Arterial Hypertension (AH) is the major cardiovascular risk factor in industrialized countries, showing very high prevalence, between 25%-38% of adult subjects in Italy and Europe. Through its complications (myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure and kidney failure), AH is the leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity and premature mortality and disability.
Nevertheless, worldwide the effective management of AH is very disappointing mainly because of the inadequate knowledge of AH as specific illness in the population and the still limited knowledge of the pathogenetic mechanisms. In addition, of course the lack of professionals with specific expertise in the field of AH and Vascular Biology, deriving from the absence, especially in Europe, of post-graduate specialized training programs in this area. This results in a severe shortage of doctors and researchers with specific skills that may find use in both clinical and industry in this area.
In order to overcome these deficiencies and contribute to solving this critical shortage, that claims many victims, it is proposed to set up the International PhD Course in Arterial Hypertension and Vascular Biology (ARHYVAB). ARHYVAB will merge in a large and well-established international research network, the existence of which is evidenced by the publications of the School faculty within several leading research groups in Europe and in the world in the field of Hypertension and Vascular Biology . Moreover, this Course will fully integrate in the research of the Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, which has a long tradition of excellence in the field of Hypertension Research.
L 'ARHYVAB aims to train highly qualified professionals with a degree awarded jointly by the Chancellors of several Universities-Partners. In particular, ARHYVAB aims at training two professional types:
A) Clinician Researchers (Clinician-scientists) with skills to allow its use in academic and pharmaceutical industry background, in the planning, organizing, conducting clinical trials on hypertension blood and dissemination to the public of their results through conferences and publications.
B) Experimental Researchers that they can find a place in academia and in the pharmaceutical industry, in Italy and abroad, in the field of the researchers on pathophysiology, cellular mechanisms, molecular and genetic basis of the Arterial Hypertension and its complications.
These objectives will be reached through daily participation, direct, active, and motivated to the research of internationally known groups in the field of Vascular Biology and Hypertension, within the Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties of our university, as well as in the departments of the Graduate Faculty and Departments of the University partners. These research groups, themselves integrated in university research groups are able to provide students of ARHYAVB the possibility of multiple interactions in the context of these collaborations.
Given the above, the objectives are to provide:
1. Skills that allow to plan, conduct and analyze researches in clinical and experimental level in the field of 'Hypertension and Vascular Biology.
2. Skills in the field of Molecular Genetics and pharmacogenomics of AH, a field of research that, by its nature, implies the need for integration of efforts and resources at European level.
3. Knowledge suitable for the insertion in research groups in the field of Cardiovascular Pharmacology, both academic and pharmaceutical industry, particularly as regards the preclinical and clinical development of new drug entities.
4. Ability to plan and conduct clinical trials in the field of hypertension.
The PhD program will provide over the 3 years, a multidisciplinary training with skills which will allow the immediate integration of PhD students in highly specialized research groups.
Employment and career opportunities provided
It is expected that the PhDs graduates jointly with partner universities is applied in the academic field, in highly specialized hospitals, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry. Our experience in similar international joint doctorate with the University of Berlin and Gdansk showed unequivocally the opportunity to achieve these objectives.
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