Research at DMC - Medicine and Surgery

The Dipartimento di Medicina e chirurgia – DMC is a national and international reference center for clinical, translational, and basic research in the biomedical field. Its main areas of investigation include endocrine, metabolic, and cardiovascular diseases; geriatric cardiology; diabetology; clinical epidemiology; and pharmacology, with particular attention to immune and pharmacological responses. The Department is also recognized for its research on the complications of Graves’ disease, its activities in pulmonology, and its contribution to the development of clinical guidelines and public health strategies.

In addition, the DMC conducts advanced research in cellular pathology, genetics and gene therapy, immunology, infectious diseases, and maternal and child health, integrating molecular, clinical, and epidemiological approaches. Significant activities are also carried out in the surgical field—particularly in gynecological, vascular, thoracic, and cardiac surgery—as well as in neuroscience, psychiatry, ophthalmology, and dermatology, with a strong focus on technological innovation, telemedicine, and artificial intelligence. The Department’s multidisciplinary approach represents a distinctive feature, aimed at improving the quality of care and promoting scientific innovation.

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The Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia - DMC conducts research in endocrine, metabolic, and cardiovascular diseases and is recognized as a leading scientific reference center. DMC faculty members are actively engaged in research in cardiology, geriatric cardiology, diabetology, hygiene and clinical epidemiology, contributing to the development of research projects, consensus documents for clinical practice, and public health strategies. The Department is a national and international reference center for endocrine disorders and for the complications of Graves’ disease. In the field of pulmonology, DMC faculty hold prestigious and prominent roles.

Maternal, neonatal, and child health research addresses early development, prematurity, and neonatal care, integrating clinical, preventive, and long-term follow-up perspectives through a multidisciplinary approach that includes both preclinical experimentation and clinical studies.

Research in public health, hygiene, occupational medicine, and medical statistics focuses on multiple areas of interest, including epidemiological studies on the interaction between lifestyle factors and cardiovascular and degenerative diseases. These activities are supported by participation in major international clinical and biomolecular databases, as well as research on the relationship between environmental pollution and immune responses.

Infectious diseases represent another strategic area. The Department serves as a reference center for the prevention of infectious disease transmission and for supporting public health policies, in close collaboration with immunology research.

Surgical research includes clinical and experimental projects aimed at methodological innovation, with vascular surgery playing a leading role in the development of new procedures. Thoracic surgery and obstetric-gynecological surgery also participate in multicenter and international studies.

Clinical pharmacology integrates basic, clinical, and translational research, with significant impact across several fields, particularly in the study of immune and pharmacological responses.

The DMC carries out basic, clinical, and translational research in biomedical and clinical areas of high scientific relevance, with national and international recognition.

Across its various fields of interest, DMC faculty are actively involved in drafting clinical guidelines, consensus documents, and scientific statements for national and international scientific societies, as well as serving on expert committees addressing a wide range of topics—ensuring a strong and influential impact on the scientific community.

A primary area of importance is cellular pathology, focused on investigating the molecular and cellular mechanisms of tumor progression, the role of the extracellular matrix and hyaluronic acid, lymphatic dissemination pathways, and the application of advanced imaging techniques.

In the fields of genetics, molecular biology, and gene therapy, the Department is committed to developing innovative approaches for the treatment of rare genetic diseases, including studies on the pharmacological suppression of stop mutations through experimental models and DNA-based clinical investigations.

Research activities also include studies on immunosenescence, innate immunity in endocrine autoimmune diseases, the impact of vaccinations and infections, and the influence of environmental and climate-related factors on health, supported by dedicated epidemiological projects.

Fundamental and in vitro research areas are further integrated with the translational research conducted in DMC laboratories. Through a synergistic approach, research involves both healthy individuals and patients with specific conditions, with the aim of clarifying the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying disease onset and progression.

The Department is also actively engaged in the fields of neuroscience, psychiatry, and behavioral sciences, conducting studies on the effectiveness of pharmacological and nutritional therapeutic interventions, the impact of environmental and occupational factors on mental health, and the identification of neurobiological correlates of psychiatric disorders.

In ophthalmology, research focuses on e-health and digital medicine, pediatric ophthalmology, and degenerative retinal diseases. In dermatology, scientific activities address skin and sexually transmitted diseases, with particular emphasis on integrating research and clinical practice in order to optimize diagnostic and therapeutic pathways and improve patient outcomes.

Across all areas, the Department promotes the development and application of telemedicine and artificial intelligence in diagnostic processes and clinical research, contributing to technological innovation and enhancing the quality of healthcare delivery.