Laurea Magistrale (Second cycle degree/Two year Master - 120 ECTS) in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

The main objective of the International Master's Degree in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology is to train future pharmaceutical biotechnologists and to provide high levels of theoretical knowledge, technological and experimental expertise to design, conduct and manage research and development activities in biotechnologies applied to health, for the design, characterization, production, analysis and formulation of innovative and biotechnological drugs.
The course offers a preparation that allows students to coordinate projects of development and surveillance of biotechnologies applied to human health, with a special reference to the development of pharmacological products and vaccines, not only from a health point of view, but also at an administrative and managerial level, thanks to the economic and juridical competencies they acquire during their University Career.
The Course is divided into three thematic areas: Biotechnological Disciplines, Pharmaceutical Biotechnological Disciplines and Applied Biotechnological Competencies. For all these areas, the educational path is articulated in theoretical and theoretical-practical courses, which have compulsory attendance. During the courses students:
• Examine cellular systems' genetic and biochemical aspects in depth;
• Analyze the structure, functions and interactions of biological macromolecules, as well as the organization of the related cellular processes;
• Study the cellular and molecular mechanisms of pathological processes, including those deriving from the interaction with viruses and microorganisms;
• Use the main methodologies related to molecular and cellular biotechnologies for the design and production of biopharmaceuticals, vaccines and diagnostics;
• Use the chemical and computational methodologies to identify therapeutic agents and specific technologies related to molecular modelling, design and formulation of innovative drugs;
• Analyze biopharmaceuticals, vaccines and diagnostics, particularly as far as their chemical, biological and pharmaco-toxicological aspects are concerned;
• Apply bioinformatics methodologies to identify and build databases, with special reference to genomics and proteomics and to acquire and divulgate scientific and technological information;
• Applies methodologies to develop molecular nanostructure for the analysis, monitoring and therapy of human pathologies, as well as for the nano-formulation of biotechnological pharmaceuticals;
• Learn the fundamental aspects of operation processes related to the industrial design of biotechnological products and formulation of biopharmaceuticals;
• Acquire the fundamental notions of economy, organization, creation and management of companies, innovation projects, marketing activities related to biotechnological pharmaceutical products;
• Know the national and European Union law concerning bioethics, intellectual property and security in the biotechnological field.

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Graduates in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology have:
- In-depth knowledge of genetic and biochemical aspects of cell systems;
- In-depth knowledge of the structure, functions and interactions of biological macromolecules and of the organization of the related cellular processes;
- In-depth knowledge of molecular and cellular mechanisms of pathological processes, including those deriving from the interaction with viruses and microorganisms;
- Knowledge and ability in the use of the main methodologies related to molecular and cellular biotechnologies for the planning and production of biopharmaceuticals, vaccines and diagnostics;
- Knowledge and ability in the use of chemical and computational methodologies to identify active molecules on therapeutically interesting molecular targets; knowledge of specific technologies for molecular modelling, planning and formulation of innovative pharmaceuticals;
- Competences in the analysis of biopharmaceuticals, vaccines and diagnostics, particularly as far as the chemical, biological, pharmacological and toxicological aspects are concerned;
- Knowledge and ability in the use of bioinformatics methodologies to identify and create data bases, with particular reference to genomics and proteomics, and for the acquisition and distribution of scientific and technological information;
- Knowledge and applied abilities on the methodologies for the development of molecular nanostructures for the analysis, monitoring and therapy in human pathologies, and for the nano-formulation of biotechnological pharmaceuticals;
- Knowledge of the fundamental aspects of operational processes following the industrial production of biotechnological products and the formulation of biopharmaceuticals;
- Basic knowledge of the economy, organization and creation/management of companies, the management of innovative projects and marketing activities of biotechnological pharmaceutical products;
- Knowledge of national and EU law concerning bioethics, intellectual property and security in the biotechnology field;

Knowledge and Understanding are acquired through lectures and single-position laboratories. The assessment of knowledge and understanding is carried out through written and/or oral tests, possibly with seminars based on individual critical readings of scientific articles.

APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Graduates in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology can:
- Apply the interdisciplinary knowledge and appropriate methodologies to face and solve scientific problems linked to the identification, characterization and implementation of innovative biotechnological drugs, both in the research&development and in the production field;
- Do genomics, proteomics and metabolomics analyses, aimed also at identifying new potential therapeutically interesting targets;
- Identify and plan composites for a molecular target through the use of computational techniques of molecular simulation;
- Apply the techniques of genic modification of organisms and microorganisms for the production of biological drugs and vaccines;
- Apply the accurate analytical techniques to evaluate the structure, activity and safety of biotechnological drugs;
- Plan and develop molecular biosensors, Nano-biomaterials, Nano-formulation vectors;
- Manage the operational processes related to the industrial production of biotechnological products and biopharmaceuticals;
- Work efficiently inside the sector's economic realities with reference to the organization, creation and management of biotechnological companies;
- Manage innovative projects and marketing activities of biotechnological pharmaceutical products, with particular reference to bioethical and juridical issues.

The ability of applying knowledge and understanding is acquired through the experience in single-position laboratories. The assessment of applying knowledge and understanding is carried out through written papers and a subsequent discussion of the laboratories experience.

MAKING JUDGEMENTS
Graduates in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology are:
- Able to work autonomously, taking the responsibility to carry out projects and structures management;
- Able to use scientific tools in the biotechnological field and to plan and organize laboratories activity using innovative techniques;
- Able to analyze, manage and distribute the data of experimental protocols and to analyze critically and solve scientific issues linked to biotechnologies;
- Able to interpret sources, experimental data and literature in the scientific field.
The ability of making judgements is acquired by students through the critical reading of scientific articles, and particularly through the internship and the thesis preparation. The assessment of students' ability of making judgements is carried out through seminars and the discussion of the final examination at the end of the Programme.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Graduates in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology: - Are able to interact efficiently with their collaborators in planning and applying experimental protocols;
- Possess relational and communication capabilities that allow them to work also in international contexts;
- Are able to draft technical and scientific reports and to produce contributions that can be published in highly important scientific papers;
- Are able to divulgate experimental results and their knowledge to a generic public.
Communication skills are acquired and assessed through seminars, the preparation of the final examination (periodical presentation and discussion of the results obtained), and the discussion of the final examination. English Language competences are acquired and assessed throughout the whole Programme, which uses English as its vehicular language.

LEARNING SKILLS
Graduates in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology:
- Are able to analyze competent complex cases in depth, also through constant updates deriving from the consultation and study of scientific literature;
- Are able to develop and deepen innovative techniques in the field of biotechnologies;
- Are able to work autonomously and to carry on in higher studies;
- Can access further studies (2nd level Professional Masters, PhD Programmes, Specialization Schools).
Learning Skills are acquired throughout the whole Programme, with particular reference to the activity carried out for the preparation of the final examination. Learning Skills are assessed through the assessment methods of each learning activity, as well as the evaluation of self-learning ability gained during the preparation of the final examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Graduates in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology have:
- In-depth knowledge of genetic and biochemical aspects of cell systems;
- In-depth knowledge of the structure, functions and interactions of biological macromolecules and of the organization of the related cellular processes;
- In-depth knowledge of molecular and cellular mechanisms of pathological processes, including those deriving from the interaction with viruses and microorganisms;
- Knowledge and ability in the use of the main methodologies related to molecular and cellular biotechnologies for the planning and production of biopharmaceuticals, vaccines and diagnostics;
- Knowledge and ability in the use of chemical and computational methodologies to identify active molecules on therapeutically interesting molecular targets; knowledge of specific technologies for molecular modelling, planning and formulation of innovative pharmaceuticals;
- Competences in the analysis of biopharmaceuticals, vaccines and diagnostics, particularly as far as the chemical, biological, pharmacological and toxicological aspects are concerned;
- Knowledge and ability in the use of bioinformatics methodologies to identify and create data bases, with particular reference to genomics and proteomics, and for the acquisition and distribution of scientific and technological information;
- Knowledge and applied abilities on the methodologies for the development of molecular nanostructures for the analysis, monitoring and therapy in human pathologies, and for the nano-formulation of biotechnological pharmaceuticals;
- Knowledge of the fundamental aspects of operational processes following the industrial production of biotechnological products and the formulation of biopharmaceuticals;
- Basic knowledge of the economy, organization and creation/management of companies, the management of innovative projects and marketing activities of biotechnological pharmaceutical products;
- Knowledge of national and EU law concerning bioethics, intellectual property and security in the biotechnology field;

Knowledge and Understanding are acquired through lectures and single-position laboratories. The assessment of knowledge and understanding is carried out through written and/or oral tests, possibly with seminars based on individual critical readings of scientific articles.