This Blended Intensive Programme addresses the growing global challenge of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide.

Designed for Master’s and PhD students from medicine, biology, pharmacy, biomedical sciences, and related fields, the course provides both advanced theoretical knowledge and practical training in state-of-the-art research and clinical approaches.

Through a combination of virtual and physical components, participants will:

• explore novel pathophysiological mechanisms, including the role of the microbiome in cardiometabolic health;
• gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge methodologies such as digital PCR, next-generation sequencing, flow cytometry, and bioinformatics workflows;
• learn how to design clinical trials, analyze biomarkers, and translate basic research into clinical applications;
• develop transversal skills in scientific communication, grant writing, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

The programme brings together leading experts from CIVIS universities and external stakeholders (hospitals, biomedical companies, and research centres), offering a truly international, interdisciplinary, and translational perspective. It combines online flexibility with immersive hands-on training, bringing together experts, students, and industry partners to address the global challenge of cardiometabolic health.

Beyond scientific knowledge, participants gain teamwork, networking, and communication skills, building long-lasting collaborations and preparing for leadership in research and clinical innovation. By bridging basic research with clinical practice, it equips students with the competencies, networks, and vision to become future leaders in cardiometabolic health innovation.

The physical mobility section of the BIP will take place between 15-19 June 2026, in Bucharest, Romania:

Day 1 – Orientation & Advanced Diagnostics

• Welcome session and intercultural exchange activities
• Introductory lecture: digital PCR in cardiometabolic health
• Hands-on workshop: digital PCR experiments and biomarker analysis

Day 2 – Cellular & Immune Mechanisms

• Lecture: flow cytometry in cardiovascular and metabolic research
• Practical workshop: sample preparation, staining, and flow cytometry analysis
• Data interpretation and discussion

Day 3 – Industry & Research Immersion

• Visit to pharmaceutical company: insights into drug development and clinical translation
• Visit to eBioHub Bioengineering Center: exposure to bioengineering, molecular diagnostics, and tissue engineering innovations

Day 4 – Data Integration & Collaborative Learning

• Workshop: integrating data from digital PCR and flow cytometry
• Group work: project development, data analysis, and mentorship sessions
• Training in communication: refining elevator pitches and project proposals

Day 5 – Student Presentations & Networking

• Student group presentations (elevator pitches on research projects/solutions)
• Feedback and evaluation by faculty and industry experts
• Closing session, certificate ceremony, and networking event

The course will run online between 12 February - 22 May 2026. 

12 February, 14.00-15.00: Introductory Lecture Epidemiology and Challenges in CardioMetabolic Disease (Fernando Rodriguez Artalejo, Jose Luis Lopez Sendon) 

• Basic epidemiology of CardioMetabolic Disease 
• Current therapies 
• Future challenges and Unmet needs

Virtual Unit 1

13 February, 14.00-15.00: Risk of complications in diabetes: heterogeneity among diabetes types (E. Maddaloni, SUR); Journal club (Group A of students)

Discussion:

• Phenotypes and endotypes of adult-onset diabetes 
• Risk stratification of vascular diabetic complications in different diabetes types 
• Implications for therapies  

19 February, 14.00-15.00: Insights into the mechanisms of diabetic complications (Grațiela Grădișteanu, UB); Journal club (Group B of students)

Discussion:  

• Animal models to study diabetes complications  
• Modulation of signal transduction pathways  
• Molecular regulation of anti-fibrotic responses in diabetes 

20 February, 14.00-15.00: Overweight/ obesity and the changing cardiometabolic profile of type 1 diabetes (R. Risi, SUR); Journal club (Group C of students)

Discussion: 

• PBMCs: heterogeneity of the population and isolation methods 
• PBMCs as marker of metabolic disease 
• Immunometabolic activation of PBMCs: a possible pathogenetic moment in metabolic disease? 

26 February, 14.00-15.00: Type 2 Diabetes: From Pathophysiology to Cyber Systems (Anca Pantea Stoian, UB); Journal club (Group D of students)

Discussion: 

• Lifestyle and nutritional interventions in diabetes 
• Systems to support early diagnosis and prevention of prediabetes 

Virtual Unit 2  

27 February, 13.30-14.30: Cell senescence, inflammageing and vascular disease (C.Peiró); Journal club (Group E of students)

Discussion:  

• Vascular ageing: why does it matter? 
• The hallmarks of vascular ageing 
• Vascular cell senescence, the SASP and inflammageing 

5 March, 13.30-14.30: Development of fibrosis in the cardiovascular system (O. Lorenzo); Journal club (Group A of students)

Discussion:

• Sobreexpresion of extracellular matrix (ECM) components 
• Deregulation of ECM degradation 
• Accumulation of ECM and cardiac remodelling 

6 March, 14.00-16.00: Metabolic reprogramming in obesity-associated liver dysfunction (E. Gurzov)

Discussion:  

• Brief introduction to novel techniques for the study of metabolic diseases (single cell RNA Seq, spatial transcriptomics, spatial lipidomics, etc).  
• Use of stem cells for gene editing, differentiation in metabolic cells and pathology modelling. 
• Therapeutic possibilities and future perspectives. 

Cardiovascular biomechanics: inflammation, fibrosis and remodeling (N. Baeyens). Discussion.  

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing in patients with cardiovascular risk factor and ischemic heart disease (G. Deboeck). Discussion. 

12 March, 14.00-15.00: Journal club 1 (Group B of students, N. Baeyens, E. Gurzov); Journal club 2 (Group D of students).

Discussion:

• The basic elements of a correct participant information sheet and informed consent document. 
• Making an application for ethical review and regulatory approval. 
• The ethical and regulatory review process. 

Virtual Unit 3  

13 March, 13.30-14.30: Health policies in diabetes and cardiovascular health and clinical trials (Oana Geambașu); Design and present the summary of a clinical trial for diabetes/ cardiovascular disease interventions (Group A of students).

Discussion: 

• Strategy, public policy, and governmental programs 
• Research, innovation, and technology strategies based on the most recent global trends and examples of good practice. 

19 March, 13.30-14.30: From treat to target to treat to benefit in diabetes: the changing landscape of cardiovascular outcome trials in diabetes (E. Maddaloni); Critical analysis of different cardiovascular outcome trials in diabetes, focusing on the impact of different study design and different enrolled populations on the clinical implications (Group B of students).

Discussion: 

• Glycemic control and CVD in diabetes: does it matter? 
• Cardiovascular outcome trials (CVOT) in type 2 diabetes 
• Impact of CVOT on clinical practice guidelines 

20 March - 19 April: Easter break 

23 April, 13.30-14.30: How to apply for the ethical approval of a clinical trial (A. Borobia).

Discussion: 

• Regulation of clinical trials in Europe: the basics. 
• Participants rights in clinical trials. 
• Ethical evaluation of clinical trials: the protection of participants. 

24 April, 13.30-14.30: Design and draft an ethical committee approval and an informed consent (Group C of students, A. Borobia, A. Carcas)

Discussion:

• The basic elements of a correct participant information sheet and informed consent document. 
• Making an application for ethical review and regulatory approval. 
• The ethical and regulatory review process. 

Virtual Unit 4 

30 April, 13.30-14.30: Introduction to therapeutic approaches for cardiac regeneration to combat heart failure (I. Mourouzis); Journal club (Group C of students). 

Discussion: 

• Examples of cardiac regeneration in nature 
• Different ways to regenerate the heart – target cells 
• Current research and efforts: where we stand  

7 May, 13.30-14.30: Introduction to cardiac organ donor preservation methods: the unmet need of heart transplantation (C. Pantos); Journal club (Group E of students).

Discussion:

• Heart transplantation as a very effective and unique therapy for end-stage heart failure 
• Cardioplegia as the gold standard for cardiac donor preservation: strengths and limitations 
• Novel methods for cardiac donor preservation to expand the donor pool 

8 May, 13.30-15.00: How to design a phase II Clinical Trial with novel drugs in in cardiovascular disease (I. Mourouzis); Design and present the summary of a clinical trial for a new regenerative therapy for the heart including the main components such as inclusion/ exclusion criteria, sample size, end-points, follow-up (Group D of students)

Discussion:

• The appropriate design in a new phase II trial with a novel drug in patients with myocardial infarction 
• How to select inclusion/exclusion criteria in a new phase II trial with a novel drug in patients with myocardial infarction 
• How to select the Primary and secondary outcomes 
• Calculate the number of patients to be included  

Virtual Unit 5

14 May, 13.30-14.30: Write and present a 2-page letter of intent for a grant proposal on "Cardiovascular disease in diabetes" guided by tutors (Group E of students; E. Maddaloni, Giulia D’Amati, R.Risi). Students would have to come up with a new hypothesis, a methodological plan to test it within a two years frame period and prepare a project proposal: 

• How to formulate a scientifically-sound hypothesis and appropriate objectives 
• Choose the correct study design to pursue the specified objectives 
• Time-line and GANTT chart 

15 May, 13.30-14.30: Write and present a 2-page letter of intent for a grant proposal on "Novel therapeutic approaches in type 2 diabetes" guided by tutors (Group A of students; Grațiela Grădișteanu, Sorina Dinescu):  

• How to formulate a scientific research idea  
• Tips and tricks on milestones, deliverables and key project indicators 
• How to formulate working packages and tasks  

21 May, 14.00-16.00: Grant writing (Group B of students; N. Baeyens, E. Gurzov, A. Bondue). Students would have to come up with:

• a new hypothesis,  
• a methodological plan to test it within a two years frame period and  
• prepare a project proposal 

22 May, 13.30-14.30: Write and present a 2-page letter of intent for a grant proposal on "Novel therapeutic approaches for cardiac regeneration" guided by tutors (Group C of students; I. Mourouzis, A. Lourbopoulos). Students would have to come up with

• a new hypothesis,  
• a methodological plan to test it within a two years frame period and  
• prepare a project proposal.