Program Overview

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Program Overview

The program in Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of cellular damage and defense. The course aims to equip students with the knowledge necessary to interpret the basic molecular, genetic, and cellular mechanisms of damage and response.

Objectives and Contents

Educational Objectives

The program seeks to provide students with a solid foundation in the principles of pathology, immunology, and laboratory medicine. The course covers various topics, including:

• Cellular homeostasis and damage
• Response to damage, including inflammation and immune response
• Principles of immunology, including innate and adaptive immunity
• Pathologies of the immune system, including hypersensitivity and immunodeficiency

Detailed Objectives and Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

• Understand the causes and mechanisms of cellular damage
• Recognize the characteristics and indicators of inflammatory and immune responses
• Comprehend the benefits and potential negative effects of immune responses
• Appreciate the existence of common human pathologies, such as atherosclerosis, and innovative therapeutic techniques, such as bone marrow transplantation

Prerequisites

Students are expected to have prior knowledge of:

• Cytology
• Histology
• Physiology
• Biochemistry
• Molecular biology
• Developmental biology

Teaching Methods

The course is delivered through lectures with the aid of screen presentations. Teaching materials are available in PDF format on the university's online platform, allowing students to learn and deepen their understanding of the course topics.

Program Content

The program covers the following topics:

• Biological homeostasis: health, disease, and injury
• Cellular response to damage: reversible and irreversible damage, adaptation, and cell death
• Principles of radical pathology: reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, biological actions, and involvement in cellular damage
• Innate immunity: cells and molecules, local and systemic inflammation
• Adaptive immunity: generation, education, and functions of B and T lymphocytes
• Pathologies of the immune system: hypersensitivity, immunodeficiency, and autoimmunity
• Hemopoiesis, hematopoietic stem cells, and bone marrow transplantation
• Atherosclerosis and its relation to ischemic heart disease

Texts and Bibliography

Recommended texts include:

• Robbins and Cotran: Pathologic Basis of Disease (Elsevier)
• Abbas and Lichtman: Cellular and Molecular Immunology (Elsevier)

Instructors and Examination Board

The course is taught by:

• Stefania Vernazza
• Gabriella Pietra

The examination board consists of:

• Gabriella Pietra (President)
• Stefania Vernazza (President)

Lessons and Exams

Lesson Schedule

Lessons begin in the second semester.

Exam Modalities

The final exam aims to assess the student's achievement of the course's educational objectives. Exams are conducted orally, in person, by two instructors for each student. The grade is assigned as a weighted average.

Assessment Methods

The learning assessment is conducted through a final exam that aims to verify the student's acquisition of the expected learning outcomes. To pass the exam with a grade of at least 18/30, students must demonstrate their knowledge and ability to connect the topics covered during the course.

The final grade is based on:

• Ability to treat topics in a transversal and critical manner
• Correctness, clarity, synthesis, and fluidity of exposition
• Mastery of the subject matter
• Use of appropriate terminology

A grade of 30/30 with honors is conferred when the student's knowledge and competencies in the subject matter are excellent.

Additional Information

Attendance at lessons allows students to better learn the course contents, as instructors provide detailed explanations and frame topics with references to the most current discoveries in the field. Teaching materials are available online.

Students with certified disabilities or special educational needs can agree on didactic modalities with the instructor, including written or oral exams, and can benefit from additional time (30% more) to complete the exam.