Health Sciences

Description of the Training Project

The PhD programme, interdisciplinary in nature and organized into macro‑themes, provides a training project designed to meet general objectives, further articulated into specific objectives for each curricular area.

Given the interdisciplinary character of modern medicine and the specificity of the required competencies—often transversal across different curricula—the training project is structured into six tracks:

At the end of the programme, PhD candidates will be able to independently develop research projects related to the prevention and treatment of chronic-degenerative and infectious diseases. They will also be capable of autonomously drafting international‑level scientific articles and preparing research project proposals to participate in competitive calls at both national and international levels.

Educational Objectives

The general objective of the PhD programme is to train highly qualified professionals who, at the end of their studies, will be able to apply innovative methodologies and approaches to optimize statistical‑epidemiological assessment, surveillance, and preventive and diagnostic‑clinical management of transmissible infectious diseases as well as oncological and chronic‑degenerative diseases of public health relevance, both in community and occupational settings.

Throughout the programme, PhD candidates acquire theoretical and practical competencies related to the design, management, and drafting of research projects. They are provided with the necessary skills to critically analyze scientific publications and write international‑level scientific articles.

PhD candidates actively participate in research groups involved in national and, above all, international projects, thereby gaining the relational and teamwork skills essential for the development of scientific research activities.

They operate in close contact with clinical and research facilities (IRCCS), which ensures the opportunity to develop their research lines in a translational manner.

The acquired competencies will particularly focus on vaccine‑based prevention of infectious diseases, their diagnosis and therapy, cancer prevention—especially early diagnosis through molecular markers—and prevention of cancer progression through the development of innovative drugs.

Career Opportunities

The professional profile of a PhD in Health Sciences is that of a healthcare‑area specialist who, within their multidisciplinary scientific and technological competencies, contributes to achieving the goals defined by the national health service. They respond—according to principles of appropriateness—to evolving societal needs in the healthcare field, applying innovative methodologies in surveillance, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of transmissible and chronic‑degenerative diseases.

Career prospects include positions within public and private research institutions operating at national and international levels. Opportunities exist in universities, public research institutes, and research and development units within small and large companies, particularly in the biological and pharmaceutical sectors.

Furthermore, PhD graduates will be able to independently provide consultancy services for designing and managing research projects and may therefore also operate as freelance professionals.

Competencies acquired in environmental health, particularly regarding the prevention of chronic‑degenerative and infectious diseases, are increasingly in demand—both in public and private sectors—for conducting Health and Environmental Impact Assessments required by current regulations.

Collaborations

Due to its multidisciplinary nature, the PhD in Health Sciences collaborates with Italian and international universities and research institutions.

Current collaborations include:

McGill University (Canada)
Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa
IRCCS Giannina Gaslini Pediatric Hospital
Merck Serono
Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta
Humanitas Mirasole
European Institute of Oncology (IEO)

Programme Coordinator

Prof. Alberto Izzotti

Coordinator’s Greeting

“I extend my warmest greetings to all those participating in the activities of the PhD School in Health Sciences. Together we have succeeded in building an outstanding school, with major international collaborations of global significance and strong scientific value. The PhD School in Health Sciences is the place where individuals with a strong inclination toward high‑level international research can fully develop their potential. My best wishes for fruitful research activity and full professional growth go to all who participate and will participate in our activities.”