ACTIVITIES IN THE PHARMACOLOGICAL FIELD

Course objectives

Students have 3 CFU for internship activities, which can be carried out in different fields, The aim is to offer students the opportunity for practical experience which will facilitate the acquisition of additional theoretical and practical knowledge and specific methodologies. The pharmacological activity will be based on lectures, laboratory exercises and work in small groups. In particular, students will learn theoretical and practical notions on several selected pharmacological experimental techniques. General objectives The general objective of pharmacological activities is to provide students with the opportunity to acquire theoretical and practical knowledge relating to the experimental activities addressed. Specific objectives 1. Student knowledge and understanding The specific objective of the internship is to provide the student, through lectures, laboratory exercises and work in small groups, knowledge of the theoretical bases and understanding of the application of experimental techniques in the field of pharmacology. 2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding The frequency and activity carried out under the supervision of the teacher gives the student the opportunity to apply or see applied specific methodologies previously introduced theoretically aimed at scientific problem solving. 3. Critical and judgement skills (lab tests, written reports, etc.) and 4. Ability to communicate what you have learned Critical judgement and ability to communicate during the internship is verified by the evaluation of a report organized according to the guidelines provided by the coordinating teacher who evaluates it. 5. Ability to continue studying independently The useful attendance of activities offered within the course provides the student of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology with both basic theoretical knowledge and applicability of experimental techniques in different fields, as well as the critical capacity to assess their scientific impact. The course thus provides useful skills for the independent continuation in the study of the student of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology who approaches the development of an experimental thesis.

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LUCIANO SASO Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
Programme Isolated organ. They will observe the preparation of human colon "strips" oriented in a circular direction, their placement in thermostatic chambers immersed in Krebs solution and their connection to isotonic transducers. Then follow the development of the experiment and I will show the execution of a concentration-response curve for the effects of inhibition of colic contraction induced by activation of postganglionic parasympathetic neurons by an agonist on alfa2-receptorsadrenergic. Endocrine Disruptors. Identification and characterization of adverse effects of food and environmental contaminants, in particular endocrine disruptors, through different approaches (epidemiological, in vivo and in vitro). In order to characterise adverse effects on the central nervous system, metabolism and hormone synthesis, in vitro studies employ cell models of target organs, both human and murine, such as immortalised mouse hypothalamic cells, immortalised human liver cells or human adrenal tumour cells. Following treatment at dose levels relevant to human exposure, cells are analysed for a range of functional, genetic and/or protein markers in order to characterize the adverse effects caused by the test substances. Histopathological analysis (fixation, inclusion, cutting, staining and optical microscopy) of animal tissues to assess the potential damage induced by the substance on organs and tissues Treatment of cell lines with chemicals (for example contaminants, pesticides, etc.) Cytotoxicity tests Evaluation of DNA damage by Comet assay. Theoretical background on animal testing and the study of the behaviour of small rodents. The first section explores the important ethical perspective of 3R (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) in the context of animal testing. This in-depth study not only provides a more detailed understanding of the principles that guide research, but also offers an ethical reflection on strategies to minimise the impact on animal use. In the second part, students will be introduced to the basics of studying the behaviour of small rodents, a crucial aspect for understanding pharmacological effects. The section covers a detailed practical description (showing videos and apparatus) of tests aimed at assessing memory, anxiety, attention and other behavioural parameters. This hands-on approach enables students to acquire practical skills in designing and conducting behavioral experiments, a fundamental tool for the evaluation of pharmacological impacts in animal models. The integration of these two sections gives students a comprehensive perspective, linking ethical foundations to the practical practice of behavioural research. Stem cells. In-depth study of rare genetic diseases using the system of induced pluripotent stem cells derived from skin biopsies of patients, followed by functional morpho-functional characterisation studies of the cell type of interest (for example, neurons and cardiomyocytes). Patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells can be differentiated into cardiomyocytes or neurons in the laboratory by adding specific growth factors to culture media that induce their differentiation. The students will observe cells in culture under a microscope and follow experiments on the functional characterisation of neurons derived from de-differentiated skin cells.
Prerequisites
Include the exam in the Course exam list
Books
Students are supposed to gain lab experience - no specific course book is suggested for this course.
Frequency
Attendance is obligatory as per instructions shared with the students.
Exam mode
The proactive participation in the scheduled traineeship hours together with a written report on the activities carried out are subject to evaluation by the Teacher.
Lesson mode
Lab training in host labs / monographic courses on selected topics / remote lab / lab projects
  • Lesson codeAAF2525
  • Academic year2025/2026
  • CoursePharmaceutical Biotechnology
  • CurriculumSingle curriculum
  • Year1st year
  • Semester2nd semester
  • CFU3