Multidisciplinarity and complementarity of specialist skills are provided through mastery:

-   basic disciplines and courses:

1) General Microbiology

2) Medical (special) microbiology

3) Histology, cytology and embryology

4) Biological and medical chemistry

5) Pharmacology

6) Clinical Immunology

-   innovative sections and blocks in their composition:

1) Human microbiome, its role in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of infectious and non-infectious diseases

2)   Epigenetics

3)   Immunohistochemistry

4)   Modern methods of clinical and laboratory diagnostics

5)   Omics disciplines (metabolomics, nutriomics and proteomics)

6)   Bioinformatics, databases, mathematical modeling and IT technologies in medical practice

The main task of the department's specialists is to teach students to think independently and be able to analyze available information 

General microbiology belongs to the program of professional training students of the Faculty of Dentistry at the State Higher Educational Institution “Uzhhorod National University”. General microbiology as an educational discipline gives students theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the features of the structure, systematics, reproduction and nutrition of microorganisms, convert by them of organic and mineral forms of various elements of nutrition, the relationship between microorganisms and other organisms, the use of microorganisms in various sectors of the economics. This discipline is studied at the second course of study. Particular attention is paid by the discipline sections of courses directly related to the practice of a doctor-dentist. 

Medical (special) microbiology is one of the normative disciplines that studies the biological properties of microorganisms, their systematics, ecology, relationships with other organisms, first of all, the pathogenesis (mechanism of development) of diseases caused by microorganisms. Medical microbiology develops methods of microbiological diagnosis, specific prevention and etiotropic therapy (that is, aimed at the cause of the disease, the microorganism-causative agent). This training course is taught at the second year of study. 

Histology, cytology and embryology are fundamental disciplines for students of medico-biological profile, including dentists. It’s studied on the first year of study. They belong to the sciences, which are the basis of higher medical education. On the basis of mastering these disciplines formed a holistic view of the microscopic and ultrastructural structure, patterns of development, regenerative properties of cells, tissues and organs of the organism. Histology, cytology and embryology provide, together with fundamental disciplines, the possibility of studying theoretical and clinical pathology. Histological studies of biological tissues are widely used in medical practice of a dentist. 

Biological and medical chemistry is one of the most important disciplines in the system of higher medical education. It provides the basis for students to study molecular biology, genetics, physiology, pathology, general and molecular pharmacology, toxicology and propaedeutics of medical disciplines, which involves the integration of teaching with these disciplines and the formation of abilities to apply knowledge on biological and bioorganic chemistry, primarily biochemical processes taking place in an organism of a healthy and with diseases person, in the process of further training and professional activity. The systematic study of the subject provides the basis for clinical diagnosis of the most common diseases, monitoring the course of the disease, control over the effectiveness of the use of medicines and measures aimed at preventing the occurrence and development of pathological processes. The main task of biological and bioorganic chemistry as a fundamental discipline is to provide a scientific approach and lay new theoretical foundations for the clinical thinking of the future doctor-dentist. 

Pharmacology is a science about medicines and their effects on a living organism. It’s one of the most ancient sciences, which is the basis for the preparation of doctors. Pharmacology teaches the doctor to select from among of the entire existing medical products most effective and safest drug for individualized therapy and prophylaxis considering its comorbidities. In-depth knowledge of pharmacology will help determine the correct mode of use of the medicinal product, its pharmaceutical form and route of administration, prevent and eliminate adverse reactions and undesirable drug interactions. 

Clinical immunology is a discipline that studies the etiology and pathogenesis of immune disorders, clinical and laboratory signs of immunodeficiency states, the importance of immunopathological changes in the development of various diseases of infectious, autoimmune, oncological, recurrent and chronic processes, methods of immunotherapy, immuno-correction and immunorehabilitation. A dentist requires in-depth knowledge of the fundamental and applied aspects of clinical immunology, defined by international qualification requirements. 

Advanced techniques in clinical and laboratory diagnostics. In modern medicine laboratory diagnostics gain an even more important practical value, therefore highly qualified dentists are expected to have basic knowledge in up-to-date clinical laboratory diagnostics. In the course of this section, students will have the opportunity to study more about the real potential of a modern medical laboratory, the prospects for further development of laboratory diagnostics and the importance of this healthcare industry. During the study, students will acquire the appropriate knowledge of the necessary diagnostics techniques for timely detection and adequate assessment of the course of diseases, their prognosis and effective treatment.

These modern clinical and laboratory tests should include, in particular, real-time PCR, sequencing, ELISA, immunohistochemistry, proteomic analysis by MALDI-TOF, etc.

Human microbiome is a determining factor in human health. Its formation is influenced both by genetics and "epigenetics", such as nutrition, environment, lifestyle, etc. Today, the relation between human microbiome and a variety of different, including non-communicable diseases is proven and well known. Thus, maintaining the sustainability of human microbiome and understanding its regulatory mechanisms are one of the objectives of P4 medicine. Within the framework of this section, students will acquire a complete understanding of the human microbiome, its role in the diagnostics, prevention, and treatment of the infectious and non-infectious diseases.

 Epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in the phenotype (appearance) or in the expression of the genes that are caused by other mechanisms than

an alteration in the sequence of nucleotides in DNA. 

Epigenetics is a relatively new science, but at the same time one of the most important biological fields, that explains a wide range of phenomena in the world of living organisms, their development, variability, and heredity. For dental practitioners, the study of this discipline is of paramount importance, given that the understanding of the key mechanisms of biological processes influencing the formation and maintenance of quality of human life is necessary for the introduction of P4 medicine, and somatic human health is determined primarily by oral health status.

 Immunohistochemistry is one of the most common methods of modern diagnostics that involves the process of selectively imaging proteins (antigens) in cells of biological tissues exploiting the antigen/antibody reaction.

 Immunohistochemistry is widely used for diagnosis of diseases, biological research and is the purpose of new drugs testing. Mastering its basics is necessary for any physician, moreover, being one of the most common and precise methods of express diagnostics IHC is extremely important in the practice of a modern dentist.

 The omics studies (metabolomics, nutriomics, and proteomics) is a collection of disciplines aimed at providing holistic approaches to the understanding of the regulation processes of molecular mechanisms in the human body. Today, the knowledge of the omics disciplines is already used in successful clinical practice.

 Metabolomics is a technology that includes a set of analytical and bioinformatic methods for the quantitative identification and identification of small-molecule metabolites (metabolome), that play a decisive role in the functioning of individual cells, tissues or the body as a whole. The main purpose of the metabolomics is to determine the changes in the biochemical phenotype of the organism, due to its genetic modification or in response to any environmental influences.

 Nutriomics is a science, that deals with how food components affect human health, changing the expression of genes and the structure of the genome. Proteomics is a field of molecular biology, the main subject of which is the study of proteins, their functions, and interactions in living organisms, including the human. The main task of proteomics is the quantitative analysis of the expression of proteins in cells, depending on their type, condition or the influence of external conditions. Proteomics carries out a comparative analysis of large groups of proteins - from all proteins involved in one or another biological process to a complete proteomic analysis of an individual.

 Bioinformatics, databases, mathematical modeling and IT technologies in medical practice

Studying this block of disciplines is necessary for any dental practitioner, as it allows them to become familiar with and learn how to use modern methods in processing their research data, to acquire knowledge of the tools and information technologies critical to the introduction of P4 medicine.

 IT medicine in laboratory medical research is associated with the use of algorithms for diagnosis, prognostic treatment, and prevention. In addition, it is necessary to master the practical skills to use existing databases, various medical expert systems, and mathematical modeling.