Perché scegliere Medical-pharmaceutical biotechnology?

The course proposes a Master’s degree in Biotechnologies and Medical-Pharmaceutical orientation. At the end of the two years students will:

• have an in-depth knowledge of the biochemical and genetic make up of cells of procaryotes and eucaryotes and cell cultivation techniques also on a large scale
• have solid knowledge of structures, functions and analysis of biological macromolecules and cellular processes in which they intervene
• have good knowledge of the morphology and functions of human and animal organisms
• be familiar with and know how to use the main methodologies that characterise molecular and cellular biotechnologies also for design and production of biopharmaceuticals, diagnostics, vaccines for health and nutrition
• be familiar with and know how to use the methodologies in cellular and molecular fields of biotechnologies also for reproduction in clinical and experimental fields
• have a mastery of bioinformatic methodologies for organisation, building and access to data banks in particular genomics and proteomics and acquisition and distribution of scientific and technological information
• have skills to analyse biopharmaceuticals, diagnostics and vaccines in human and veterinary fields in relation to chemical, biological, biophysical and toxicological aspects
• be familiar with the fundamental aspects of the operational processes that follow industrial design of biotechnological products (also for gene therapy and cellular therapy) and the formulation of biopharmaceuticals
• be familiar with and know how to use specific techniques and technologies in sectors like molecular modelling, design of innovative pharmaceuticals
• be familiar with the fundamentals of pathological processes that affect humans and animals with reference to their cellular and molecular pathogenetic mechanisms
• be familiar with congenital or acquired pathological situations in which it is possible to intervene with a biotechnological approach
• have the ability to design and apply diagnostic and therapeutic strategies with a biotechnology basis n their areas of competence in agreement with specialist graduates in medicine and surgery and/or veterinary medicine ie
• acquire the ability to intervene to optimise the productive and reproductive efficiency of animals
• know how to recognise interactions between extraneous microorganisms and human and animal organisms (also through specific diagnostic enquiries)
• have knowledge of production, hygiene and quality of foodstuffs of animal origin and their processed products
• be familiar with the relationship between animal and environmental organisms with particular reference to metabolic influences of environmental toxins
• be familiar with the effects of biotechnological products on the environment and know how to prevent potential harmful effects
• know how to use at least one European Union language besides Italian fluently, both written and oral, with reference also to disciplinary specific vocabularies
• have basic knowledge of economics, organisation and management of firms, firm creation, management of innovation projects and marketing (including patenting innovative products) of biotechnological pharmaceutical and cosmetic products
• be able to organise development activities in the context of pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms.

Graduates will work in medical and medical-veterinarian, medical-legal, toxicological and reproductive-endocrinological fields; as well as bioengineering with particular reference to the use of biomaterials or engineered organs and tissues; biohealth, with particular reference to the use of in vivo and in vitro models for understanding pathogenesis of human and animal illnesses; pharmacological fields with particular reference to the development and experimentation of innovative pharmacological products (including cellular genetic therapy) and design in relation to patents in the health field.

In Liguria, the biotechnology industry, with particular reference to the medical-pharmaceutical sector, is not well-developed with qualified research centres. The Regional administration and the Industrial Association are taking the initiative to promote the birth of new businesses that are in part academic and small and medium business spin-offs. In this perspective, training qualified personnel to operate in these new companies is not only important but necessary.