Molecular Biology, Medicinal Chemistry and Computer Science for Pharmaceutical Applications

General objectives The educational objectives of the course are to identify the principles of cellular and molecular pathology and physio-pathology, as well as the degenerative, inflammatory, and neoplastic pathological processes. At the end of the course the student must develop the ability to: i) describe the pathological processes at cellular and molecular level; ii) understand and comment a scientific text of pathology; iii) learn to use an appropriate scientific language. Specific objectives 1) Knowledge and understanding At the end of the course, the student will know and understand the characteristics of the main hereditary diseases, pathologies that reduce the efficiency of defense mechanisms, and inflammation. In addition, he will know and understand the principles of innate and acquired immunity, their dynamics and their functioning in health and disease. 2) Applying knowledge and understanding The student will be able to understand the notions of cellular pathology, growth alterations, cell differentiation and cell death (necrosis, apoptosis); understand the etiology and pathogenesis of tumors, the differences between benign and malignant tumors, the nomenclature and classification criteria of tumors, their gradation and staging, and the study of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes; develop understanding and description of the mechanisms of the immune system. 3) Making judgments The lectures will be interactive with the aim of encouraging students to develop critical skills through the connection between the different topics covered during the course. The student will be requested to produce a written paper, during the course, which will focus on a topic of choice. The student must demonstrate critical and judgment skills. 4) Communication skills The student's assessment will be carried out through written and oral tests and will focus on all the topics of the program. At the end of the course the student will also acquire the ability to use appropriate terminology and to describe aspects of general pathology and immunology. 5) Learning skills The student will be able to deepen the topics covered during the lesson with the help of the suggested texts and teaching material (lecture notes and / or scientific articles).