Biotechnologies to Understand and Fight Aging
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with a general and interdisciplinary understanding of anti-aging as an emerging branch of biotechnology, focused on promoting health and longevity through preventive and therapeutic interventions targeting age-related dysfunctions.
The goal of the course is for participants to acquire knowledge about the cellular and molecular mechanisms of aging, and about biotechnological strategies to slow down or reverse its effects, with a specific focus on the reproductive system and chronic inflammation.
The course also aims to:
· Develop the ability to contextualize the role of companion animals as experimental models for studying aging processes shared with humans;;
· Foster the development of critical thinking, communication abilities, and autonomous learning through group work and case studies.
The goal of the course is for participants to acquire knowledge about the cellular and molecular mechanisms of aging, and about biotechnological strategies to slow down or reverse its effects, with a specific focus on the reproductive system and chronic inflammation.
The course also aims to:
· Develop the ability to contextualize the role of companion animals as experimental models for studying aging processes shared with humans;;
· Foster the development of critical thinking, communication abilities, and autonomous learning through group work and case studies.
Expected learning outcomes
1. Knowledge and understanding (Dublin 1)
By the end of the course, the student will be able to describe and discuss the principles, concepts, and basic methodologies applied in the anti-aging field, acquiring know-how useful for addressing aging-related challenges in both veterinary and human medicine.
2. Applying knowledge and understanding (Dublin 2)
The student will be able to apply the acquired knowledge to critically analyze anti-aging biotechnological approaches and technologies. They will demonstrate synthesis skills in integrating multidisciplinary information and will use biostatistical tools and digital technologies to manage and interpret data.
3. Making informed judgements (Dublin 3)
The student will develop the ability to make informed decisions in complex contexts, critically evaluating the ethical, scientific, and social impacts of anti-aging applications, while respecting the rights of animals and humans.
4. Communication skills (Dublin 4)
The student will be able to effectively communicate concepts, data, and results related to the anti-aging field, collaborate in multidisciplinary contexts, and demonstrate leadership and interaction skills with both specialist and non-specialist audiences.
5. Lifelong learning skills (Dublin 5)
The student will develop an autonomous approach to study and research, acquiring the skills needed for continuous professional development in the biotechnology field and for the valorization and application of anti-aging knowledge.
By the end of the course, the student will be able to describe and discuss the principles, concepts, and basic methodologies applied in the anti-aging field, acquiring know-how useful for addressing aging-related challenges in both veterinary and human medicine.
2. Applying knowledge and understanding (Dublin 2)
The student will be able to apply the acquired knowledge to critically analyze anti-aging biotechnological approaches and technologies. They will demonstrate synthesis skills in integrating multidisciplinary information and will use biostatistical tools and digital technologies to manage and interpret data.
3. Making informed judgements (Dublin 3)
The student will develop the ability to make informed decisions in complex contexts, critically evaluating the ethical, scientific, and social impacts of anti-aging applications, while respecting the rights of animals and humans.
4. Communication skills (Dublin 4)
The student will be able to effectively communicate concepts, data, and results related to the anti-aging field, collaborate in multidisciplinary contexts, and demonstrate leadership and interaction skills with both specialist and non-specialist audiences.
5. Lifelong learning skills (Dublin 5)
The student will develop an autonomous approach to study and research, acquiring the skills needed for continuous professional development in the biotechnology field and for the valorization and application of anti-aging knowledge.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
Unit 1. Signaling pathways, epigenetics and methodologies to counteract aging (BIO10/VET01) 2CFU
A detailed description of the molecular pathways acting during the aging process is presented to the students that will learn the main biotechnological methodologies presently available to slow and revert senescence.
· The main signaling pathways of cell aging (2h)
· Integrated Omics approaches to identify cellular pathways and key proteins involved in aging (2h)
· Identification of protein biomarkers associated with cellular degeneration processes (2h)
· The biological clock: aging and telomeres (2h)
· Epigenetic mechanisms of longevity and aging, molecular approaches for their characterization (2h)
· Methodologies for aging reprogramming and "surfing methylation" to counteract senescence (2h)
· surfing methylation to counteract senescence
· Methodologies for aging reprogramming
Unit 2. Female reproductive aging in mammals (VET01) - 4 CFU
· Gonadal aging in males and females:
o Impact of female and male aging on reproductive efficiency and offspring health in humans and companion animals (3h)
o Signaling pathways involved in the decline of ovarian reserve (2h)
o Experimental approaches to manipulate ovarian reserve (pharmacological, mechanical, and genetic tools) (2h)
o Mammalian species capable of regulating their ovarian reserve: examples from the animal kingdom (1h)
o Histological, histochemical, and immunohistochemical techniques for the study of the follicular population and ovarian stromal composition (4h)
· Oocyte aging:
o Incidence and consequences of oocyte aneuploidy (2h)
o Cell cycle progression, spindle organization, and chromosome segregation in normal and "aged" oocytes (3h)
o Evaluation of meiotic stages and spindle organization using fluorescence microscopy (2h)
o DNA damage, oxidative stress, and defective mitochondria in normal and "aged" oocytes (3h)
o Alternative mechanisms proposed to explain the age-related decline in oocyte quality (case study) (2h)
Unit 3. Age-related pathology (VET03) 2CFU
Aging is accompanied by remodeling of the immune system. With time, this leads to a decline in immune efficacy, resulting in increased vulnerability to infectious diseases and cancer, decreased responses to vaccination, and a susceptibility to age-related inflammatory diseases. In this teaching unit, the student will receive lectures in
· inflammaging
o inflammation related to aging and cellular senescence (3h)
o immunosuppressive network related to aging and cellular senescence (3h)
· case study of age-related disease and critical analyses of biological, epigenetic and physiological measures to assess ageing using bioinformatic analysis and a business-oriented approach.
o cardiovascular diseases (2h)
o cancer and ageing (2h)
o the animal models currently used in aging research, their pitfalls and their strength points ( 2h)
A detailed description of the molecular pathways acting during the aging process is presented to the students that will learn the main biotechnological methodologies presently available to slow and revert senescence.
· The main signaling pathways of cell aging (2h)
· Integrated Omics approaches to identify cellular pathways and key proteins involved in aging (2h)
· Identification of protein biomarkers associated with cellular degeneration processes (2h)
· The biological clock: aging and telomeres (2h)
· Epigenetic mechanisms of longevity and aging, molecular approaches for their characterization (2h)
· Methodologies for aging reprogramming and "surfing methylation" to counteract senescence (2h)
· surfing methylation to counteract senescence
· Methodologies for aging reprogramming
Unit 2. Female reproductive aging in mammals (VET01) - 4 CFU
· Gonadal aging in males and females:
o Impact of female and male aging on reproductive efficiency and offspring health in humans and companion animals (3h)
o Signaling pathways involved in the decline of ovarian reserve (2h)
o Experimental approaches to manipulate ovarian reserve (pharmacological, mechanical, and genetic tools) (2h)
o Mammalian species capable of regulating their ovarian reserve: examples from the animal kingdom (1h)
o Histological, histochemical, and immunohistochemical techniques for the study of the follicular population and ovarian stromal composition (4h)
· Oocyte aging:
o Incidence and consequences of oocyte aneuploidy (2h)
o Cell cycle progression, spindle organization, and chromosome segregation in normal and "aged" oocytes (3h)
o Evaluation of meiotic stages and spindle organization using fluorescence microscopy (2h)
o DNA damage, oxidative stress, and defective mitochondria in normal and "aged" oocytes (3h)
o Alternative mechanisms proposed to explain the age-related decline in oocyte quality (case study) (2h)
Unit 3. Age-related pathology (VET03) 2CFU
Aging is accompanied by remodeling of the immune system. With time, this leads to a decline in immune efficacy, resulting in increased vulnerability to infectious diseases and cancer, decreased responses to vaccination, and a susceptibility to age-related inflammatory diseases. In this teaching unit, the student will receive lectures in
· inflammaging
o inflammation related to aging and cellular senescence (3h)
o immunosuppressive network related to aging and cellular senescence (3h)
· case study of age-related disease and critical analyses of biological, epigenetic and physiological measures to assess ageing using bioinformatic analysis and a business-oriented approach.
o cardiovascular diseases (2h)
o cancer and ageing (2h)
o the animal models currently used in aging research, their pitfalls and their strength points ( 2h)
Prerequisites for admission
No prerequisite exams are required, but familiarity with the following concepts is recommended:
General pathology
Anatomy and physiology of the reproductive system
Biochemistry and Omics
General pathology
Anatomy and physiology of the reproductive system
Biochemistry and Omics
Teaching methods
Theoretical lessons supported by group work and case studies.
Teaching Resources
The course does not recognize a dedicated book and the material will be mainly constituted by articles published in scientific journals. All the PowerPoint material used for the lectures will be made available to the students at the dedicated Moodle website.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Students will be assessed through a written test composed of 48 multiple-choice questions (4 choices, only 1 correct) aimed at verifying the knowledge of all the topics covered by the course and 6 open-ended questions to evaluate the ability to critically interpret the acquired information. The test will last 120 minutes and will consist of: 12 multiple choice questions and 1 open question on the topics of Unit 1- Signaling pathways,epigenetics and methodologies to counteract aging; 24 multiple choice questions and 2 open questions on the topics of Unit 2 - Female reproductive aging in mammals; 12 multiple choice questions and 1 open question on the topics of Unit 3 - Inflammaging. For each correct answer to multiple choice questions, 0.5 points will be assigned, for each incorrect/not given answer, 0 points will be assigned. Each open-ended question will be evaluated with a score from 0 to 2, based on the correctness, completeness and organization of the answer. The final score will be expressed in thirtieths. The minimum score to pass the exam is 18, the maximum score is 30 cum laude. The result will be communicated via email generated by the exam recording system, with the possibility for the student to accept/turn down the score.
BIO/10 - BIOCHEMISTRY - University credits: 1
VET/01 - VETERINARY ANATOMY - University credits: 5
VET/03 - VETERINARY PATHOLOGY - University credits: 2
VET/01 - VETERINARY ANATOMY - University credits: 5
VET/03 - VETERINARY PATHOLOGY - University credits: 2
Lessons: 48 hours
Professor(s)
Reception:
upon appointment
Via dell'Università 6, Lodi
Reception:
By appointment (email or phone)
via dell'Università 6 Lodi or MS Teams