Welcome to the Department of Drug Science and Technology
The Department has twelve full professors, sixteen associate professors, thirty-four fixed term and tenured researchers and one language teacher. In spite of their teaching load, staff still produce top-level research as shown by the brilliant national and international results that have been achieved.
The Department offers three 5 year Degree Courses, and post-graduate degree courses in Hospital Ward Pharmacy, Community Pharmacy and Hospital Pharmacy as well as Advanced Specialisation Courses in Hospital Ward Pharmacy and Community Pharmacy.
Also, the Department runs a School of Specialisation in Hospital Pharmacy and a post graduate MSc/PH in Community Pharmacy.
- Analytical Chemistry (SSD CHIM/01)
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (SSD BIO/10)
- Medicinal Chemistry (SSD CHIM/08)
- Industrial Chemistry (SSD CHIM/04)
- Organic Chemistry (SSD CHIM/06)
- Pharmaceutical Biology and Food Chemistry (SSD CHIM/10 and BIO/15)
- Pharmaceutical Technologies (SSD CHIM/09)
- Pharmacology (SSD BIO/14)
- Physiology (SSD BIO/09)
(SSD = Settore Scientifico-Disciplinare. A system of codes that identify the various accademic fields)
The Deperatment's approach is organised into a number of areas as follows:
- developing sustainable processes with low environmental impact
- design, synthesis, analytical and structural characterisation of bioactive components and their metabolites
- delivery and development of biologicallly active molecules
- biochemical profile of interactions between and among bioactive molecules
- molecular neuroscience and cell biosensors
- genetic/genomic, dynamic kinetic, toxicological and therapeutic profiles of pharmacologically active substances
- identification and characterization of biologically active substances of natural origin
- study of the chemical composition of foods with a special focus on biologically active constituents
- the development of innovative systems for the delivery of molecules of cosmetic importance
DSTF's expertise covers the entire development cycle of a drug, from design to clinical pharmacology. We are also able to assess the functional activity of a drug via animal testing. DSTF can therefore develop interdisciplinary research projects, not just drugs, but also phyto- or plant derivatives, food and cosmetics. Our mission is to develop chemical, pharmacological and technological strategies to maintain people's physical and psychological wellbeing and to correct any physio-pathological alterations, which can all result in major social impact.
The DSTF is also strongly tied to the Piedmont region itself, as is shown in the relationships that it has forged with the Regional health and welfare bodies: (Health Districts, Hospitals etc. ASL, ASO, AOU), with the Health Department of the Piedmont Region, Regional Research Bodies and Agencies (Bio-industry Park of Colleretto Giacosa, The Regional Anti-doping Centre in Orbassano, the IRCCS Cancer Centre in Candiolo, the Zooprophilactic Institute for Piedmont, Liguria and the Aosta Valley, INRIM in Turin), with the Professional Orders and Registries of Pharmacists, Medical Doctors, Chemists and Biologists, industrial associations, such as Federfarma, Federchimica, Farmaservizi, Cosmetica Italia and above all with the National and International drug and pharmaceutical, chemical, food and cosmetic companies in the area.
Statutes, already in medieval times, contained specific references to the fact that pharmacists - then known as Speziali - had to be examined by the Medical Board before they could exercise. Towards the mid 16th century, Piedmont issued health related norms that were applied to all the states that had come under the House of Savoy. Duke Emanuel Philibert wrote letters dated March 28th 1564 which stated that "nisuno ardisca ne presuma exercitar l'arte di Speciaro che prima non sii approvato per li detti medici collegiati", no one should dare exercise the art of the Chemist without being approved by the Medical Board.
On December 3rd, 1874, a Royal Decree established that all Schools of Pharmacy should issue a Pharmacy Diploma, while only some Schools could award a Degree in Chemistry and Pharmacy, the University of Turin being one of them. The said decree also stated that the Diploma course would last 4 years and that the last year was to be a practica year, while the degree course would last 5 years (3 plus 2) including one year's practice. More space was needed following the growth in its role and function meaning that the Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry was moved from the small space, in via San Francesco da Paola, to its current premises in Corso Raffaello, which were inaugurated on November the 15th 1894. This is where the first Italian Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technique was established, in 1924, which was managed by its founder Francesco Nicola for many years. With a limited number of minor adjustments, the curriculum remained unchanged until the Framework Legislation on Higher Education was introduced in 1933 and Pharmacy Schools officially became Faculties. The Degree became a 4 year course and the Diploma was discontinued although it was only formally abolished in 1970.
