Objectives

The Programme aims at training doctors who are experts in clinical research, capable of designing, conducting and disseminating studies that tangibly improve the quality of care, emphasising the centrality of the individual and integrating the biomedical, psychological and social dimensions of care. 

At the end of the three-year course, students will be able to:

  • develop advanced methodological skills in clinical epidemiology, statistics, clinical studies and randomised trials, observational studies, qualitative research and mixed-methods approaches
  • integrate quantitative and qualitative approaches to analyse healthcare needs, outcomes and processes, translating the results into clinical and organisational practices
  • promote the ability to conduct translational research, facilitating the rapid application of laboratory findings to everyday clinical practice, with a direct impact on improving care
  • promote personalised care, taking into account patient preferences and values, precision medicine tools, and relational, personal, and social aspects
  • acquire cross-disciplinary skills in project management, scientific communication, research ethics, dissemination and exploitation of results
  • work in multidisciplinary and multicultural contexts, developing a solid network of national and international contacts

The PhD programme is supported by the Interdepartmental Centre for Medical Sciences CISMed.

The training programme draws on the multidisciplinary expertise of the course's teaching staff and the availability of the Centre's researchers and laboratories.

In addition to these objectives, the Course has further goals concerning internationalisation and links with the labour market, as described below.

Structure of the curriculum

The Programme in Human-centred Precision Medicine offers advanced training in clinical research, closely integrated with healthcare practice, with a person-centred approach focused on personalised care. The training programme was designed to meet a need that is still only partially satisfied in Italy: to train professionals who are increasingly strategic for innovation in the medical field, namely physician scientists, i.e. the medical researcher capable of synergistically integrating clinical practice and scientific research. This figure will be able to design, develop and conduct relevant, rigorous and transferable research projects with a concrete impact on improving the quality of care. 

The programme highlights the multidisciplinary nature of the Centre for Medical Sciences (CISMed), which integrates expertise from: 

  • Medical disciplines: internal medicine, geriatrics, medical oncology, gastroenterology, infectious diseases, neurology, nephrology, rheumatology, paediatrics, psychiatry, physical medicine and rehabilitation; 
  • Surgical disciplines: general surgery, cardiac surgery, maxillofacial surgery, neurosurgery, vascular surgery, otolaryngology, urology, gynaecology, musculoskeletal disorders; 
  • Service disciplines: anaesthesia and resuscitation, diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy, neuroradiology, laboratory medicine, pathological anatomy, hygiene and public health.

Research represents the field in which these skills are integrated, including through the sharing of infrastructure, equipment and highly specialised human resources. 

The curriculum includes advanced methodological courses in clinical studies and trials, clinical epidemiology, applied statistics, qualitative and mixed-methods research, health technology assessment, and evidence-based medicine. In addition, topics such as narrative medicine, research ethics, co-production and active involvement of users and caregivers in study processes, as well as translational research, will be explored in depth, with courses dedicated to the integration of data and evidence from the laboratory to clinical practice, in order to facilitate the concrete translation of scientific results into patient care. The training will be complemented by interdisciplinary modules that integrate biomedical, psychological, social and computational skills. 

Educational activities will include lectures, thematic seminars with national and international experts, methodological workshops, laboratory activities and field research, with a specific focus on the translation of results into clinical practice. Ample space will be devoted to the acquisition of transversal skills, such as project management, scientific communication, dissemination of results, leadership and working in interdisciplinary teams. 

The PhD programme promotes an international environment: the official language of the course is English, but since most of the research activities will take place within the clinical facilities of the Trentino Integrated University Health Authority (ASUIT), adequate knowledge of Italian will be necessary to interact effectively with healthcare personnel, patients and their families. This dual language proficiency will facilitate participation in international networks and projects and integration into the Italian healthcare system. 

The programme will be developed in close collaboration with the National Health Service and with European and global research networks, offering doctoral students opportunities for mobility, joint supervision of theses and participation in projects funded by programmes such as Horizon Europe and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. The combined use of quantitative and qualitative methodologies, the patient-centred approach and the focus on clinical practice are the distinctive features of this training programme. 

Activities timing

The academic year always begins on 1 November.

Educational activities take place from November to June and are concentrated during the 1st and 2nd years of the course.

The period of research abroad takes place between the 2nd (recommended) and 3rd years of the Programme.

By the end of September each year, the Doctoral Programme Committee assesses students' progress for the year.

At the end of the third year, procedures are carried out for admission to external thesis review.

Labour market opportunities

The PhD Programme forms an integral part of the third-cycle educational provision of the University of Trento.

Graduates who have completed the Programme may go on to hold a variety of roles. Please refer to the section on career opportunities for further information.

In addition to periods of research activity at institutes abroad, all our doctoral candidates have the opportunity to carry out research activities at healthcare facilities or research institutions located in Italy, particularly at the integrated healthcare Authority of Trentino (ASUIT).

Clinical and healthcare activities

Doctoral students enrolled in the Doctoral Programme in Human-centred Precision Medicine may carry out clinical and healthcare activities within healthcare facilities accredited by ASUIT or other National Health Service bodies, in agreement with the University of Trento, if consistent with their research project.

The performance of clinical and healthcare activities is subject to prior authorisation by the Doctoral Programme Committee, which assesses their consistency with the training programme and individual research plan; a favourable opinion from the host healthcare facility, which guarantees the necessary organisational and insurance conditions; possession of a licence to practise medicine and the relevant insurance cover for third-party and professional liability.

Clinical and healthcare activities must be an integral part of the training programme and functional to the doctoral student's research project. The Doctoral Programme Committee, in agreement with the healthcare facility, defines the methods of implementation, duration and procedures for verifying the activities carried out.

Resources

To support the achievement of these objectives, the Doctoral Programme provides a range of dedicated academic and research resources. The main ones include:

  • Programme-specific courses The teaching offer is defined annually and published in the official Study Programme Catalogue.
  • Facilities and individual workstations The Centre is equipped with computer laboratories featuring PCs, wireless internet access and technical support from specialised staff. Videoconferencing facilities are available via multimedia workstations. Structured teaching activities take place at the Centre’s premises (lecture rooms with a maximum capacity of 120 seats). Research activities will be carried out at ASUIT or UNITN facilities, depending on the topic and the supervisor's location.
  • Seminars and colloquia Organised by the Doctoral Programme, the Centre, or other departments and structures within the University of Trento.
  • Laboratories and research equipment Doctoral candidates have access to the laboratories and research facilities of CISMed and partner universities, with support from technical staff. All computer rooms and laboratory workstations are equipped with standard software (MS Office, Matlab, R, etc.). Additional software required for institutional courses is installed upon request. The IT support service installs operating systems and necessary software (MS Office, Matlab, R, etc.) on personal workstations. 
  • Mobility and research funding All students are entitled to a 50% scholarship increase for the duration of their research period abroad. In addition, each student is allocated an annual research budget (equal to 10% of the doctoral scholarship) to support participation in conferences, workshops, and the purchase of research materials.
  • Library and bibliographic resources Doctoral candidates have full access to the University Library System, which is part of the Trentino Library System (CBT). Libraries are located at the Central Campus and at the Mesiano, Povo and Rovereto campuses. The Fondazione Mach library is also accessible. The Journals Catalogue allows searches across all print and electronic journals covering the University’s research areas. The Library System provides access to approximately 130 bibliographic databases and electronic resources. It offers extended opening hours, 1,558 study spaces and dedicated facilities for users with special needs. Services include print and digital consultation, national and international interlibrary loan, reference and user training, and reprographic services.
  • Language courses Doctoral candidates have access to all resources and courses offered by the University Language Centre.