PhD in Molecular, Experimental and Computational Medicine (MECM)

Places 8
Duration 3 Years
Language English

The PhD Programme in Molecular, Experimental and Computational Medicine (MECM), developed by °µÍø½ûÇø University in collaboration with IRCCS Istituto Clinico °µÍø½ûÇø, offers advanced interdisciplinary training in molecular medicine, translational research, and data science.

Combining theoretical education with hands-on experience, the programme prepares students to tackle biomedical challenges through innovation, precision medicine, and the integration of research and clinical practice.


Programme Overview

The PhD program, developed in collaboration with IRCCS °µÍø½ûÇø, offers top-tier interdisciplinary training across various fields of life sciences and molecular medicine. It combines theoretical knowledge and practical experience in a highly stimulating environment. Students have access to cutting-edge technologies and real clinical cases, with the goal of deepening their understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying diseases, developing innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, and promoting translational research and the practical application of acquired knowledge.

The program includes specific training in biomedical technologies for big data analysis, with a focus on omics techniques (genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, lipidomics, radiomics), systems biology approaches, imaging and flow cytometry methods, and the analysis of data from electronic health records. These tools equip students with key competencies for integrated analysis of complex datasets, which are essential to address the challenges of modern medicine.

The program’s approach is designed to provide advanced and comprehensive education in experimental and computational medicine, preparing PhD students to become leaders in biomedical research, capable of tackling pressing healthcare challenges through scientific innovation and precision medicine.

The PhD program is conducted in a highly stimulating environment that fosters interaction among different scientific disciplines and encourages international collaboration. Students have the opportunity to engage with world-renowned experts and researchers, participate in multidisciplinary projects, and develop strong scientific independence. The emphasis on hands-on experience, combined with ongoing research innovation, allows students to acquire essential skills to face the challenges of a constantly evolving scientific landscape.

Three different curricula are available, candidates are required to specify their curriculum preferences when applying:


1. MECM Standard

The experimental PhD track is designed to train highly qualified researchers in biological sciences and medicine, with a strong focus on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying diseases and developing innovative therapeutic strategies. This curriculum adopts a multidisciplinary approach, integrating genetics, biochemistry, and pharmacology, and leverages cutting-edge technologies such as genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, systems biology, and molecular imaging. Doctoral candidates will work in state-of-the-art laboratories, where they will develop experimental skills with a particular emphasis on translational research, aiming to accelerate the application of scientific discoveries to diagnosis and treatment. Students are immersed in a highly stimulating environment that promotes both research autonomy and collaboration with fellow researchers and healthcare professionals, applying theoretical knowledge to real experimental and clinical contexts.


2. MECM Clinical

The MECM-Clinical track is designed to integrate experimental research (such as cellular and molecular biology, informatics, and the use of preclinical models for translational studies) with direct clinical practice, including patient enrollment and evaluation in dedicated studies. The program combines hands-on hospital experience under the supervision of a physician with at least 24 hours per week of experimental research in the laboratory. PhD candidates will be directly responsible for managing research projects approved by their clinical and/or laboratory supervisors. This interdisciplinary approach enables students to develop advanced skills in both scientific research and clinical practice, with the goal of rapidly translating discoveries into diagnostic and therapeutic innovations.


3. MECM Data Science

The Data Science track is designed to synergistically integrate experimental research—both basic and clinical—with the advanced competencies of a data scientist. Its main objective is to provide students with comprehensive training in the analysis and interpretation of data from multiple sources, including omics technologies, imaging, and flow cytometry. PhD candidates will develop cross-disciplinary skills ranging from statistics to bioinformatics, mastering advanced techniques for the analysis of large and complex datasets. They will gain experience in the use of bioinformatics tools and software, statistical methods for data processing, predictive and diagnostic modeling, and algorithm development for data management and interpretation. This training path prepares graduates to become experts in handling complex data, with direct impact on research, the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic tools, and the implementation of advanced clinical applications.

PhD Coordinator: Prof. Michela Matteoli

Michela Matteoli

Full Professor Pharmacology View Profile

Places available

8 places

The number of available places and/or scholarships may increase in the event that external funding becomes available by the deadline set for the completion of the call application procedure.

Language

English

Duration

3 years

Beginning of teaching activities

1st December 2025

Application deadline

17th July 2025

Contacts

For further information you can contact phd@hunimed.eu


Program Objectives

The main goal of the PhD program in MECM – Molecular, Experimental and Computational Medicine is to provide a solid foundational, methodological, and experimental training to researchers and medical professionals, preparing them to face scientific and clinical challenges in the complex and innovative fields of molecular medicine.

Training is offered in cross-cutting and multidisciplinary research areas, including oncology, immunology, cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and metabolic diseases, with a particular focus on advanced techniques in cell and molecular analysis, as well as personalized medicine.

The program is structured into three distinct tracks (standard, clinical, and Data Science), designed to strengthen the connections and interdependence between basic science and applied disciplines. This integrated approach promotes a fast and continuous flow of knowledge transfer from basic research to clinical practice, accelerating the adoption of scientific innovations. In doing so, the program contributes to the development of cutting-edge diagnostic and therapeutic applications in medicine, with a tangible and direct impact on patient health and clinical practices.

Through this integrated and multidisciplinary model, the MECM PhD program aims to train highly specialized professionals capable of making significant contributions to the advancement of molecular and experimental medicine, with a direct impact on clinical practice and biomedical research on a global scale.


Career Opportunities

Graduates of the three-year PhD program are equipped for a wide range of career paths, aligned with the program’s educational goals. Thanks to the comprehensive training provided, PhD holders can pursue careers in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and health-tech companies, contributing to the development of new technologies and innovative healthcare solutions.

PhD graduates can also support the growth of clinical research groups, participate in translational research projects, and help bridge the gap between basic science and biomedicine, thus fostering the creation of new and advanced diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Moreover, academic careers are a viable option, both in universities and non-academic research institutions, allowing graduates to continue in fundamental and applied research while contributing to the training of future generations of scientists.

The translational education received—blending theoretical knowledge with practical applications—makes MECM PhD graduates highly competitive for leadership roles in diverse scientific and professional fields, enabling them to directly influence the evolution of medicine and healthcare on a global scale.


Didactic Activities

The PhD course in Molecular, Experimental and Computational Medicine is articulated into three main types of didactic activities:

  • Research activities

Every student is assigned a research topic under the supervision of a Supervisor; the research activity in the laboratory is a full-time activity

  • Mandatory activities

Seminar series (Journal Club on a specific topic between the speaker and the PhD students followed by a public seminar on the same topic)

  • Elective activities

Seminars and courses, offered by the °µÍø½ûÇø University and °µÍø½ûÇø Research Labs, which the PhD students can freely join according to their research field and interests.

  • Other didactic activities

Linguistics, Research management and funding, Intellectual property are the main topics.


Admission Requirements

MECM Curriculum Standard and Data Science

Applicants wishing to enrol on the PhD course in Molecular Experimental and Computational Medicine, MECM Curriculum must either have a “laurea magistrale†awarded in accordance with D.M. 270/2004 or equivalent qualification awarded by a foreign university (usually referred to as a Master’s Degree), in one of the subjects listed in the official Call for Applicants.

Applicants who are waiting to be awarded the required qualification at the date of submission can also take part in the selection process providing they have passed all of the Degree course exams at the time of the online application and are awarded the qualification before the beginning of the academic activities. In the event these applicants pass the selection process, their enrolment on the PhD course is conditional upon providing proof that the qualification is awarded.

MECM-Clinical Curriculum

Applicants wishing to enrol on the PhD Course in Molecular Experimental and Computational Medicine, MECM -Clinical Curriculum must:

  • be enrolled on the Medical Register
  • already possess a specialist medical qualification

Alternatively, applications will also be taken from doctors in specialist training who will enrol in the final year in a School of Specialisation at °µÍø½ûÇø University.


Fees and Scholarships

PhD students are required to pay an annual fee for access and attendance, set at â‚¬250,00&²Ô²ú²õ±è;for the academic year 2025/2026, including the regional tax and stamp duty.

Detailed information about each topic’s scholarship or equivalent contract can be found in the research topics table below, by clicking on each topic ID.


How to Apply

  • Registration or access with your LOGINMIUR credentials
  • Application form submission
  • Payment of the application contribution

The application form must be completed in all its parts, on penalty of exclusion. In particular, applicants must submit all of the following documents in PDF format:

  1. Curriculum vitae
  2. Motivation letter
  3. Copy of a valid ID or passport (for Non-EU citizens)
  4. Diploma Supplement
  5. Copy of the receipt of payment of € 30,00

Additionally, applicants may indicate name and contacts of maximum two referees, preferably chosen among those who have had a supervising role of the candidates. The referees will be directly contacted by °µÍø½ûÇø University and asked to complete a brief letter of reference, which should be sent by 17th July 2025, 1:00 PM. 

Further details about the application procedure will be reported in the official call for applicants.


Admission process

Admission to the PhD Programme is based on a public selection process consisting of:

  • the comparative evaluation of the titles and qualifications and
  • an interview carried out in English by a Committee composed of a maximum of seven members.

The aim of the selection process is to assess the knowledge, competencies and aptitude of the applicants for scientific research as well as their motivation for undertaking the PhD programme.

A good knowledge of English is required and will be tested during the interview.

Should reasons justify it, the test and interview can be conducted via video-conference. Those who intend to conduct the interview via video-conference or request special assistance should specify this on the application form.


Academic Board

PhD Coordinator: Prof. Matteoli Michela

NamePrincipal AffiliationDepartmentE-mail
Absinta Martina°µÍø½ûÇø UniversityBiomedical Sciencesmartina.absinta@hunimed.eu
Asselta Rosanna°µÍø½ûÇø UniversityBiomedical Sciencesrosanna.asselta@hunimed.eu
Bonecchi Raffaella°µÍø½ûÇø UniversityBiomedical Sciencesraffaella.bonecchi@hunimed.eu
Costanzo Antonio°µÍø½ûÇø UniversityBiomedical Sciencesantonio.costanzo@hunimed.eu
Di Mitri Diletta°µÍø½ûÇø UniversityBiomedical Sciencesdiletta.di_mitri@hunimed.eu
Di Tommaso Luca°µÍø½ûÇø UniversityBiomedical Sciencesluca.di_tommaso@hunimed.eu
Garlanda Cecilia°µÍø½ûÇø UniversityBiomedical Sciencescecilia.garlanda@hunimed.eu
Greco Carolina°µÍø½ûÇø UniversityBiomedical Sciencescarolina.greco@hunimed.eu
Inforzato Antonio°µÍø½ûÇø UniversityBiomedical Sciencesantonio.inforzato@hunimed.eu
Jaillon Sèbastien°µÍø½ûÇø UniversityBiomedical Sciencessebastien.jaillon@hunimed.eu
Kallikourdis Marinos°µÍø½ûÇø UniversityBiomedical Sciencesmarinos.kallikourdis@hunimed.eu
Kon Elizaveta°µÍø½ûÇø UniversityBiomedical Scienceselizaveta.kon@humanitas.it
Leonzino MariannaItalian National Council for ResearchPharmacology and Brain Pathology Labmarianna.leonzino@humanitasresearch.it
Lodato Simona°µÍø½ûÇø UniversityBiomedical Sciencessimona.lodato@hunimed.eu
Lugli EnricoIRCCS °µÍø½ûÇø Research HospitalBiomedical Sciencesenrico.lugli@humanitasresearch.it
Matteoli Michela°µÍø½ûÇø UniversityBiomedical Sciencesmichela.matteoli@hunimed.eu
Menna ElisabettaItalian National Council for ResearchPharmacology and Brain Pathology Labelisabetta.menna@humanitasresearch.it
Ng Kiu Yan Charlotte°µÍø½ûÇø UniversityBiomedical Scienceskiu.ng@hunimed.eu
Politi Letterio Salvatore°µÍø½ûÇø UniversityBiomedical Sciencesletterio.politi@hunimed.eu
Pozzi Davide°µÍø½ûÇø UniversityBiomedical Sciencesdavide.pozzi@hunimed.eu
Rescigno Maria°µÍø½ûÇø UniversityBiomedical Sciencesmaria.rescigno@hunimed.eu
Simonelli Matteo°µÍø½ûÇø UniversityBiomedical Sciencesmatteo.simonelli@hunimed.eu
Soldà Giulia Maria Emilia Antonietta°µÍø½ûÇø UniversityBiomedical Sciencesgiulia.solda@hunimed.eu
Spinelli Antonino°µÍø½ûÇø UniversityBiomedical Sciencesantonino.spinelli@hunimed.eu
Stefanini Giulio Giuseppe°µÍø½ûÇø UniversityBiomedical Sciencesgiulio.stefanini@hunimed.eu
Terracciano Luigi Maria°µÍø½ûÇø UniversityBiomedical Sciencesluigi.terracciano@hunimed.eu
Vetrano Stefania°µÍø½ûÇø UniversityBiomedical Sciencesstefania.vetrano@hunimed.eu

Research Topics a.y. 2025/2026

TOPICCURRICULUMRESEARCH SUPERVISOR LABORATORY NAMEPROJECT TITLE
MECM 1StandardEduardo BonavitaCellular and Molecular OncoimmunologyInvestigating cholesterol metabolism in cancer and its impact on the tumor microenvironment and dendritic cell function
MECM3StandardCecilia GarlandaLaboratory of Experimental ImmunopathologyRole of IL-1R2 in myeloid cells in cancer
MECM4StandardMarianna LeonzinoLab 35 – Building ERole of membrane contact sites in movement disorders
MECM5StandardMichela MatteoliPharmacology and brain pathologyInvestigating the gender-based molecular mechanisms underlying synaptic refinement in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders.
MECM6StandardJaillon SebastienInnate immunity in inflammation and cancerUnveiling the dynamics of neutrophil recruitment and heterogeneity in cancer
MECM7StandardJaillon SebastienInnate immunity in inflammation and cancerTargeting immunosuppressive neutrophil subsets in cancer
MECM8Data ScienceDiletta Di MitriTumor Microenvironment Unit, °µÍø½ûÇø UniversityBioinformatic approaches to analyze the tumor microenvironment and identify mechanisms of therapeutic resistance in cancer
MECM9StandardDiletta Di MitriTumor Microenvironment Unit, °µÍø½ûÇø UniversityIdentification of prognostic and predictive biomarkers of therapeutic response in cancer
MECM11StandardEnrico LugliLab of Translational ImmunologyT cell intrinsic regulation of genome integrity in cancer immunology and immunotherapy
MECM12StandardMatteo Della PortaGenomics of Hematological Malignances LabA longitudinal single-cell multi-omic approach to define the mechanisms of disease progression in patients with TP53-mutated MDS
MECM13StandardRaffaella BonecchiChemokine biology labDissection of neutrophils heterogeneity in glioblastoma
MECM15Data ScienceMarta ScorsettiPietro MancosuClinical unit: Radiotherapy and RadiosurgeryPhoton-Counting CT in Personalized Radiotherapy: Imaging Protocol Optimization and Spectral Modeling
MECM16StandardMaria RescignoMucosal immunology and microbiota LabEvaluating the Impact of Proton Pump Inhibitors and mucosal protecting natural derived compound on Immune Checkpoint Blockade Efficacy
MECM17StandardMaria RescignoMucosal immunology and microbiota LabUnveiling the Impact of Intratumoral Microbiota on Soft Tissue Sarcoma Treatment: Challenges and Strategies to Enhance Chemotherapy Efficacy
MECM18StandardSimona LodatoDevelopmental neurobiology LabUnveiling the Neurobehavioral Implications of Inborn Error of Immunity Disorders: A Focus on WHIM Syndrome
MECM19StandardSimona LodatoDevelopmental neurobiology LabRole of CSF in Spontaneous Activity During Development: Cortical Research on Human 3D Models
MECM21StandardDi Pasquale Elisa
Condorelli Gianluigi
Cardiovascular Stem Cell Biology LabPrecision Human Organs-on-chip for Enhanced Neuro-muscular and Cardiac Studies (PHOENIX)
MECM22Data ScienceGabriele MicaliMicrobial Ecology LabMicrobial-Driven Bile Acid Modifications and Their Impact on Gut Ecology
MECM23Data ScienceGabriele MicaliMicrobial Ecology LabMicrobial-Driven Bile Acid Modifications and Their Impact on Gut Ecology
MECM25Data ScienceGabriele MicaliMicrobial Ecology LabMicrobial-Driven Bile Acid Modifications and Their Impact on Gut Ecology
MECM26StandardMaria RescignoMucosal immunologyAnalysis of drug effects on nasal tissue samples from healthy donors and Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP) patients
MECM27StandardGiulio StefaniniCardio CenterSGLT-2 inhibitors and coronary artery disease progression after an acute coronary syndrome in patients with diabetes mellitus
MECM28StandardRaffaella Bonecchi
Barbara Bottazzi
Chemokine biology labThe Role of Migration Stimulating Factor (MSF) in Neutrophil Infiltration in Pancreatic Cancer and Malignant Mesothelioma

See the life on campus

width=640
width=640
width=640
width=640