The Ph.D. program will be developed through various curricular profiles:
1) The curriculum in Psychiatry, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Neuroradiology, and Neuropsychiatric Rehabilitation entails the interdisciplinary study of neurobiological and mental processes underlying the main brain (cognition, consciousness, memory, thinking, and learning) e psychological (affectivity, empathy) functions and their behavioural consequences. This will be the object of studies and analyses in the light of the most recent knowledge of neuroplasticity and its applications in neuropsychiatry. Specifically, every Ph.D. student will use the methods of his/her scientific discipline, integrating them with the diagnostic and research tools of other branches. Independently from individual specialties, such curriculum aims to train researchers so they will be able to face the current needs of neuropsychiatric disciplines in various strategic areas. The integration of knowledge and skills in the neurosciences, neuroradiology, genetics, neurological e psychiatric clinical practice and rehabilitation, psychometrics, psychopharmacology and molecular biology will be the central and founding element of the current curriculum. This extends to the other two curricula.
2) The Audio-Ophthalmological curriculum implies the interdisciplinary study of neurobiological processes that underlie the main functions related to the audio-vestibular apparatus on one hand, and of the visual on the other. The study will benefit of the modern knowledge on neuroplasticity of these systems in the frame of the development of the auditory system and the modifications that functional restoring interventions possibly enact at the brain level, as at the vestibular system, following acute and chronic deficits of the sensory structures dedicated to balance maintenance. Regarding the visual apparatus, problems related to conditions that potentially lead to blindness will be particularly worked through, for example glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration.
3) Plastic/Skin/Reconstructive Microsurgery. Through a interdisciplinary approach, this curriculum will be directed at studying skin structure and ultrastructure and its neurosensory receptors, as well as the neurobiological processes that underlie mechanoreceptive tactile, thermic, pain, and erogenous sensibility. Particular attention will be dedicated to the study of degenerative, postoperative, and posttraumatic sensitivity defects. This will be addressed in conformity to an updated scientific literature and to the latest acquisitions in the field of cutaneous and mucosal sensitivity.
For all curricula, Ph.D. students will be able to rely on the already existing relationships with the University of South Florida, the University Hospital of Zurich, the University of Novi Sad Clinical Center of Vojvodina or they might establish relationships with other structures endowed with high scientific and technical means, where Ph.D. students will be able to spend a period on leave of absence from the originator of the Ph.D. curriculum (NESMOS). The PLANS Ph.D. curricula will be open to exchange Ph.D. candidates with the above and other universities and PLANS Ph.D. students will be encouraged to go abroad in the context of such exchange.