ID:
500458
Duration (hours):
62
CFU:
6
SSD:
Biochimica
Year:
2026
Overview
Date/time interval
Secondo Semestre (01/03/2027 - 11/06/2027)
Syllabus
Course Objectives
The course aims to provide students with an advanced understanding of tissue-specific metabolism and of the molecular mechanisms underlying human disease. By integrating physiological and pathological aspects of biochemistry with recent advances in biomedical research, the course enables students to interpret metabolic processes in health and disease, critically evaluate scientific evidence, and apply biochemical knowledge to the understanding of disease mechanisms.
Module 1 – Biochemical Mechanisms (Prof. Forlino)
Upon successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
1. Consolidate and expand the metabolic knowledge acquired during the undergraduate Biochemistry course.
2. Explain the regulation and integration of metabolic pathways in an integrated physiological context, with particular emphasis on intracellular signaling mechanisms.
3. Describe the metabolic specialization of selected tissues and organs and explain their contribution to whole-body metabolic homeostasis.
4. Interpret the biochemical interactions and metabolic cross-talk among different tissues and organs.
Module 2 – Biochemistry of Human Disease (Prof. Besio)
Upon successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
1. Explain the biochemical and molecular mechanisms underlying selected common and rare human diseases.
2. Analyze how alterations in metabolic pathways and intracellular signaling contribute to disease pathogenesis and progression.
3. Critically evaluate recent advances in biochemistry and their implications for understanding disease mechanisms and identifying potential therapeutic targets.
4. Critically analyze, present, and discuss primary scientific literature in biochemistry.
Journal Club (2 CFU)
As part of Module 2, students will participate in a Journal Club designed to develop critical appraisal, scientific communication, and teamwork skills. Working in small groups under the guidance of a tutor, students will critically analyze a selected research article and present it in a flipped classroom format, promoting active discussion and peer learning.
Module 1 – Biochemical Mechanisms (Prof. Forlino)
Upon successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
1. Consolidate and expand the metabolic knowledge acquired during the undergraduate Biochemistry course.
2. Explain the regulation and integration of metabolic pathways in an integrated physiological context, with particular emphasis on intracellular signaling mechanisms.
3. Describe the metabolic specialization of selected tissues and organs and explain their contribution to whole-body metabolic homeostasis.
4. Interpret the biochemical interactions and metabolic cross-talk among different tissues and organs.
Module 2 – Biochemistry of Human Disease (Prof. Besio)
Upon successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
1. Explain the biochemical and molecular mechanisms underlying selected common and rare human diseases.
2. Analyze how alterations in metabolic pathways and intracellular signaling contribute to disease pathogenesis and progression.
3. Critically evaluate recent advances in biochemistry and their implications for understanding disease mechanisms and identifying potential therapeutic targets.
4. Critically analyze, present, and discuss primary scientific literature in biochemistry.
Journal Club (2 CFU)
As part of Module 2, students will participate in a Journal Club designed to develop critical appraisal, scientific communication, and teamwork skills. Working in small groups under the guidance of a tutor, students will critically analyze a selected research article and present it in a flipped classroom format, promoting active discussion and peer learning.
Course Prerequisites
A solid understanding of general biochemistry is required, including protein structure and function, regulation of enzyme activity, membrane composition and transport mechanisms, as well as the fundamentals of signal transduction pathways and metabolic processes. A basic familiarity with biochemical and imaging techniques is also recommended.
Teaching Methods
The course is delivered through traditional lectures supported by PowerPoint presentations, which are made available to students on the Kiro platform. In addition, group-based discussion workshops will be conducted to encourage theoretical application of concepts. These workshops will focus on topics aligned with the course content and selected by the professor. The course includes a Journal Club activity, where groups of students will conduct an in-depth analysis of a selected scientific paper. Each group will then present the paper in a flipped classroom format, encouraging active participation, peer-to-peer learning, and critical evaluation of the content. This approach fosters deeper understanding and enhances the development of scientific reasoning and discussion skills.
Assessment Methods
The final grade will be expressed out of 30 points, with the possibility of honors (cum laude). The assessment consists of two components, corresponding to the two course modules.
Module 1 – Biochemical Mechanisms (Prof. Forlino)
The assessment of Module 1 consists of a written examination with a maximum score of 15 points. The exam evaluates the students’ understanding of the biochemical mechanisms, metabolic regulation, and integration of metabolic pathways covered during the module.
Students who achieve the maximum score (15/15) will be eligible to answer an additional question aimed at evaluating excellence in knowledge and understanding. The result of this additional question will be considered exclusively for the attribution of honors.
Module 2 – Biochemistry of Human Disease (Prof. Besio)
The assessment of Module 2 is based on the Journal Club activity, which includes the oral presentation and discussion of selected scientific publications at the end of the discussion workshops. The Journal Club activity contributes up to 15 points to the final grade. Students will present and discuss their assigned scientific article using PowerPoint slides to support their oral presentation.
During the oral presentation, students will be evaluated not only on their ability to critically analyze and present the selected scientific article, but also on their general knowledge and understanding of the relevant scientific topic. The instructor may ask specific questions related to the article and the broader biochemical concepts discussed during the course.
Students are also expected to actively participate in the discussion of the scientific papers presented by their peers by asking relevant questions and contributing to the scientific discussion. This participation will be considered as part of the Module 2 evaluation.
Evaluation criteria (maximum 15 points):
• Understanding of the scientific article and related biochemical concepts: up to 7 points
• Organization and quality of presentation slides: up to 1 point
• Clarity and effectiveness of oral presentation: up to 3 points
• Respect of the allocated presentation time: up to 1 point
• Teamwork and collaboration within the group: up to 1 point
• Ability to ask relevant questions and actively participate in the discussion of other presentations: up to 2 points
Communication of Assessment Results
The results of the oral assessment (Module 2 – Biochemistry of Human Disease) will be communicated to students by the instructor via email after completion of the Journal Club presentations and discussions.
The result of the written examination (Module 1 – Biochemical Mechanisms) will be officially communicated to students together with the final grade of the course, which will be calculated as the average of the scores obtained in the written examination and the oral assessment. The final grade will be published through the official university platform Esse3.
Module 1 – Biochemical Mechanisms (Prof. Forlino)
The assessment of Module 1 consists of a written examination with a maximum score of 15 points. The exam evaluates the students’ understanding of the biochemical mechanisms, metabolic regulation, and integration of metabolic pathways covered during the module.
Students who achieve the maximum score (15/15) will be eligible to answer an additional question aimed at evaluating excellence in knowledge and understanding. The result of this additional question will be considered exclusively for the attribution of honors.
Module 2 – Biochemistry of Human Disease (Prof. Besio)
The assessment of Module 2 is based on the Journal Club activity, which includes the oral presentation and discussion of selected scientific publications at the end of the discussion workshops. The Journal Club activity contributes up to 15 points to the final grade. Students will present and discuss their assigned scientific article using PowerPoint slides to support their oral presentation.
During the oral presentation, students will be evaluated not only on their ability to critically analyze and present the selected scientific article, but also on their general knowledge and understanding of the relevant scientific topic. The instructor may ask specific questions related to the article and the broader biochemical concepts discussed during the course.
Students are also expected to actively participate in the discussion of the scientific papers presented by their peers by asking relevant questions and contributing to the scientific discussion. This participation will be considered as part of the Module 2 evaluation.
Evaluation criteria (maximum 15 points):
• Understanding of the scientific article and related biochemical concepts: up to 7 points
• Organization and quality of presentation slides: up to 1 point
• Clarity and effectiveness of oral presentation: up to 3 points
• Respect of the allocated presentation time: up to 1 point
• Teamwork and collaboration within the group: up to 1 point
• Ability to ask relevant questions and actively participate in the discussion of other presentations: up to 2 points
Communication of Assessment Results
The results of the oral assessment (Module 2 – Biochemistry of Human Disease) will be communicated to students by the instructor via email after completion of the Journal Club presentations and discussions.
The result of the written examination (Module 1 – Biochemical Mechanisms) will be officially communicated to students together with the final grade of the course, which will be calculated as the average of the scores obtained in the written examination and the oral assessment. The final grade will be published through the official university platform Esse3.
Texts
Main textbook
• Nelson D.L., Cox M.M., Hoskins A.A. Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry. 8th ed., 2021. W.H. Freeman and Company / Macmillan Learning, New York. ISBN: 9781319381493.
Additional recommended textbooks
• Alberts B., Heald R., Johnson A., Morgan D., Raff M., Roberts K., Walter P. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 7th ed., 2022. W.W. Norton & Company, New York. ISBN: 9780393884821.
• Caldarera C.M. Human Systematic Biochemistry. CLUEB, Bologna.
Scientific literature
Selected scientific articles focusing on the molecular and biochemical mechanisms underlying human diseases, including metabolic and signaling alterations associated with pathological conditions, will be discussed during the lectures and made available to students through the Kiro platform. The scientific literature will represent an integral part of the learning material, particularly for the topics covered in the Biochemistry of Human Disease module.
• Nelson D.L., Cox M.M., Hoskins A.A. Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry. 8th ed., 2021. W.H. Freeman and Company / Macmillan Learning, New York. ISBN: 9781319381493.
Additional recommended textbooks
• Alberts B., Heald R., Johnson A., Morgan D., Raff M., Roberts K., Walter P. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 7th ed., 2022. W.W. Norton & Company, New York. ISBN: 9780393884821.
• Caldarera C.M. Human Systematic Biochemistry. CLUEB, Bologna.
Scientific literature
Selected scientific articles focusing on the molecular and biochemical mechanisms underlying human diseases, including metabolic and signaling alterations associated with pathological conditions, will be discussed during the lectures and made available to students through the Kiro platform. The scientific literature will represent an integral part of the learning material, particularly for the topics covered in the Biochemistry of Human Disease module.
Contents
The course is organized into two complementary modules.
Module 1 – Biochemical Mechanisms (Prof. Forlino)
This module examines the metabolic specialization of selected tissues and organs, including bone, cartilage, lung, and skeletal muscle. For each tissue, the course covers:
• physiological functions and metabolic specialization;
• major anabolic and catabolic pathways;
• mechanisms regulating metabolic homeostasis;
• intracellular signaling pathways controlling metabolism;
• metabolic integration and biochemical cross-talk among tissues and organs.
Module 2 – Biochemistry of Human Disease (Prof. Besio)
This module focuses on the biochemical and molecular mechanisms underlying human disease, with particular emphasis on disorders affecting bone, cartilage, and skeletal muscle. Topics include:
• molecular and biochemical mechanisms of disease pathogenesis;
• metabolic dysregulation associated with common and rare diseases;
• alterations of intracellular signaling pathways in pathological conditions;
• biochemical basis of disease biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets;
• discussion of selected case studies and recent advances in pathological biochemistry. The specific diseases addressed may vary from year to year to reflect current developments in biomedical research.
Journal Club (2 CFU)
Two CFU of Module 2 are dedicated to a Journal Club activity. Students will be divided into two main groups, each further subdivided into groups of five students. Each subgroup will critically analyze a selected scientific paper under the guidance of the teacher and of a tutor and present its findings in a flipped classroom format. The activity is designed to promote critical appraisal of the scientific literature, scientific communication, teamwork, and active peer discussion.
Module 1 – Biochemical Mechanisms (Prof. Forlino)
This module examines the metabolic specialization of selected tissues and organs, including bone, cartilage, lung, and skeletal muscle. For each tissue, the course covers:
• physiological functions and metabolic specialization;
• major anabolic and catabolic pathways;
• mechanisms regulating metabolic homeostasis;
• intracellular signaling pathways controlling metabolism;
• metabolic integration and biochemical cross-talk among tissues and organs.
Module 2 – Biochemistry of Human Disease (Prof. Besio)
This module focuses on the biochemical and molecular mechanisms underlying human disease, with particular emphasis on disorders affecting bone, cartilage, and skeletal muscle. Topics include:
• molecular and biochemical mechanisms of disease pathogenesis;
• metabolic dysregulation associated with common and rare diseases;
• alterations of intracellular signaling pathways in pathological conditions;
• biochemical basis of disease biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets;
• discussion of selected case studies and recent advances in pathological biochemistry. The specific diseases addressed may vary from year to year to reflect current developments in biomedical research.
Journal Club (2 CFU)
Two CFU of Module 2 are dedicated to a Journal Club activity. Students will be divided into two main groups, each further subdivided into groups of five students. Each subgroup will critically analyze a selected scientific paper under the guidance of the teacher and of a tutor and present its findings in a flipped classroom format. The activity is designed to promote critical appraisal of the scientific literature, scientific communication, teamwork, and active peer discussion.
Course Language
English
More information
-The grade awarded for this module remains valid without time limitation.
-For students who fall into one of the following categories: working students, students providing care for family members, students with a civil disability, students with disabilities or specific learning disabilities, student parents, student athletes, or students detained in correctional centers, please refer to the "Inclusive Teaching Methods" guidelines.
https://en.unipv.it/en/university/inclusion-and-sustainability/inclusive-teaching-methods
-For students who fall into one of the following categories: working students, students providing care for family members, students with a civil disability, students with disabilities or specific learning disabilities, student parents, student athletes, or students detained in correctional centers, please refer to the "Inclusive Teaching Methods" guidelines.
https://en.unipv.it/en/university/inclusion-and-sustainability/inclusive-teaching-methods
Degrees
Degrees
MEDICAL AND PHARMACEUTICAL BIOTECHNOLOGIES
Master’s Degree
2 years
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