Coordinator
Prof. Mauro Pistello
email: mauro.pistello@unipi.it
Administrative seat
Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery
Project description
The PhD Programme in Clinical and Translational Sciences is a three-year course aimed at Italian and international graduates interested in pursuing research in the field of modern biomedical sciences. The programme selects candidates with diverse academic backgrounds, united by strong motivation and an interest in clinical and/or translational research, and provides them with the tools to acquire a solid scientific foundation and expertise in both basic and advanced technologies, within a strongly interdisciplinary and collaborative context.
In addition to compulsory subjects such as scientific English, biostatistics, and medical statistics, the programme offers a structured training plan including thematic workshops and seminar cycles delivered by experts of local, national, and international standing. Formal opportunities for exchange are regularly organised between PhD candidates, lecturers, professionals in the field, and an advisory board composed of experts from the national and regional healthcare systems, academic context, research institutions, and national and local industry. The event that best embodies this opportunity for discussion and knowledge enhancement is the PhD Week, held annually in May, which is designed to promote mutual understanding of research projects and to encourage interdisciplinarity and collaboration among students.
This multidisciplinary focus is further strengthened by the presence of several curricula within the programme, which provide fertile ground for the development of collaborative translational projects. In this context, PhD students are encouraged to spend a training period in international laboratories and research centres, in order to broaden their skills, establish collaborations, and build scientific networks on a global scale.
At the end of the three-year course, candidates must pass a final examination demonstrating that they have achieved an appropriate level of scientific maturity, proficiency in the methodologies acquired, and the ability to communicate their research findings effectively. They must also show that they are capable of successfully applying for competitive research funding, engaging with policymakers, and interacting with the industrial sector—thus laying a solid foundation for a career in biomedical research.
Course objectives
The PhD Programme in Clinical and Translational Sciences aims to train highly qualified research professionals in the field of biomedical sciences, covering a broad range of topics, from strictly clinical to basic, applied, and translational research.
The main objective of the programme is to foster the development of critical thinking, research planning, and data analysis skills, in order to promote intellectual independence in PhD students. This is achieved by integrating students into research programmes supervised by experienced lecturers affiliated with the PhD course, who provide access to well-equipped and modern laboratories.
The programme also aims to strengthen the international dimension of training by establishing cotutelle agreements with high-level foreign universities and research centres. These collaborations help broaden the cultural horizons of PhD students, support their integration into international networks, and increase their opportunities to access European and non-European funding.
The ultimate goal of the programme is to provide PhD students with a solid cultural and practical foundation that facilitates their professional integration not only into the academic world and in public research institutions, but also into the private sector and applied research at the regional, national, and international level.
Curricula
- Endocrinology, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases
- Imaging, Simulation and Planning
- Immunology and Microbiology
- Neuroscience
- Oncology and Molecular Medicine
- Public Health
Scientific-disciplinary areas
Pathological Anatomy
Human Anatomy
Applied Biology
General Surgery
Vascular Surgery
Diagnostic Imaging and Radiotherapy
Endocrinology
Pharmacology
Physiology
Medical Genetics
Gynaecology and Obstetrics
Histology
Skin and Venereal Diseases
Haematology
Internal Medicine
Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology
Neurosurgery
Neurology
General Pathology
General and Specialist Paediatrics
Psychiatry
Materials Science and Technology
Applied Dietetic Sciences
Website
https://ctsphd.med.unipi.it/
Consulta il bando di dottorato 2025/2026 – Scadenza 18 luglio 2025
