Description of the Course

The graduate of the Master’s Degree in Bioengineering for Innovation in Medicine possesses an in-depth understanding of acquisition processes and systems for diagnosis and therapy. Furthermore, they have extensive knowledge of the acquisition, characterization, and analysis systems of biomedical signals; bioinformatics and biomedical data analysis platforms; biological and neural systems simulation and modeling platforms; and precision medicine. The graduate also has knowledge of innovative materials, fluid dynamics, and CAD design used for creating innovative sensors and devices. Finally, having acquired a solid foundation in biomedical disciplines, they are able to interface with the medical and nursing staff with whom they will frequently interact. They will possess the ability to understand biomedical images and multidimensional bioinformatics and biomedical data.

In particular, Master’s graduates in Bioengineering will possess profound knowledge and understanding of biomedical signals and data, including their acquisition and analysis. They will master platforms for biological, neural, and medical simulation and modeling, alongside utilizing new materials, hardware and software tools, and biomedical design aids. Their training ensures effective professional interaction with medical and nursing personnel, grounded in the study of practical cases and theoretical methods for realizing projects and prototypes, as well as the proficient use of biological and engineering laboratory instrumentation.

The learning process relies on lectures, classroom and laboratory exercises, seminars, specific group and individual projects, and independent study. It may also involve the use of software and hardware tools for designing medical devices and developing prototypes. The student’s capacity to devise innovative solutions and their personal skills will be enhanced through case study simulations, the development of individual or group projects, and the creation of elementary prototypes and devices. In addition to the aforementioned educational tools, the student will have access to various laboratories within both the DBMN and the DIEF departments. The development of specific themes and the drafting of the final degree thesis, supported by a supervisor and potentially a corporate tutor, will further expand the future graduate’s practical and laboratory knowledge base. The assessment of acquired skills will be conducted through written and/or oral exams, including ongoing assessments, as well as through the presentation of personal projects. Finally, the degree thesis involves a public defense, constituting an additional verification of the competencies acquired.

The Master’s graduate in Bioengineering for Innovation in Medicine can identify, formulate, and solve the multitude of emerging problems in modern systems for diagnosis, therapy, and the development of bioinformatics data analysis platforms. They are capable of developing sensors and actuators for medical applications and for personalized and precision medicine. They are equipped to mathematically analyze and model neural systems and biological systems in general. They demonstrate the ability to work in teams, participating in experimental activities in research laboratories and research and development activities within the industrial sector. They can professionally propose alternative strategies and methods to those widely used in healthcare settings or biomedical companies. The knowledge and comprehension skills attained will enable them to communicate effectively, acting as a liaison between specialists in purely engineering fields and specialists in the biomedical sector.

For the biomedical engineer, ethics and technology are intrinsically linked and hold crucial importance. Their sensitivity to ethical issues will help ensure that the technical solutions developed in the field of Bioengineering are applied responsibly and in the interest of general well-being, ensuring equitable, widespread, and accessible healthcare, regardless of social class or geographical origin. All these capabilities will be cultivated through numerous practical activities, including laboratory work, design, development, and the implementation of processes, which will complement theoretical lectures. This educational process will be supported by targeted seminar activities conducted by industry professionals. Additionally, during the design phase of the final thesis work, the ability to work independently, solve problems, actively participate, innovate, and communicate with third parties will be essential.

The achievement of all these objectives will be verified during the evaluations by individual professors throughout the educational path, and most significantly through the evaluation of the thesis internship by both internal and external tutors. The tutors’ feedback will be considered during the periodic review of the degree program, leading to corrective actions where deemed necessary. Upon completion of their curricular path, the Master’s graduate in Bioengineering will have acquired the cognitive tools to remain constantly updated and will have developed the capacity to carry out original design and implementation activities aimed at solving technical problems related to the biomedical field.

Master’s graduates in Bioengineering for Innovation in Medicine will demonstrate significant abilities to apply their knowledge and understanding to resolving complex problems in diagnostic and therapeutic systems. They will be adept at developing platforms for signal analysis, as well as biomedical sensors and actuators. Their expertise will extend to defining and analyzing models of neural and biological systems. Furthermore, they will be well-prepared for teamwork within industrial research and development contexts, driving improvements and innovation in standard healthcare strategies, biomedical technologies, and processes. Ultimately, they will be capable of undertaking original design and implementation activities in biomedical technological environments, responsibly integrating technological and ethical dimensions to benefit societal well-being and sustainable progress.

Specific Objectives

The objective of the Master’s Degree program in Bioengineering for Innovation in Medicine is to train highly qualified professionals with a solid methodological foundation. This encompasses areas such as biomedical instrumentation, devices, biomaterials, advanced manufacturing methods, biomedical data and signal processing, bioimaging, and the replication of medical-biological knowledge in its physiological and molecular aspects through physical-mathematical modeling. It also covers joint prosthetics and methodological aspects related to clinical practice, applied to concrete contexts within corporate, healthcare, and academic environments. To this end, the course aims to provide the student with robust training in engineering methodologies and technologies applied to medical and biological challenges.

The graduate must be capable of analyzing, describing, and simulating biomedical processes and systems across various levels of complexity and vastly different scales. This could involve, after careful analysis, simulating a biochemical process, cellular activity and structure, cellular communication, or neurotransmission. They will be capable of simulating the activity of entire organs or specific physiological functions. The graduate will successfully apply the acquired knowledge in various contexts, designing and developing solutions, systems, devices, and instrumentation for screening, diagnostics, therapy, rehabilitation, and, more broadly, for the management of healthcare systems.

Students will require a solid foundation in the disciplines that characterize all engineering pathways, such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, statistics, and design. However, additional knowledge in biomedical fields, including physiology and molecular biology, will provide further added value. Therefore, the course represents the natural continuation of a first-level biomedical engineering program. Students originating from other, non-strictly engineering disciplines, such as mathematical, physical, and natural sciences, who intend to pursue their studies by enrolling in the Bioengineering program, will need to supplement their background with skills characteristic of engineering curricula.

The educational process will be implemented through traditional lectures, classroom and laboratory exercises within the DBMN, DIEF, and DSV departments, and through the involvement of biomedical companies and healthcare organizations for the development of applied projects based on realistic scenarios and cases. These project-based tools, proposed within the degree program’s courses, will facilitate technical and scientific specialization as well as career orientation. The opportunity to undertake an internship and the completion of a degree thesis conclude the educational journey.

The specific educational objectives of the Master’s Degree course include providing in-depth knowledge regarding the pathways of innovation development in the healthcare and biomedical sectors, alongside cultivating the ability to analyze and model complex systems. The program aims to complete the students’ methodological training with laboratory activities in chosen fields, ensuring mastery of the primary methods for designing, developing, characterizing, quality-controlling, and managing medical devices. It fosters a culture of innovation by teaching students to evaluate its impact, provides skills for leading and coordinating research and development projects, and develops an awareness of the professional role and the broader function of innovation. Furthermore, the curriculum delivers specific expertise in processing data, signals, and images to extract information for diagnostic, therapeutic, and rehabilitative purposes, as well as technologies aimed at developing scaffolds for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Students will also learn the criteria for selecting materials for medical devices. The program encourages students to make autonomous choices based on their individual educational plans and requires the independent, yet supervised, development of a substantial and original thesis project aligned with their chosen academic path.

Master’s graduates are expected to possess a profound understanding of the theoretical and methodological aspects of engineering in general, and Bioengineering in particular. They must be capable of identifying, formulating, and innovatively solving complex and interdisciplinary problems. Additionally, they must be able to conceive, plan, design, and manage highly complex processes, systems, services, and experiments, while also being equipped with essential contextual knowledge and transversal soft skills.

The course will feature a common track for all students throughout the first semester of the first year and part of the second semester. This initial phase is designed to provide solid cultural and methodological foundations, reinforcing the first-level engineering education and integrating it with general courses beneficial to both specializations. During the second semester of the first year, specific courses for the chosen track will be introduced. The second year is predominantly dedicated to advanced topics specific to the two tracks, which remain centered on the core disciplines of Bioengineering. These include significant specialized and methodological contributions from various other fields, such as medical sciences, electronics, computer science, materials science, fluid dynamics, mechanical design, physiology, and clinical neurophysiology.

The educational paths are strongly characterized by the proportional contributions of these disciplinary areas. Master’s level bioengineers must provide a profound and updated knowledge of modern medicine and biology alongside their technical skills, design capabilities, and project management expertise. This enables them to scientifically and rationally accelerate the ongoing renewal process within the medical and healthcare sectors, which is heavily driven by technological innovation. In a strictly industrial setting, bioengineers will develop and oversee the design and production of biomedical devices and instrumentation, medical-surgical equipment, diagnostic and therapeutic systems, technologies for rehabilitation and assistance, and management systems for healthcare facilities.

It is not uncommon for bioengineers to launch innovative entrepreneurial ventures, contributing not only to the development of high-impact new technologies in the medical field but also generating highly qualified local employment opportunities. This phenomenon echoes the experience of Mirandola in the 1960s, where the emergence of new entrepreneurship significantly contributed to the economic growth and transformation of the region, laying the foundation for a medical sector excellence that continues to thrive. Beyond the industrial sector, bioengineers are widely employed in healthcare facilities and research institutes, often in managerial roles. A significant percentage of graduates also continue their studies to pursue a Ph.D. Finally, the presence of bioengineers in public institutions can help improve the efficiency of healthcare services, promoting innovation and ensuring better coordination between scientific research and clinical practice. This synergy among the private sector, innovative start-ups, and public institutions can foster the sustainable development of expertise in the fields of Bioengineering and medicine.

Curricula and Individual Courses

The academic offering is divided into two distinct study plans: the Neurotechnologies Curriculum and the Biomedical Devices Curriculum.