Year I – the foundations of research
The sole objective of the first year is to master the basics of research: from asking the right questions and selecting the proper methodology all the way to the first publication, in a total of four consecutive phases.
Phase I – Question • Planning: identifying and refining the key research question and creating a project plan; drafting the PhD thesis outline; mastering the HDS-TM methodology; launching data collection.
Phase II – Communication • Results: article-writing techniques, professional scientific communication, critical interpretation of results; completing the research and presenting the findings.
Phase III – Learning by Doing: personal meetings with leading researchers; finishing the search/data-aggregation work and reporting the progress achieved.
Phase IV – First publication: writing and finalising the first paper, then presenting the results at the progress report.
In Year I students devote four days a week to scientific work (meta-analyses, registry building, clinical trials) and only one day to residency duties and teaching. Every phase ends with a mandatory progress report where advancement must be demonstrated.
From Year II onward the focus is reversed: students work in the clinic on four days each week and have one protected day for research, now with greater independence.
