LIGHT4HEALTH (Health Research-Based Innovative Open Educational Resources and Tools for Lighting Design Students and Professionals) develops a novel educational course to teach health research methods and findings to lighting designers at graduate level.

Partners include: University of Wolverhampton (UK), KTH Royal Institute of Technology (SE), Hoscschule Wismar (DE), Aalborg University (DK), Itmo University (RUS). 

Associated Partners: VIA-Verlag company (DE), Università Iuav di Venezia (IT), Vicenza Institute of Architecture (IT), Roma Tre University (IT), Tallinn University - The School of Digital Technologies (EST).    

The aim of these programs is to exchange students (2nd and 3rd cycles) and staff between Thomas Jefferson University and Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (UCSC)

Erasmus+ KA107 No. 2019-1-IT02-KA107-061604
(Vascular & Precision Medicine)

Through its partnership with Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in 2019, Thomas Jefferson University participated in the Erasmus+ KA107 programme with a project focusing on Vascular and Precision Medicine that has been successfully selected and funded.

In order for mobility activities to take place, an inter-institutional agreement was signed between the Project Coordinator, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, and Jefferson. By signing an inter-institutional agreement, the institutions involved agree to cooperate for the exchange of students and / or staff in the context of Erasmus+. They commit themselves to respecting the quality requirements of the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education in all aspects of the organization and management of mobility and agree on a series of quantitative and qualitative measures to ensure mobility of high quality and impact.

It also ensures that the sending institution will recognize the credits gained by its students, for activities successfully completed abroad, as a part of their degree upon return.

Project Synopsis

Project Erasmus+ KA107 No. 2019-1-IT02-KA107-061604

Project duration: 24 months, August 1, 2019 – July 31, 2021 (1 year extension due to Covid)

Project Coordinator: Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy

Partner Institution: Thomas Jefferson University, USA

Vascular Medicine Scientific Coordinators
Prof. Raffaele Landolfi UCSC
Prof. Paul Di Muzio Jefferson

Precision Medicine Scientific Coordinators
Prof. Walter Ricciardi UCSC
Prof. Vittorio Maio Jefferson

The project fosters staff and student mobility.  Students, depending on the field of mobility, will be allowed to participate in the care of patients with varying demographics, use technological advances not available at their home institution, have improved understanding of advanced methodological techniques, advance their educational experience, and gain new expertise in their respective research/practice area.

In terms of study programs, Vascular Medicine at Università Cattolica includes a dedicated medical ward and a vascular service training students and fellows, a partnership with vascular surgery and a team including internists, surgeons, diabetologists, interventional radiologists and cardiologists. Vascular Medicine at TJU includes a large surgical service training students and general surgical residents, a partnership with a large medical service and collaborations with Structural Heart & Interventional Radiology programs. In terms of complementarity, Università Cattolica offers more opportunities for studying non-invasive and minimally invasive treatments while TJU has more experience in the surgical approach and in the treatment of complicated surgical wounds. Precision Medicine at Università Cattolica Public Health Institute includes Master of Science in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, PhD courses in Basic Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, medical fellowship in Public Health, Master in Bioethics, Master in Global and Urban Health, Master in Hygiene and Maritime Health, 2nd-level courses in Leadership in Healthcare, biostatistical courses, Public Health fellowship training for medical doctors within hospital hygiene and clinical governance units at Gemelli hospital. Precision Medicine at Jefferson College of Population Health focuses on Comparative Health Systems, International Healthcare Quality & Patient Safety, Economic Modeling of Health Technology, Measuring Subjective Health Outcomes, Research Methods, Epidemiology and Statistical Methods. In terms of complementarity, the academic offer of the partners is perfectly aligned. Precision Medicine at Università Cattolica offers possibilities to explore the implementation of health economics and technology assessment in the context of a public national system, while Jefferson adapts this expertise in a private setting.

Italian education is traditionally based on a strong biological background while US education is more focused on professionalization and problem-solving. Thus, the exchange of experiences in educational, clinical and research activities is expected to be of mutual benefit. Also, the 2 topics are expected to be of mutual fertilization since the methodology and tools of Precision Medicine may help personalize prevention and treatment of Vascular Medicine patients.

As for staff

Faculty will be teaching at the partner institution allowing for an exchange of different views, methods and sharing of good practices, which will benefit all students, not only those involved in the project. Faculty will also discuss, plan and test integrated training modules in a broader setting where both institutions’ contributions can lead to high-value results and learning new teaching methods.

Administrative staff will acquire knowledge to ease credit recognition and transfer and improve procedures and define requirements for student and staff international mobility.

Activities Supported

Student Mobility for Studies: open to first cycle (pre-med), second cycle (MD) students as well as third cycle (fellow, PhD, post-doctoral/PhD) candidates.

Mobility period supported: up to three months.

Student Mobility for Traineeships: open to third cycle (fellow, PhD, post-doctoral/PhD) candidates. Mobility period supported: 2 months.

Staff Mobility for Teaching: for academic staff. The mobility period can last 1 week.

Staff Mobility for Training: aimed at administrative staff in the form of job shadowing and observation periods. The mobility period can last 1 week.