Phd

The aim of Biotechnological, Biocomputational, Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Science (B2F2) program is to train talented and motivated young researchers to become experts in the biotechnology, bioinformatics, pharmaceutical and pharmacological fields and to favor their enrollment in pharmaceutical and biotech companies, or in the related health care sector and research institutions. The B2F2 PhD program offers top-level research and training on complementary skills in a truly multidisciplinary research environment.

 

BRIEF PRESENTATION

 

Our three-year program provides outstanding students with excellent interdisciplinary, research-oriented studies in biotechnological, biocomputational, pharmaceutical and pharmacological sciences. We train full-time students to acquire and utilize the skills necessary for their research projects focused on the discovery of new therapeutic targets, as well as new drugs and their formulation, and to study their profile of efficacy and safety. The discovery of novel drug targets, in fact, is followed by the design, synthesis and analysis of new drugs, and the investigation of how they perturb receptors, enzymes or intracellular signaling pathways contributing to a specific disease onset and progression. It is proposed to PhD students an integrated cross training, useful for their future employment access in pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

The aim is to create multi-disciplinary projects involving different research teams of the University of Bologna, the majority at the Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology. PhD students are expected to benefit from the informal network with foreign partner organizations. The majority of their training period will be spent at the University of Bologna. Mobility of enrolled students towards foreign organizations for six months is mandatory. This exchange gives students the chance to experience working in a different country and to promote international collaboration and mobility. 

 

 

The research topics of the PhD program  in Biotechnological, Biocomputational,  Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Science

  • Drug discovery area - Biocomputational and Bioinformatics Research (Prof. M. Recanatini, Prof. P.L. Martelli)

  • Pharmacological Biotechnology and Molecular Pharmacology - Functions and regulation of the genoma by bioactive molecules (Prof. S. Spampinato)

  • Drug discovery - Design and synthesis of new ligands useful to develop advanced drugs in several pathological conditions (Prof. M.L. Bolognesi, Prof. A. Minarini, Prof. M. Roberti)

  • Development of lab on chip systems for the diagnosis of viral infections – Study of novel antinviral drugs (Prof. G. Gallinella) 

  • Transgenic swine models to investigate the acute rejection;genomics and proteomics of reproductive functions (Prof. M. Forni)

  • Analysis and characterization of bioactive molecules and bio-pharmaceutical samples (Prof. M. Bartolini, Prof. R. Gotti) 

  • Development of fluorescent chemosensors for intracellular metal ions (Prof. S. Iotti) 

  • Study of pharmacological effects and of undesirable or potentially toxic aspects of bioactive molecules; genetic and epigenetic profiles of drugs (Prof. P. Hrelia) 

  • Development of new formulation strategies for drug delivery (Prof. B. Luppi, Prof. N. Passerini)

  • Structural and functional organization of the mitochondrial respiratory chain (Prof. R. Fato) 

  • Role of neuropeptides in reward to addictive drugs and nociceptive transmission; epigenetics and gene regulation of neuropeptides (Prof. P. Romualdi) 

  • Intestinal microbiota in ageing and in pathological conditions (Prof. P. Brigidi)

  • Chemopreventive manipulation of drug metabolizing enzymes; antioxidants and degenerative diseases (Prof. M. Paolini)