The PhD program in Medical Biotechnology aims to provide interdisciplinary training through involvement in research projects related to Microbiology, Vaccines, Immunology, Infectious Diseases, Pathological Anatomy, Oncology, Bioengineering, and Dentistry. PhD students will be involved in the following research lines:
MICROBIOLOGY, VACCINES, IMMUNOLOGY, INFECTIOUS DISEASES: i) analysis of bacterial genome and microbiome, ii) functional characterization of bacterial mobile genetic elements, iii) study of bacterial pathogenicity in animal infection models, iv) characterization of genetic and biochemical bases of antibiotic resistance and characterization of new antibacterial drugs with direct or synergistic activity, v) design and validation of new diagnostic tests for the detection of old and new pathogens, vi) study of emerging viruses, vii) study of antigens and vaccine formulations, viii) construction of expression systems for recombinant vaccine antigens, ix) development and validation of innovative mRNA-based vaccines against emerging and non-emerging infectious diseases, x) study of antiviral drugs and antiviral resistance, xi) characterization of viral variability, latency, and pathogenicity, xii) characterization of the immune response following vaccination in humans and animal models, xiii) study of in vitro interaction between bacteria and immune system cells, xiv) study of immune response during acute and chronic viral and bacterial infections.
PATHOLOGICAL ANATOMY, ONCOLOGY: i) study of the tumor microenvironment in lymphomas and thoraco-pulmonary solid tumors with gene expression profiling (GEP) using the pancancer immuno profiling panel (770 immunocorrelated genes) with nanostring technology, ii) study of molecular signature with NGS gene sequencing of small cell lymphomas with aberrant morphology and/or phenotype, iii) role of EBV in gastric carcinoma, iv) characterization of the correlation between heavy metals and tumor development.
BIOENGINEERING: i) pattern recognition techniques in pathology and oncology, ii) analysis of digital data and images, machine learning, and telemedicine, iii) multivariate statistical analysis, statistical models, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, iv) development of mechatronic prototypes for sanitary disinfection using ultraviolet LED technology.
DENTISTRY: i) study of odontostomatological biomaterials for the production of dental prostheses, ii) study of local and systemic risk factors of periodontal pathology and their connection with systemic diseases, iii) study of endodontic microbiology and local and systemic risk factors of periapical pathology, iv) etiology and treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders.