.
Management of research, and knowledge of research and funding systems	Specialised and interdisciplinary training is fostered through face-to-face and seminar-based activities focusing on knowledge of national, EU and international research funding systems, research management and technology transfer and innovation management.
Exploitation of research results and intellectual property	Research products are subject to dissemination. The University of Salerno also promotes the valorisation of research products through the University Patent Office

Final Examination

The PhD student is admitted to the final viva voce examination after passing all the tests of the educational activities included in the study plan and acquiring the associated credits. The final examination requires the PhD student to defend their thesis in public session before a special Commission. This is conducted under the guidance of the supervisor and focuses on original research and results achieved during the three years of the PhD programme. In order to be admitted to the final examination, the thesis must pass the assessment of two highly qualified and experienced reviewers from outside the University, at least one of whom must be a university lecturer. In addition, the thesis must be accompanied by a report drafted by the PhD student on the activities carried out during the programme and any publications.