PhD in Veterinary Sciences

1. Basic Sciences
2. Animal Production and Food Safety
3. Animal Health
4. Clinical Sciences

Curriculum 1: Basic Sciences

The curriculum of basic sciences includes the fields of veterinary anatomy and physiology and those of zoology, biochemistry and clinical biochemistry applied to veterinary medicine, experimental and translational medicine.
The study is focused on all species of veterinary interest, non-conventional species, wild species and laboratory species.
The research topics concern:

• structure, properties and functions of biomolecules
• molecular and cellular biology
• the molecular and biochemical basis of physiological and pathophysiological processes
• the morphological and functional characteristics of the systems, organs and tissues of the animal organism, as well as their main morphofunctional correlates
• homeostasis of the animal organism at molecular, cellular and tissue level
• interactions between animal organism and environment: biochemical, neurobiological and ethological foundations
• animal models for translational medicine

Research topics also include the development of biotechnological approaches for the study and manipulation of stem cells, biomaterials and tissue engineering also for regenerative medicine.

Curriculum 2: Animal Production and Food Safety

The research topics addressed are related to breeding, feeding and nutrition strategies, and genetic improvement of all species of zootechnical interest. Research is aimed at implementing innovative primary production processes, increasing the quality of products of animal origin, and improving the environmental sustainability of production and animal welfare. In the aquaculture sector, the main or emerging aquatic species
marine/freshwater of commercial interest are considered, with reference to innovative and sustainable breeding techniques, development of feed and food strategies according to the principles of green and circular economy, reproduction techniques, improvement of animal welfare, product quality and safety.
Furthermore, the problems connected with the control of the quality and safety of products of animal origin are considered. Relevant issues are addressed in terms of process and food transformation innovation, also in relation to sustainability, as well as the validation of processes and food products of animal origin, focusing on the risk assessment of emerging and non-emerging microbiological and chemical hazards associated with the production and consumption of food of animal origin, their management and control along the entire food chain.

Curriculum 3: Animal Health

The topics covered concern infectious and non-infectious diseases that can affect pets and livestock, wild and synanthropic, including those that can involve humans.
The topics are explored starting from the study of the causes of diseases, whether they are transmissible pathogens (viruses, bacteria, prions, fungi and parasites) or other causes (pollutants, carcinogens, etc.), developing aspects relating to epidemiology, pathogenesis, macroscopic and histological aspects, diagnosis, therapy, prophylaxis and disease control, with particular attention to the possible implications in Public Health in a "One Health" perspective.

Curriculum 4: Clinical Sciences

The research topics concern veterinary internal medicine, reproduction, surgery, pharmacology and toxicology.
In the internal medicine field, the topics are focused on internal medicine, emergency medicine, clinical pathology and diagnostic imaging with reference to diagnosis, therapy and prognosis of diseases of veterinary interest. In particular: endocrinology, oncology, neurology, cardiology, nephro-urology, gastroenterology, hematology, infectious diseases, management of sepsis and healthcare associated infections.
The research topics related to reproduction are focused on the diagnosis and treatment of reproductive pathologies, strategies for improving reproductive efficiency and biodiversity in species of veterinary interest. In particular: pathophysiology, diagnostics, andrological, obstetric-gynecological clinic
and perinatology, medical and surgical therapy of the genital system and breast, study of the microbiota and antimicrobial resistance. Other topics are related to natural and artificial fertilization, gamete conservation, stem cell differentiation, embryo production and related transfer protocols.
The research topics related to surgery are focused on the diagnosis and treatment of oncological, orthopedic and neurological surgical diseases and the development of analgesic protocols for the management of chronic pain in order to improve the management and well-being of patients of all types of veterinary interest. In particular: pathophysiology of pain, advanced collateral diagnostics and treatment with innovative and minimally invasive surgical techniques.
The subjects of veterinary pharmacology and toxicology, closely related to the previous ones, are focused on the development and validation of analytical methods for the detection of drugs and toxicants in various animal matrices.

Appointed by RD n. 709/2023 Prot n. 149534 on Jun 02, 2023

Confirmed for Call for further PhD Positions
Rectoral Decree n. 1066/2023 Prot. n. 0226313 of 04/08/2023

* The following shall take part in the work of the Examination Board as expert members for positions linked to specific research topics:

• Paola Anfossi - Vetspin S.r.l.

• Silvano Natalini - APA-CT S.r.l

As required by the DM 226 of 12/14/2021, the course must provide the "skills necessary to carry out highly qualified research activities at universities, public or private entities, also for the purpose of accessing careers in public administrations and the integration of highly innovative professional paths". To this end, a structured teaching activity is provided, articulated on transversal themes, on specific themes and on transdisciplinary themes offered by the Department and by the University.
Furthermore, every year, meetings will be organized between doctoral students to encourage dialogue and critical comparison between peers, through the presentation of the project, the ongoing results, the difficulties encountered, the relative solutions, the experiences abroad and/or in industry.
The specific objectives differ according to the chosen curriculum and topic.

The PhD students, through the methodologies of the biomedical research applied to veterinary sciences, food safety and animal production, will conduct their research activity in the labs, the examination rooms and all the structures typical of the activity of a Vet (veterinary teaching hospital,  dairy farm, National Institute for Artificial Insemination, slaughterhouse, labs and fishpond for Aquaculture and fish pathology located in Cesenatico, processing industries of animal origin food, etc.). All the students will allways closely operate with their supervisor and cosupervisor.

A teaching activity transversal to all curricula is provided over the three years of the course (8 CFU) and a specific activity for each curriculum carried out during the third year (1 CFU).
The transversal activity is mainly focused on fundamental issues for the planning of research activity (quality management system in research activity; animal welfare and ethics, use of animals for scientific and educational purposes; preparation of protocols for authorization requests for experiments that require the use of animals; study design; bioinformatics and statistics; validation of laboratory methods and application in experimental and/or clinical studies; competitive design and fundraising; scientific writing; antimicrobial resistance; research and innovation for the development of new therapies; postdoc research opportunities in Italy and abroad). Courses on safety in the medical-veterinary environment will also be activated. Scientific English courses will be activated in collaboration with the Centro Linguistico di Ateneo. Participation in other transdisciplinary teaching activities offered by the Department and the University is also advised.

Each PhD student should spend a period of training activity abroad, in Universities or research centers highly qualified.
The involvement of foreign teachers is already widely utilized. The PhD students have the possibility to work in European financed projects.
Agreements for awarding double doctoral degrees have bieen signed with the University of Litoral (Argentina) and the Univeristy of Mekelle (Ethiopia).

The research activity of the students should exit in publications in International journals, especially in those of highl level, in presentig papers at both International and National meetings and in documentation of clinical cases.
All published papers will be inserted in the IRIS system.
At least two publications indexed on ISI/SCOPUS/PUBMED are expected to be producet in order to be admitted to sit the final exam.