Advanced Course in Biotechnology and Pharmacology
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The two modules of course have well-defined objectives:
1. The module of Practical course on Biotechnology and Pharmacology aims to provide the student with the necessary skills to consolidate knowledge on the availability, purpose and possibility of using of biotechnological tools for the study of new drug targets and their preclinical validation
2. The module of Pharmacogenomics will provide the student the knowledge regarding genetic studies aimed at improving the analysis of the activity and adverse reactions of novel molecules with potential therapeutic activity. The practical exercises provide the student the bases to analyze the impact of genetic polymorphisms on pharmacological response and the knowledge on molecular approaches to validate the functional effect of polymorphisms.
1. The module of Practical course on Biotechnology and Pharmacology aims to provide the student with the necessary skills to consolidate knowledge on the availability, purpose and possibility of using of biotechnological tools for the study of new drug targets and their preclinical validation
2. The module of Pharmacogenomics will provide the student the knowledge regarding genetic studies aimed at improving the analysis of the activity and adverse reactions of novel molecules with potential therapeutic activity. The practical exercises provide the student the bases to analyze the impact of genetic polymorphisms on pharmacological response and the knowledge on molecular approaches to validate the functional effect of polymorphisms.
Expected learning outcomes
Module of "Practical course on Biotechnology and Pharmacology": knowledge of the availability, purpose and possibility of using advanced biotechnologies in the study of new drug targets and their preclinical validation
Module of "Pharmacogenomics": knowledge of the impact of genetic interindividual variability (in particular genetic polymorphisms) on the pharmacological response. Knowledge of some methods used in pharmacogenomics and examples of applications. Ability to critically evaluate data included in scientific papers and to apply the acquired knowledge to understand specific cases.
Module of "Pharmacogenomics": knowledge of the impact of genetic interindividual variability (in particular genetic polymorphisms) on the pharmacological response. Knowledge of some methods used in pharmacogenomics and examples of applications. Ability to critically evaluate data included in scientific papers and to apply the acquired knowledge to understand specific cases.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Teaching Unit of of Practical course on Biotechnology and Pharmacology.
In this Teaching Unit students will be directly engaged in the following experimental procedures:
1) Technique of pharmacological silencing via small interfering RNAs (siRNAs).
As an example, hepatocytic cell lines will be treated with siRNA to study the increased expression of LDL lipoprotein receptor and the reduced accumulation of intracellular lipid content. With this experience, the student will participate to techniques of cell culture, siRNAs transfection, cell treatment for the study of lipid and lipoprotein uptake and analysis of intracellular lipid accumulation by using flow-cytometry.
2) Analysis of lipid and lipoprotein profile and study of the aortic atherosclerotic plaque following a preclinical approach of pharmacological silencing with siRNA. With this experience, the student will understand how to measure cholesterol and triglycerides in the plasma. The analysis of the aortic atherosclerotic plaque will be carried out by using informatic tools for the quantification of the plaque area, its lipid and fibrotic content.
Furthermore, this Teaching Unit will include frontal lectures, with the aim to define and describe the mechanism of action (i) of gene editing (CRISPR-Cas9), (ii) of the biotechnological tools of gene silencing (siRNAs and antisense oligonucleotides), (iii) of the monoclonal antibodies and (iv) of the "epi-drugs". In these lectures, examples regarding the pharmacological clinical application of such approaches will also be provided.
The purpose of this Teaching Unit is to provide the student with the basic knowledge and expertise for the study, via the use of biotechnological technologies, of pharmacological targets at pre-clinical level.
Teaching Unit of Pharmacogenomics.
1 Introduction to Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics: definition, objectives and impact; the concept of precision medicine. Genetic basis of interindividual variability in drug response. Human genome sequencing; genetic polymorphisms; genotype and phenotype associations.
2 Examples and studies on genetic polymorphisms in drug metabolizing enzymes (ex. CYP2D6, CYP2C19, CYP2C9, TPMT..)
3 Examples and studies on genetic polymorphisms in drug targets
4 Role of epigenetic mechanisms in drug response
5 Methods in Pharmacogenomics: genome-wide association studies- applications
6 Pharmacogenomics in oncology
7 Pharmacoepidemiology
8 Human clinical and genetic studies
Practical tasks will provide the students with the instruments to analyze the impact of genetic polymorphisms on the pharmacological response and to expand the molecular approaches to validate the functional impact of the polymorphism.
In this Teaching Unit students will be directly engaged in the following experimental procedures:
1) Technique of pharmacological silencing via small interfering RNAs (siRNAs).
As an example, hepatocytic cell lines will be treated with siRNA to study the increased expression of LDL lipoprotein receptor and the reduced accumulation of intracellular lipid content. With this experience, the student will participate to techniques of cell culture, siRNAs transfection, cell treatment for the study of lipid and lipoprotein uptake and analysis of intracellular lipid accumulation by using flow-cytometry.
2) Analysis of lipid and lipoprotein profile and study of the aortic atherosclerotic plaque following a preclinical approach of pharmacological silencing with siRNA. With this experience, the student will understand how to measure cholesterol and triglycerides in the plasma. The analysis of the aortic atherosclerotic plaque will be carried out by using informatic tools for the quantification of the plaque area, its lipid and fibrotic content.
Furthermore, this Teaching Unit will include frontal lectures, with the aim to define and describe the mechanism of action (i) of gene editing (CRISPR-Cas9), (ii) of the biotechnological tools of gene silencing (siRNAs and antisense oligonucleotides), (iii) of the monoclonal antibodies and (iv) of the "epi-drugs". In these lectures, examples regarding the pharmacological clinical application of such approaches will also be provided.
The purpose of this Teaching Unit is to provide the student with the basic knowledge and expertise for the study, via the use of biotechnological technologies, of pharmacological targets at pre-clinical level.
Teaching Unit of Pharmacogenomics.
1 Introduction to Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics: definition, objectives and impact; the concept of precision medicine. Genetic basis of interindividual variability in drug response. Human genome sequencing; genetic polymorphisms; genotype and phenotype associations.
2 Examples and studies on genetic polymorphisms in drug metabolizing enzymes (ex. CYP2D6, CYP2C19, CYP2C9, TPMT..)
3 Examples and studies on genetic polymorphisms in drug targets
4 Role of epigenetic mechanisms in drug response
5 Methods in Pharmacogenomics: genome-wide association studies- applications
6 Pharmacogenomics in oncology
7 Pharmacoepidemiology
8 Human clinical and genetic studies
Practical tasks will provide the students with the instruments to analyze the impact of genetic polymorphisms on the pharmacological response and to expand the molecular approaches to validate the functional impact of the polymorphism.
Prerequisites for admission
Good knowledge of molecular and cellular biology, pharmacology and basic principles of genetics.
Teaching methods
Classroom-taught lessons, with no mandatory, by strongly recommended, attendance.
Practical exercises in the laboratory and computer classroom, mandatory attendance.
Practical exercises in the laboratory and computer classroom, mandatory attendance.
Teaching Resources
Slides, protocols and other material used for lessons and practical exercises will be uploaded on the MyARIEL platform.
Books:
Vegeto, Maggi, Minghetti. «Farmaci biotecnologici-aspetti farmacologici e clinici» Zanichelli
Clementi E, Fumagalli G «Farmacologia generale e molecolare» V edizione - Edra
Rossi F, Cuomo V, Riccardi V "Farmacologia - Principi di base e applicazioni terapeutiche", Capitolo 11.2 (pagine 1169-1191) V Edizione - Edizioni Minerva Medica
Collino M, Cicala C, Ialenti A. Farmacologia Generale - Capitolo Farmaci Biologici, biotecnologici e medicinali di terapia avanzata - UTET Università, Città Studi, Isedi.
Books:
Vegeto, Maggi, Minghetti. «Farmaci biotecnologici-aspetti farmacologici e clinici» Zanichelli
Clementi E, Fumagalli G «Farmacologia generale e molecolare» V edizione - Edra
Rossi F, Cuomo V, Riccardi V "Farmacologia - Principi di base e applicazioni terapeutiche", Capitolo 11.2 (pagine 1169-1191) V Edizione - Edizioni Minerva Medica
Collino M, Cicala C, Ialenti A. Farmacologia Generale - Capitolo Farmaci Biologici, biotecnologici e medicinali di terapia avanzata - UTET Università, Città Studi, Isedi.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Teaching Unit of Practical course on Biotechnology and Pharmacology. The exam is a written scientific report of the experiments conducted during the exercises (3 CFU), and a written test of the topics discussed during the frontal lectures (1 CFU), both aimed at verifying the achievement of the objectives in terms of knowledge and understanding of the subject. The score for this Teaching Unit is the sum of the score obtained with the scientific report of the experiments (max 24 points) and of the frontal lectures (max 8 points).
Teaching Unit of Pharmacogenomics: the final examination is a written test consisting in 30 multiple choice questions (evaluation score: correct answer= +1, wrong= -0.2, missing answer= 0) and it will be aimed at ascertaining the achievement of the objectives in terms of knowledge and comprehension.
This evaluation will be integrated with the score obtained from an "in itinere" test (from 0 to 3 points), consisting of an exercise independently carried out in the computer room.
The scores obtained with the two Teaching Units is provided by the use of the MyAriel platform.
The final mark of this course consists of the average of the two scores obtained in the two Teaching Units.
Teaching Unit of Pharmacogenomics: the final examination is a written test consisting in 30 multiple choice questions (evaluation score: correct answer= +1, wrong= -0.2, missing answer= 0) and it will be aimed at ascertaining the achievement of the objectives in terms of knowledge and comprehension.
This evaluation will be integrated with the score obtained from an "in itinere" test (from 0 to 3 points), consisting of an exercise independently carried out in the computer room.
The scores obtained with the two Teaching Units is provided by the use of the MyAriel platform.
The final mark of this course consists of the average of the two scores obtained in the two Teaching Units.
Pharmacogenomics
BIO/14 - PHARMACOLOGY - University credits: 3
Single bench laboratory practical: 16 hours
Lessons: 16 hours
Lessons: 16 hours
Professor:
Fumagalli Marta
Shifts:
Turno
Professor:
Fumagalli Marta
Practical course on Biotechnology and Pharmacology
BIO/14 - PHARMACOLOGY - University credits: 4
Single bench laboratory practical: 48 hours
Lessons: 8 hours
Lessons: 8 hours
Shifts:
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
by appointment (email)
Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari "Rodolfo Paoletti", via Balzaretti 9, Milano
Reception:
By appointment