PHD STUDY PROGRAM – Doctoral academic studies in Immune-Behavioral Clinic 180 ECTS
1. TITLE AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY PROGRAM
2. OBJECTIVES, TYPE OF STUDIES AND OUTCOME OF THE LEARNING PROCESS
3. ACADEMIC TITLE
4. REQUIREMENTS FOR ENROLLMENT IN THE STUDY PROGRAM
5. LIST OF STUDY MODULES
1. TITLE AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY PROGRAM
Doctoral academic studies in Immuno-Behavioral Clinic (180 ECTS)
Unitelematica Leonardo da Vinci in collaboration with the Stefano Pallanti Institute of Neuroscience (INS) offers an interdisciplinary PhD program in Neuroscience and Immunology based on immuno-behavioral approach. Our program aims to identify systemic and molecular targets leading to personalized therapeutic interventions. With its unique perspective, this approach advocates for the eclectic integration of different therapeutic techniques, sparking a new wave of interest in the field.
PhD study program modules:
1. Immuno-Behavioral Systems
2. Immune-Affective Assessment
3. Psycho-Immune Clinic
Our Ph.D. program in offers a rigorous curriculum combining foundational knowledge, hands-on research experience, and professional development opportunities to train the next generation of leaders in the interdisciplinary fields of neuroscience, immunology, and dermatology. Throughout the program, students will have the opportunity to take elective courses and participate in seminars, journal clubs, and workshops covering emerging topics and advanced techniques in neuro- immuno-cutaneous research. These activities will enhance their understanding of the field and foster collaboration and interdisciplinary interactions with peers and faculty members.
One of the requirements of the doctoral study program in Neuro-Immuno Science is writing a doctoral dissertation. Students will write and defend a dissertation based on their own research
during the program's final phase. The dissertation must demonstrate a thorough comprehension of the selected study area and significantly advance the field of neuro-immuno-cutaneous science. The total number of ECTS needed to complete Ph.D. doctoral studies and to acquire the academic title Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) includes the amount of ECTS when the doctoral dissertation is defended, and it is 180 ECTS.
The goal of the doctoral program is to prepare students to conduct independent scientific research and study in the relevant subjects of neuro-immuno science. After defending their Ph.D. thesis, graduates must be able to define and solve scientific problems in related fields, be qualified to design and carry out a variety of experimental, clinical, and epidemiological studies, manage databases, analyze and interpret research data statistically, communicate scientifically in writing scientific articles and presenting scientific results, develop research protocols, and prepare project proposals. Additionally, researchers are capable of independently developing current research directions in modern medicine, neuroscience and psychology related to their field of study. For the purpose of presenting scientific findings in national and international scientific journals and scientific meetings, students will write scientific projects, organize and oversee the work of a research group, and critically analyze scientific and professional medical literature.
OBJECTIVES, TYPE OF STUDIES AND OUTCOME OF THE LEARNING PROCESS
The specific objectives are related to specific module:
1) First Module: provide students with an overview and theoretical background on the physiological foundations of the behavioral immune system (BIS). Understanding the evolutionary context and significance of the immune system and the behavioral immune system in humans and vertebrates. Examining of how the BIS interacts with the physiological immune system.
2) Second Module: equip students with a comprehensive understanding of the global assessment techniques and psychoendocrine immunology. Understand how the host- defense system detects and responds to variations in the microbiota, such as pathogenic invasion, parasitic infection, or acute stress. Train students in the systemic diagnostic approaches within an affective behavioral immune clinic setting. Develop skills in the clinical assessment of behavior changes through the lens of behavioral immunity.
3) Third Module: learn about immune neuromodulation and its applications in treating various conditions. Understand the immune defense mechanisms and their broader implications beyond traditional immunity. Equip students with the knowledge and skills to use neuromodulation techniques to manage inflammation and related conditions. Understand the interplay between immune system treatments and their behavioral implications and effects.
ACADEMIC TITLE
The study program for PhD studies in states that the education required to achieve the academic title of PhD (Doctor of Philosophy).
LIST OF OBLIGATORY AND ELECTIVE SUBJECTS, STUDY MODULES
I year | I Semester | ECTS | II Semester | ECTS |
Core methodology Courses |
30 | Practical examinations in research methodology |
30 | |
II year | III Semester | ECTS | IV Semester | ECTS |
Elective subject | 10 | Elective subject | 10 | |
Scientific Work with Mentor | 10 | Scientific Work with Mentor | 10 | |
Scientific Article Writing | 10 | Application and submission of Doctoral Dissertation Topic | 10 | |
III year | V Semester | ECTS | VI Semester | ECTS |
PhD Thesis Preparation | 10 | Submission of PhD thesis for Approval | ||
Scientific Article Writing | 10 | |||
PhD thesis defense | 30 |
The first academic year
After passing classes of the core methodology (i.e.: the brain lymphatic system, the microglia origin and function, the Research Domain Criteria Framework etc.) the student receives 30 ECTS in the first semester. After passing the core methodology courses, in the second semester, the student receives 30 ECTS, which will be prerequisites to prepare the PhD dissertation.
The second academic year
Throughout the third and fourth semesters, a PhD student attains the following: 20 ECTS after passing the elective courses, and which are divided into different elective groups and which the student chooses in accordance with the scientific field in which he will work on his doctoral thesis (10 ECTS each); 20 ECTS of scientific work under the guidance of a mentor; 10 ECTS based on scientific activity and results published (in peer-reviewed journals and/or presented at scientific meetings) which may take into account of achieved results. This is necessary in order to propose a topic for a PhD dissertation (10 ECTS).
Third year of study
The student acquires 10 ECTS based on published scientific results from the doctoral dissertation (in peer-reviewed journals and/or presented at scientific meetings) This is a precondition for the evaluation of the completed doctoral dissertation. The student acquires the remaining 10 ECTS at the expense of preparing a doctoral dissertation within the subject of doctoral dissertation; 20 ECTS for submission of PhD thesis for the approval of the doctoral dissertation defense and 10 ECTS for PhD thesis defense.
LIST OF STUDY MODULES
1. Module: Immuno-Behavioral Systems
1.1 Principles and systems of physiology
1.2 Neurosciences-based interview.
The Behavioral Immune System (BIS) and its Psychological Foundations Infectious diseases have been responsible for more deaths than any other cause of mortality throughout human evolution. All animal species have evolved due to an evolutionary arms race between parasites and their hosts. Humans and other vertebrates have developed in the immune system, which reactively fights infections. Addiotionally, humans have developed the behavioral immune system (BIS) that motivates behavior to minimize the probability of infection in response to disease-connoting cues. Until recently, little research has been done on how the BIS and physiological immune systems interact. The first part of the program will concern the BIS and its physiological foundations. (Damian Murray et al., 2019).
The first year of the program provides students with an overview and theoretical background on the behavioral immune system, an adaptive behavioral immune system (ABIS), as a model of population health behavior. This will be presented in a structured series of lectures and tutorials amounting at at least 2 hours per week (X - weeks comprising two semesters of X weeks). Students attend the annual doctoral retreat (ceremony with alums) at least once at the beginning of their thesis work to connect to our large neuroscience community. It also invites internationally recognized scientists in the field to serve as mentors. Advanced courses, practical courses, talks and workshops, transferable skills courses (of your choice).
Preliminary List of topics:
1) The brain lymphatic system
2) The microglia origin and function
3) The Research Domain Criteria Framework
4) Activation of microglia and behavioral manifestation
5) From psychosomatic to immune-behavioral
6) Leaking Gut and Hygiene Hypotheses
7) Human beings as echo system
8) The microbiota, viroma and microbioma
9) The Global immuno-behavioral assessment
10) The Neurosciences oriented immuno behavioral interview
11) The PANDAS- PANS MODEL
12) Inflammatory Skin Diseases
13) Atopic dermatitis
14) Psoriasis and their immune-behavioral expressions
2. Module: Immune-Affective Assessment
2.1 The Global Assessment and Psychoendocrine Immunology
2.2 Systemic Diagnostic: Affective behavioral immune clinic
In the second year, the doctorate candidate will learn the clinical approach to behavior change, called “Behavioral Immunity”. In the biological immune system, responses are initiated when the host-defense system detects costly variations in the colonies of the microbiota (e.g., pathogenetic invasion, parasitic infection, or acute insult/stressor in tissue) (Zakharova, 2009). In the ABIS, we propose that behavior change is initiated when decisions can detect the costs of unhealthy habits and the benefits of a healthy behavior change. Detection is the cost-benefit analysis that sets a reliable reference point for changing functioning. Our Philosophy of Health (2020) parallels behavior change and biological immunity, suggesting that healthy, maintained behavior change can be best understood as strengthening behavioral immunity.
Preliminary List of topics:
- Microbiota in Health and Disease and its behavioral correlates
- Environmental influence and the human being as an echo system
- Soil, air and plant influences on human health: the impact on skin and brain
- The PACS post-acute COVID-19: lesson from Corona Virus
- MCI immune behavioral pathogenesis
- Dermatological, GI, Neurological
- Neurodevelopmental and motoric dysfunction
- Neurodegenerative: Parkinson
- ADHD and GI dermatological disorders
- Celiac disease, ADHD and other neurodevelopmental disorders
- The integrative system
3. Module: Psycho-Immune Clinic
3.1 The Integrated treatment Approach
3.2 The Neuromodulation for Inflammation
During the third year, the student, with the help of the supervisor, selects a program from the list of advanced lectures and practical courses available at LDV University. The integrated approach to the treatment includes immune neuromodulation, phototherapy, diet, probiotics and mindfulness. Also, a consideration about the Environmental factors involved in the health and sickness as well in the Interplay between host and pathogen: immune defense and beyond. Understanding the interplay between the treatment of the immune system and behavioral implications and effects and treatment of emotional and affective component and their impact on the immune response and healing COX-2 inhibitors, Aspirin and other potential anti-inflammatory treatments for emotional and affective disorders. This will be presented in a structured series of lectures and tutorials amounting to at least two hours per week
Preliminary List of topics:
- The integrated approach to the treatment
- Antibiotics for behavior disorders
- Anti-inflammatory for behavioral and cognitive disorder
- The neurosciences-based nomenclature
- SSRI and SSRI Sigma
- The anti-inflammatory activities of the neuro-drugs
- SNRI and Pain
- Low dose IG neuropeptide in the treatment of immunobehavioral
- The Neuromodulation of Immuno-behavioral disorders
- Photobiomodulation
- When Virtual Reality Becomes psycho-neuroendocrine Reality: a Stress or Review
- Dieting and Starving for inflammation reduction
- Physical activities for inflammation reduction
- Meditation for Inflammation Reduction
- rTMS for inflammation
- Probiotics and Diet
The Framework:
Cutaneous innervations is a vital part of the peripheral nervous system; therefore, the skin should be considered a sensory organ and an essential part of the central nervous system, an “active interface” and the first connection of the body to the outside world, and thereby linked to the immune sensory systems in the neuro-immuno-cunaneous (NIC) system.
The brain and the gut are connected from early life. The mother’s exposure to microbial molecules is thought to exert in-utero developmental effects on the fetus. These effects could importantly underpin the groundwork for subsequent pathophysiological mechanisms for achieving immunological tolerance and metabolic equilibrium post-birth, events that continue 3-4 years of age. Furthermore, it is understood that the microbiome promotes cues that instruct the neonate’s mucosal tissues and skin the language of molecular and cellular biology. Post-birth mucosal lymphoid tissue formation and maturation (most probably including the vermiform appendix) is microbiota-encouraged, co-establishing the intestinal microbiome with a developing immune system. Intestinal mucosal tissue maturation loops the brain-gut-brain and its postulated to influence mood dispositions via shifts in the intestinal microbiome phyla.
More specifically, post-COVID-19 medicine has increased attention to the connection between immune activation, behavioral changes, and awareness modulatory cross-talk functioning. As part of the innate immune system, microglia constantly sample their environment, scanning and surveying for signals of external danger, such as those from invading pathogens or internal danger signals generated locally by damaged or dying cells or aroused from circuitries immune activation. Detection of such signals initiates a program of microglial responses that aim to resolve the injury, protect the CNS from the effects of inflammation, and support tissue repair and remodeling. A new perspective about a healthy immune system as a prerequisite for a balanced and functional emotional response: the vision that emotion is not a surface effect or simple somatic expression of nervous circuitries activation but an expression of not narrable “Seventh sense” self-perception of the immune activation underpinned, has significant implications for the field of dermatology and immunology.
We uncover a fascinating insight as we delve into Charles Darwin’s theory of emotional proprioception and facial expression. Emotional proprioception and facial expression are not just passive reactions but active elements in relying valenced information to the brain’s emotional neuroanatomical circuit. This enlightening insight deepens our understanding of how the muscles of facial expression serve as the brain’s barometer’s and transmitter of negatively valenced emotional information.
The theory developed by Charles Darwing introduced the concept of emotional proprioception and how the muscles of facial expressions play an important role in relying valenced information to the brain’s emotional neuroanatomical circuit. We review the role of facial frown musculature as the brain’s barometer and transmitter of negatively valenced emotional details. The direct
connections between the corrugator muscles and the amygdala have been described, and neuroanatomical circuits are known to be a logical target for treatment with BoNT/A. The centrality of amygdala dysfunction in the pathogenesis of many psychiatric disorders and the evidence that BoNT/A modulates amygdala activity provide the mechanistic link between BoNT/A and its antidepressant activity. Animal models of BoNT/A’s antidepressant effects confirm the evolutionary conservation of this emotional circuit. This evidence’s clinical and theoretical implications, as it relates to the potential treatment of a broad range of psychiatric disorders by BoNT/A, are discussed. The ease at administration, long duration and favorable side effect profile of this therapy are reviewed in the context of existing antidepressant treatments. Skin and other dermatological structures express and display this in the form of adaptation or disorders; therefore, a new need to be interpreted at the clinical level. Inner perception and surface communication through the skin required a new sensibility and culture. A new sensibility is needed to adapt the assessment procedure and new culture, including technological skills, to address these needs in a personalized manner. Altered communication between the immune and nervous systems is emerging as a common hallmark in neuro-developmental, neurodegenerative and neuro- immunological diseases and immune-dermatological diseases. Understanding of the dynamic and coordinately in both nerve-and immune-cells to modulate neurotransmission, oxidative/inflammatory stress response, and their behavioral, affective and dermatological manifestation.
The Immunobehavioral clinical approach: A Global approach in the assessment phase that enlarges the range of intervention in the early or preventive stages. This approach is unique in its comprehensive assessment and early intervention strategies, which could significantly improve patient outcomes.
The level of the intervention implies:
a) Behavioral
b) Nutritional
c) Pharmacological
d) Neuromodulation
e) Immunomodulation
f) Psychoactive compound, including phytotherapeutic
Diet and the immune system are closely intertwined; a poor diet impairs immunity and increases the risk of acute and chronic disease. The immune system maintains health and nutrition through daily immune support. Several lines of evidence suggest that peripheral and central inflammation plays a role in depressive symptoms and that anti-inflammatory drugs can improve depressive symptoms in patients with inflammatory related depression. On the other hand, anti-inflammatory
treatment such as low dose IL 2 can improve depression, reducing the symptoms and improving quality of time.
Research Opportunities:
Students will have access to a variety facilities, including opportunities to engage in groundbreaking research projects. Our program supports diverse research interests, enabling students to work with advanced technologies and methodologies. The integration of advanced machinery with various psychotherapy treatments facilitates a comprehensive approach to research and therapy. This synergy ensures that therapeutic techniques are augmented by technological innovations, providing students with unique hands-on experiences in both clinical and research environments
List of Speakers (to be confirmed):
● · Pallanti, Stefano (Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York)
● · Kikinis, Zora (Harvard University, Massachusetts)
● · Kikinis, Ron (Harvard University, Massachusetts)
● · Makris, Nikos (Harvard University, Massachusetts)
● · Bernardi Silvia (Columbia University, New York)
● · Besteher, Bianca (Harvard University, Massachusetts)
● · Hollander, Eric (Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York)
● · Lachman, Herbert M. (Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York)
● · D’Acquisto, Fulvio (University of Roehampton, United Kingdom)
● · Pariente, Carmine (King’s College London, United Kingdom)
● · Dell’Osso, Bernardo (Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy)
● Lucengeli, Daniela (Università degli Studi di Padova, Italy)
● · Pampaloni, Ilenia (Consultant Psychiatrist National OCD and BDD Unit, United Kingdom)
● · Cauli, Alberto (Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Italy)
● · Cauli, Gilla (Medical Director of the Psychiatry Department, Azienda Ospedaliera San Paolo, Milano)
List of institute:
- Istituto di Neuroscienze di Stefano Pallanti
Contacts:
Further information can be found at the following links:
Stefano Pallanti, Coordinator and Professor:
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