Genomic and experimental medicine (GEM)
The Ph.D. Program in Genomic and experimental medicine is intended for highly motivated graduates of scientific and medical fields who wish to specialize in the biomedical sciences and aim to pursue research careers in the fields of human genetics, functional genomics, and molecular medicine. The goal of the Ph.D. Program is to train the next generation of researchers in the fields of cellular, molecular and translational research through basic but also innovative and state-of-the-art approaches, with the aim of advancing disease prevention and therapeutic approaches to improve human health. Upon completion of the degree, PhDs in Genomic and experimental medicine will find natural employment in academic and clinical research centers of excellence, biotechnology industries, and other biomedical facilities.
PhD students in the GEM Program will be trained in the fields of:
- Cell Biology
- Gene Therapy
- Genomics and Systems Biology
In addition, PhD students will have the opportunity to come in contact with innovative and modern technologies, such as genomics, advanced microscopy, high content screening, proteomics, and viral vector production. In addition, doctoral students will receive additional training in “complementary skills” such as grant application writing, scientific project management and intellectual property management.
This training will take place through lectures by researchers working in various fields, clinicians, and experts in project management, grant application writing, and scientific communication
The doctoral program in Genomic and experimental medicine is intended for students with a master’s degree (or equivalent) in science.
The venue for both the experimental and didactic portions of the Ph.D. will be at the laboratories of the Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli (NA) in addition to the other official locations of the School.
To enhance the educational and internationalization aspect of the doctoral program, it is mandatory for each doctoral student to spend a period of at least 6 months/one year (even if divided into several quarters or semesters) at foreign universities and research institutions.
The official language of the doctoral program is English; courses and seminars will be taught in English, as will all outreach activities held by doctoral students . Website, notices and supporting materials will be in English.
Brunella Franco (MED/03)
Full Professor of Medical Genetics
Department of Translational Medical Sciences
University of Naples Federico II, Italy
Tigem – Principal investigator
Full Professor of Medical Genetics
Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences
University of Naples “Federico II”, Italy
Maria Luisa Balestrieri (BIO/10)
Andrea Ballabio (MED/03)
Department of Translational Medical Sciences
University of Naples “Federico II”, Italy
Tigem- Scientific Director
Full Professor of Medical Genetics
Department of Translational Medical Sciences
University of Naples “Federico II”, Italy
Tigem- Associate Investigator
Associate Professor of Molecular Biology, Department of Translational Medical Sciences
University of Naples “Federico II”, Italy
Tigem- Associate Investigator
Mirko Cortese (BIO/19)
Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (DISTABiF)
University of Campania, “L. Vanvitelli”
Full Professor of Applied Biology
Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology
University of Naples “Federico II”, Italy
Tigem- Principal Investigator
Full Professor of Industrial Bioengineering
Department of Chemical, Materials and Industrial Production Engineering, University of Naples “Federico II”, Italy
Tigem- Principal Investigator
Full Professor of Medical Genetics
Department of Translational Medical Sciences
University of Naples “Federico II”, Italy
Tigem- Principal Investigator
Antonio Giordano, (MED/08)
Department of Medical, Surgical and Neuroscience Sciences,
Laboratory of Biomedical Technologies and Experimental Oncology
University of Siena, Italy
Gennaro Napolitano, (MED/03)
Department of Translational Medical Sciences
University of Naples “Federico II”, Italy
Tigem- Associate Investigator
Full Professor of General and Specialty Pediatrics
Department of Translational Medical Sciences
University of Naples “Federico II”, Italy
Tigem- Associate Investigator
Salvatore Pece (MED/04)
University of Milan.
European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy
Full Professor of Histology
Department of Translational Medical Sciences
University of Naples “Federico II”, Italy
Tigem- Associate Investigator
Tiziano Tuccinardi (CHIM/08)
Institute of Ophthalmology
Faculty of Brain Sciences
University College London, London, United Kingdom
Lukas Huber, (BIO/13)
Professor of Biochemistry
Institute of Genetics
University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
Max Planck Institute for Biology of Aging, Cologne, Germany
Professor of Molecular Biomedicine Department of Biology, Institute of GeneticsUniversity of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. Cologne Cluster of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD)University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Scarlett Agostinis
Dalila Capasso
Alfonso Manuel D’Alessio
Marianna Fico
Arjun Padmanabhan
Francis Ragazzini
The research activity is carried out by each doctoral student under the supervision of a Tutor chosen from among the members of the faculty. The doctoral student will also have assigned a Thesis Committee composed of three senior researchers (in addition to the mentor).
The Thesis Committee, in addition to assessing the theoretical and practical skills acquired by the doctoral student, may contribute to the delineation of project lines in order to improve the student’s training profile or help him or her plan possible strategies for overcoming any critical issues inherent in the project proposal that the candidate will carry out dutrante the path do doctoral student. Tutors (or Supervisors) are required to declare, in the annual report submitted to the Coordinator, data on the training and research activities of each doctoral student.
The educational background of each doctoral student is evaluated by the Board of Teachers when it evaluates the annual activity report, which decrees their transfer to the following year.
This annual report will be supported by a Power Point presentation to be discussed in a plenary session before the Thesis Committee.
The transition from the second to the third and from the third to the fourth year will be based on the Thesis Committee’s own evaluation of the progress of the research project as defined in the project proposal submitted by the candidate at the end of the first year.
The discussion of the dissertation and the conferment of the title of Ph.D. will take place at the end of the fourth year, provided that the work presented in the dissertation paper has found publication in an international journal accredited by the scientific community and that the doctoral candidate is among the authors of the said paper.
Educational activities are spread over four years in order to allow continuous contact between teaching staff and doctoral students.
Teaching activities will be concentrated in predetermined periods of the first three years of the course; during the final year, no lectures are scheduled as students will be engaged in writing the dissertation paper for their doctoral thesis.
For each doctoral cycle, doctoral faculty will organize basic, specialized and complementary skills courses in accordance with the interdisciplinary characterization of the doctoral course. Each course will include theoretical and practical lectures given by the doctoral faculty and external lecturers chosen ad hoc on the basis of their expertise. Compulsory participation in scientific seminars scheduled on a weekly basis by the Institute home of the doctoral course, which has a long tradition of national and international guests of the highest scientific profile, is expected of the student. Participation in the seminars will qualify for university credits (CFUs).
The research and teaching topics are as follows (others may possibly be added to coincide with the research developments of the college members):
Year I: Basic Courses (Introductory Course)
Introductory lectures for a total of 10 lessons (20 hours of lecture and/or practice).
The course concludes with a Learning and Evaluation Test.
Year II: Specialized Courses (Specialistic Course)
They include subjects that relate to the various research topics of the doctoral program and include 24 lectures for a total of 48 hours of face-to-face and/or practical classes.
The course concludes with a Learning and Evaluation Test.
Year III: Complementary Skills
Provides 6 lectures for a total of 12 hours of lecture and/or practice.
These courses aim to provide doctoral students with elements of financial management and research communication. The course concludes with a Learning and Evaluation Test.
IV year
The fourth year will be devoted mainly to finalizing the thesis, and there will be no courses.
Seminars, Data Club:
Provide for a presentation of one’s research project and its progress at least once a year and participation in Institute seminars, totaling at least 320 hours.
The following activities are managed in concert with other doctoral programs in the Southern High School
Language courses: Courses are available at the university in Italian language for foreigners, as well as English, French, German, and Spanish.
Computer skills: The School organizes short courses to train doctoral students in the critical use of digital resources and seminars to familiarize students with tools such as reference managers and spreadsheets.
Management of research, knowledge of research systems and sources of funding: The School organizes training activities for in-depth study of how to manage research, including how to obtain funding. He also organizes meetings on drafting research projects with ERC, FIRB and Fellowship winners abroad.
The School organizes activities for in-depth study of norms related to the enhancement and dissemination of scientific research, the protection of research results and authors, the protection of intellectual property, and patent law in the national and international fields.
The Ph.D. aims to build a series of international partnerships through which to develop learner and faculty mobility, in line with the host institute’s scientific traditions made up of scientific networks of excellence in areas related to all research topics. Current ties provide a relevant baseline.
- BioMarin, Novato, CA, US
- Takeda Shire, Boston, MA, US
- Casma Therapeutics, Boston, MA, US
- Zambon SPA, Bresso, Milan, IT
- Innovavector, Pozzuoli, IT
- NGD, Pozzuoli, IT
University of Naples Federico II
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences
- Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology
- University Hospital Company – Department of Pediatrics
University of Campania Luigi Vanvitell
- Department of Precision Medicine
- Ophthalmology Research Unit
University of Palermo
- Department of Surgical and Oncological Disciplines.
- National Research Council
- Department of Biomedicine
- Department of Mathematics
- National Institute of Molecular Genetics (Milan).
International Collaborations
- Baylor College of Medicine (Houston),
- Center for Epigenetics and Metabolism (University of Irvine, California)
- University College London (London)
- Sbarro Health Research Organization (Philadelphia).
Course Duration: 4 years
Coordinator: prof. Brunella Franco
Scholarships: each year SSM offers 6 positions for this Doctoral Program.
The annual amount of each scholarship is €19,000.
Extra funds are provided for all scholarships for research activities.