REPRODUCTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES

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Second-Cycle Degree Course in REPRODUCTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES

A.Y. 2016-2017

7

^th

march 2017

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Second-Cycle Degree Course in REPRODUCTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES

WHY TO ENROLL IN THE REPRODUCTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES COURSE?

Currently, there is a growing demand for assisted reproduction, which requires trained specialists in an field in which laboratory

methods and techniques are constantly evolving

^.

MAIN CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Work in assisted reproduction clinics or in public or private

laboratories

performing research into infertility

 10-15% couples are infertile

 Since 1978, 5 millions babies are born through PMA

 350.000 babies are born every year using PMA (12-13.000 in Italy: 2.5% of total births)

 71% of all cycles of PMA occur in Europe

(France, Germany, Spain, United Kingdom, Italy)

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Second-Cycle Degree Course in REPRODUCTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES

1. Delivered in English

2. Unique in Italy and innovative in its teaching lessons plan

- Lessons condensed in one semester (Jan-July) - Remedial course at the beginning of the I year

- Each discipline: 2-4 weeks for theoretical/practical lesson and 1 week for final exams - Laboratories and practical lessons; in the II year also outside Teramo

- Active involvement of professional experts as teachers + several scientific seminars - E-learning platform (patto.unite.it)

3. Educational manager plus customised Tutors Teachers

4. Active involvement of students in the decision making process

- Fundamental role of delegate students in Degree Course Councils and in all

Teacher/Student Boards of the AVA system

- Students’ opinion through evaluation questionnaire on each discipline

MAIN FEATURES OF THE DIDATTIC PLAN

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Second-Cycle Degree Course in REPRODUCTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES

MAIN RESULTS OF THE COURSE

1. Registered students about 22-25/year

(65% are out-of-region)

2. Research-led teaching

3. Theoretical and laboratorial lessons (also in agreed external centres)

1. Minimum university drop-out rate (1%)

2. 93% of graduate in progress (average graduation time: 2.2y)

3. Optimal evaluation of didactic quality by students, graduated and external Centres (85-90%)

4. 40% and 77%

of occupational level after 1 and 5y from graduation 5. Several graduates are estimated professionists working in Italy and

abroad

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COURSE STRUCTURE DIAGRAM

FIRST YEAR

Structure and Function of the Reproductive System Biology of gametes, IVM and IVF Techniques

Embryology Andrology I

Molecular Markers in Reproduction Cryobiology

Scientific communication, part I

Second-Cycle Degree Course in REPRODUCTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES

BASIC

TEACHING SUBJECTS

(+++ animal models)

SECOND YEAR Andrology II

Diagnostic Histology Applied to Cells and Tissues of the RS Genetics of Human Reproduction

ICSI Procedure and Advanced Techniques in PMA

Legislation and Bioethics in Medicine of Reproduction Scientific Communication, part II

PROFESSIONALISING TEACHING

SUBJECTS

(human samples)

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Structure and Function of the Reproductive System (I year)

LECTURER: PROF. VALENTINA RUSSO

- ANATOMY OF THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM - PHYSIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION

Second-Cycle Degree Course in REPRODUCTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES

AIMS OF THE COURSE:

MAIN/NOVEL TOPICS:

- To achieve a detailed overview of the existing relations between the structure and function of the female

reproductive system in domestic animals and humans;

- To provide an in-depth knowledge on the neuroendocrine mechanisms that regulate the reproductive activity

Using the animal model, together with the advanced

technologies present in our laboratories, the students will acquire the ability to manage and evaluate the ovarian components and the female gamete, in particular.

The course provides the basic knowledge necessary to deal with the successive courses.

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Second-Cycle Degree Course in REPRODUCTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES

- BIOLOGY OF GAMETES

LECTURER: PROF. BARBARA BARBONI AIMS OF THE COURSE:

Combing an advanced theoretical update and an efficacy individual practical training, the student at the end of the course will achieve:

- the required autonomy in reproducing the validated protocols routinely applied to female gametes for research and/or biotechnologies purposes;

- the scientific firmness to undertake innovation in the relative reproductive research/service field.

The course provides:

- comprehensive information of the endocrine, paracrine and autocrine mechanisms as well as of the signalling pathways involved in fetal and post-natal oogenesis;

- a practical training section aimed to learn the main methodologies applied to in vitro oocyte manipulation and culture.

Biology of gametes and techniques of IVM and IVF (I year)

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Second-Cycle Degree Course in REPRODUCTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES

Biology of gametes and techniques of IVM and IVF (I year)

- TECHNIQUES OF IVM AND IVF

LECTURER: PROF. LUISA GIOIA AIMS OF THE COURSE:

To provide the student with the theoretical knowledge

and practical skills concerning in vitro maturation (IVM) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) techniques, which are commonly used to reproduce in the laboratory two main steps of the reproductive process: the oocyte maturation and fertilization, and so produce embryos in the laboratory (in vitro).

“Starting from an immature oocyte to obtain an embryo”.

Using the deep knowledge on biology of gametes, student can critically approach updated protocols, involving

collection, selection and evaluation pf ovarian follicles, cumulus- oocyte complexes and semen; proper handling of gametes, correct choise, set-up, and management of an IVM/IVF protocol (model of domestic animals). The student should be also able to apply such techniques for therapeutic and research purposes.

MII

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Embryology (I year)

LECTURER: PROF. PASQUALINO LOI AIMS OF THE COURSE:

To provide students with the most advanced knowledge about Development Biology in Mammalian, Amphibia, Fish and Avian embryos.

To provide students with the most advanced knowledge on

Embryo Biotechnologies available today (embryo multiplication, cloning, transgenic, monoparental and chimeric embryos)^.

The Group is a leading one in nuclear reprogramming by

Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer. The students will benefit from an effective, practical and informal teaching, and these skills will be important to find job opportunities inside and outside academy.

Loi

Second-Cycle Degree Course in

REPRODUCTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES

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Andrology I (I year)

LECTURER: PROF. ALBERTO CONTRI

Knowledge of the advanced techniques in animal semen analysis for diagnostic and technological purposes

- Sperm motion characteristic analysis and subpopulations

- Multiparametric evaluation sperm maturity by flow cytometry - Sperm-oviductal epithelium interactions

- Control of sperm volume regulation and implications in sperm evaluation and preservation

Second-Cycle Degree Course in

REPRODUCTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES

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Molecular Markers in Reproduction

- BIOMARKERS IN HUMAN REPRODUCTION LECTURER: PROF. CINZIA RAPINO AIMS OF THE COURSE:

The course allows the student to achieve a core of skills on the molecular and

cellular mechanisms of the reproductive processes. This implies the assimilation of knowledge concerning: the biochemical nature of the different classes of

compounds that act as intra- and inter-cellular messengers and the inter-

relationships that allow the integration of different signals along pathways that lead to biological response.

• Signalling pathway in reproduction;

• Signal molecules in reproduction.

The clinical utility of biochemical markers is the ability to provide objective results when measured with

an accurate test.

EARLY PREGNANCY BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS

Second-Cycle Degree Course in

REPRODUCTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES

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Molecular Markers in Reproduction

- TECHNIQUES FOR BIOMARKERS IN HUMAN REPRODUCTION LECTURER: PROF. NATALIA BATTISTA

To achieve the knowledge of the main concepts concerning theoretical and practical methodologies that enable the identification and quantification of various biological biomarkers of fertility.

• Endocannabinoids as novel therapeutic targets for the infertility treatment;

• Experimental methodologies for the

identification and quantification of specific molecular markers of reproduction in

cellular models (male and female gametes).

Second-Cycle Degree Course in

REPRODUCTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES

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Second-Cycle Degree Course in REPRODUCTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES

LECTURER: PROF. ENRICO DAINESE AIMS OF THE COURSE:

The course mainly aims at providing an

updated scenario of the functional molecular interactions that can be impaired during

cryopreservation (also altering epigenetics).

The course will focus also on the

protein/protein and protein/lipid interactions that

can give a functional modulation of gametes.

Microenvironment of biological membranes and their functional changes during freezing/thawing procedures. New approaches for cryopreservation will also be also presented (e.g. antifreeze

proteins, other new cryoprotectants).

- MOLECULAR INTERACTION AMONG GAMETES AND ENVIRONMENT

Cryobiology (I year)

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Cryobiology (I year)

Second-Cycle Degree Course in REPRODUCTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES

LECTURER: PROF. NICOLA BERNABO’

To describe the gametes biology at physiological and low temperatures;

To describe the applications of gametes cryoconservation techniques; to introduce the fundamentals of computational

modeling in cryobiology.

Evaluation of cryodamage;

Freezing-thawing and vitrification of gametes; Computational modeling.

- CRYOPRESERVATION TECHNIQUES OF GAMETES

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Second-Cycle Degree Course in REPRODUCTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES

LECTURER: DR. ARCANGELO BARBONETTI (University of L’Aquila)

To reproduce validated protocols commonly applied to laboratory diagnosis of male infertility, in sperm processing for assisted fertilization procedures and in basic/clinical research in the field of reproductive medicine.

The course provides:

- Knowledge about:

1) pathophysiology and clinical issues of male infertility; 2) diagnostic approach to male infertility and evaluation of the male contribution to couple sub-fertility on the basis of semen analysis; 3) sperm morpho-functional integrity tests in basic and

clinical research; 4) indications and sperm processing for ART with both fresh and testicular recovered/cryopreserved sperm.

- Practical training on the main methodologies applied to in vitro sperm manipulation for clinical and research purposes.

Andrology II (II year)

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Diagnostic Histology Applied to Cells and Tissues of the Reproductive System (II year)

Second-Cycle Degree Course in REPRODUCTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES

LECTURER: PROF. ALESSANDRA MARTELLI/LEONARDO DELLA SALDA AIMS OF THE COURSE:

To provide understanding of the pathological clinical manifestations of the reproductive system in domestic animals and humans, focusing on the pathogenesis and morphological aspects of cell injury/death, cellular growth and neoplasia. Using the animal model, the student will acquire the necessary cytopreparation techniques to assess pathological reproductive structures.

Special emphasis on the basic reactions of reproductive female cell and tissues to abnormal stimuli and the effect of steroid hormones, estrogen and progesterone on cell epithelial-mesenchymal transition in ovarian and uterine pathological (adenomiosis and cancer) development.

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Second-Cycle Degree Course in REPRODUCTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES

Genetics of Human Reproduction (II year)

LECTURER: PROF. ALESSIA COLOSIMO

- GENETIC CAUSES OF HUMAN INFERTILITY - GENETIC TESTING OF HUMAN INFERTILITY

To describe infertility-related diseases due to genetic causes (10-15%).

To describe molecular tests, PGD/PGS tests and counseling protocols for infertile couples.

Advanced molecular techniques (QF-PCR, aCGH, NGS).

Epigenetic and nutrigenetic factors involved in reproduction.

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Second-Cycle Degree Course in REPRODUCTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES

ICSI Procedure and Advanced Techniques in Medically- Assisted Procreation (II year)

LECTURER: DR. LUIGI MUZII

To show the importance of biological knowledge when performing

diagnosis, prevention and treatment of human infertility.

Embryo culture Blastocyst biopsy FISH CGH-array ICSI

DNA fragm. test

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Second-Cycle Degree Course in REPRODUCTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES

Legislation and Bioethics in Medicine of Reproduction (II year)

LECTURER: AVV. FILOMENA GALLO

To provide a complete and updated description of legislation and bioethics in medicine of reproduction, comparing the Italian legislative body to the ones of different European countries.

Law 40/2004 and subsequent modifications

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Second-Cycle Degree Course in REPRODUCTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES

Scientific communication, part I and II

LECTURER: LUCIANO RAGNO AIMS OF THE COURSE:

Current themes: fear of OGM?; IVF from people’s point of view; pharmacology research; integrative medicine; cloned mammals; glass stork,…….

I year

To learn how to use scientific communication

through printed paper, and online (internet) news.

II year

To learn how to use scientific communication on television and radio.