Medical biotechnology (course held in English)

The course is held in English.

The "Master Degree" provides a total of 120 credits, divided into two years of course.

The President of the Study Program Council is Prof.ssa Francesca Boccafoschi

Teaching location: Novara, Campus Perrone, via Perrone n. 18

Teaching and Student Services Office : Complesso Perrone Via Perrone 18, Novara

Head of Education: To be appointed

Manager of Teaching Offices: Martina Fortuna

Contacts:

The office provides support through UPO risponde .

To get information about the application send an email to: director.medicalbiotech@uniupo.it

Student Careers and Services Office: Complesso Perrone Via Perrone 18, Novara

Head of Line Department Careers and Services:  Luciano Pugliese

Head of Student Careers and Services Office: To be appointed

The office provides support through UPO risponde .

Attending the Medical Biotechnology Master Degree, you will receive solid up-to-date knowledge and an advanced “wet” & “dry” lab expertise in molecular biomedicine applied to the biological and genetic understanding of human diseases. Starting from academic year 2025-26, you will have the option to choose between 4 didactical curricula: i) Molecular Basis of Disease, covering pathogenesis, advanced diagnosis and design of innovative therapeutic strategies of human diseases;  ii) System Biomedicine, focusing on “big data” analysis in different “-omics” (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, clinical omics…) and their translational implications forbiomedicine; iii) Cellular Therapy, Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine focusing on the  knowledge of morphological sciences with particular reference to functional anatomy, of genetics, pharmacology, immunology of tissue and cell engineering, applied to hematology, orthopedics, dermatology and  about regenerative medicine , the regulatory aspects and processes of technology transfer; iiii) Project managing, clinical trials and technology transfer focusing on the computer science for the collection, management and analysis of big data and  the regulatory aspects and the processes of technology transfer. Through the internships offered by both curricula, you will become active part of a lab group involved in international research and have the opportunity to develop a thesis research program. The constant exposure to the English language and the multicultural enviroment will offer you the opportunity to gain excellent skills for biomedical communication at the international level.

• Up-to-date cultural, scientific and lab training with innovative methodologies and individualized mentoring
• Choice between two didactical curricula reflecting your learning priorities
• Internationalization in a friendly environment of students from many continents and diverse Italian universities
• Numerous options for International Mobility Programs (Erasmus, Free Mover)
• A plus when applying for International Phd Programs and job positions
• Mastering of the scientific English language

• Access to PhD and Post-doc positions in academic and research institutions
• Medical biotechnologist in academic and research institutions
• Biologist in the Health System and other medical and diagnostic facilities (after taking the license exam/”esame di stato”)
• Researcher and employee in Biotech and Pharmaceutical companies
• Data Manager and Study Coordinator in the field of clinical trials
• Clinical Trial Assistant in CROs (Contract Research Organization)

• Rules and structures

• 1° Year
• 2° Year

1ST YEAR

OFFICIAL CLASSES 

II SEMESTER

1) CURRICULUM A - THE MOLECULAR BASIS OF DISEASE

2) CURRICULUM B - SYSTEM BIOMEDICINE

3) CURRICULUM C - CELL THERAPY, TISSUE ENGINEERING AND REGENERATIVE MEDICINE

4) CURRICULUM D - PROJECT MANAGING, CLINICAL TRIALS AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

Important: The courses timetable may be subject to change, so it is recommended to check them regularly

2ND YEAR
II SEMESTER

OFFICIAL CLASSES

Important: The courses timetable may be subject to change, so it is recommended to check them regularly

1) CURRICULUM A - THE MOLECULAR BASIS OF DISEASE

2) CURRICULUM B - SYSTEM BIOMEDICINE

3) CURRICULUM C - CELL THERAPY, TISSUE ENGINEERING AND REGENERATIVE MEDICINE

The students have the opportunity to attend the tutoring classes for a support for the exams.
The tutoring classes will be held online

TUTORS and Courses​​​​​​

Tutoring schedule first semester

• How to apply
• The Master Degree in Medical Biotechnologies is an open access course. The procedure will be active from 14 July 2025 to 31 October 2025 without the need to request approval from the Head of Department and without the payment of any late fees.
• IMPORTANT! VISA DELAY and EDISU Scholarship

  In the event of a delay in the visa itself and subsequent delivery of the documentation after 22 September 2025, the student  may be included in the definitive rankings of 16 December 2025 and in the “single scrolling ranking for accommodation service” published on 16 December 2025, in order of ISEE Parificato, if they submit all consular documentation by 12 November 2025 and enrol in the University by 30 November 2025. For further details please check art. 31 of EDISU scholarship"  https://www.edisu.piemonte.it/sites/default/files/schede-informative-borse-e-contributi/documenti/Notice_of_competition_scholarship_accommodation_and_degree_award_a.y.2025.26.pdf

The elected student representatives  for the a.y. 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 are:

1. da eleggere
2. da eleggere
3. da eleggere

Use the service UPO Risponde.

• France: “Sophia Antipolis de Nice”(Nizza); 
• Germany: Marburg;  
• Portugal: Lisbona; 
• Spain: Valladolid, Tarragona, La Laguna (Tenerife); 
• Greece (Patras);
•  Poland (Wroclaw)

The Quality Assurance (QA) of a university is the system by which governing bodies carry out their policies for quality. This includes the actions of planning, implementation and monitoring necessary for the University activity to fulfil standards compliance.

The responsibility of guaranteeing quality standards lies with the Rector for the University, with the Manager for the Department and with the Chairman for the Course of Study.

Gruppo del Riesame _ Medical Biotechonologies

• Prof. ssa Francesca Boccafoschi (Presidente)
• Prof.ssa Sarah Cargnin
• Prof.re Andrea Cochis
• Dott.ssa Ilenia Karavelia (Rappresentante Studenti) fino all'a.a. 2024/2025
• Dott.ssa Francesca Parini (Rappresentante Studenti) fino all'a.a. 2024/2025

For further information refer to  sezione apposita

Definition

The purpose of the internship is to develop an original experimental research program, allowing the student to broaden the scientific knowledge and skills acquired during the theoretical courses. The final writing and presentation of the thesis will help students acquire skills in scientific dissemination in the field of medical biotechnology.

The internship is an educational experience that is an integral part of the degree program. It is also an important requirement for the degree as it ends with the writing of a master's degree thesis based on the research project agreed with the Academic Tutor.

The internship can be carried out, inside or outside the School of Medicine, in Italy or abroad.

Every year (in December) the 1st year students of Medical Biotechnologiesparticipate to the Projects Presentation Days. 

This event is aimed at helping the students to choose the laboratory for the internship.

The Professors of the different laboratories present their research projects to the students and communicate open slots for internship and thesis.

THESIS PROJECTS PRESENTATION DAYS A.Y. 2025/2026

INTERNSHIP APPLICATION PROCEDURE 

a) Internship in laboratories of the School of Medicine

Please check the list of the INTERNSHIP SEATS (update to November 2025)

How to proceed:

• Follow the lab activities presentations (1^st and 2^nd december 2025) and take note of the topics 
• Contact the professors whose projects are of interest for you
• The professors will plan the individual interviews and select the candidates
• The professors will comunicate the names of the recruited students filling a dedicated document (January 2026) and a intership positions consuntive document will be shared with the students and mentors .
• ATTENTION: There isn't any specific internship form that the students have to complete and sign with the mentor.
• In march/april a second recruitment round will be planned dedicated to the students not yet recruited   

The activities will begin when the recruitment procedure will be over and each professor will autonomously proceed with the internship activities.

Changes of the elective laboratory during the internship will not be allowed

b) Internship in companies or private laboratories outside the university

To apply, students must identify, together with the Tutor / Supervisor, the Laboratory in which it will be possible to develop the Thesis Project by following this procedure:

• Schedule a meeting with a Professor (Academic Tutor for Internship) for an evaluation of the type of company or other private laboratories outside the School of Medicine that might be a suitable option for the student;
• Fill in the mandatory  GOOGLE FORM .
• For further information  Please contact the Didactic Office through the service UPO RISPONDE (Upo Replies) https://www.uniupo.it/en/upo-replies

c) Internship or other research activities carried out within an International Mobility 

The students who will spend a period abroad for an internship or other activities within a thesis project are invited to fill in the following form in order to define a supervisor (professor) who will be the mentor of the thesis and for an approval of the Course Board (Consiglio di Corso di studi) before the mobility:

 International Mobility- Internship Request Form (Medical Biotechnology): https://forms.gle/AA7pLuf6Drx4FDg56

Definition

The Master Degree in Medical Biotechnologies requires some basic skills, with a particular focus on biology, biotechnologies and, more in general, health sciences knowledge. In fact, the course is based on several interdisciplinary programs, which require basic skills with biological sciences. 

The level test will help you understand if you possess the basic skills required to successfully attend the Medical Biotechnologies Course. The test mainly focuses on biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, cell biology, anatomy.

2025/2026 A.Y.

The regularly enrolled students will take a level test on the following dates:

- 21 OCTOBER 2025 at 9.00 a.m in the computer classrooms. The students will be divided in groups and they will be informed about each step by mail.

- 16 DECEMBER 2025

The test will be done on DIR and it will take place in the computer classrooms

The page shows all the available optional activities (ADO) periodically updated.

Use the link to register to the activities and follow the specific instructions:

Optional activities schedule