The Master in Veterinary Clinical Epidemiology Methodology (EPIVET) trains highly qualified professionals in the veterinary clinical epidemiology field, and focuses on small animals in particular.
The goal is providing advanced methodological competences to plan, conduct and analyse clinical and observational trials, and to assess diagnostic tests and risk measurements. It also provides innovative approaches to the development of predictive models.
Attendees will acquire essential tools to integrate scientific research into their clinical practice, thus improving clinical decision, health management and outcome reporting, in compliance with all ethical and regulatory principles.
The Master in Veterinary Clinical Epidemiology Methodology (EPIVET) provides advanced veterinary clinical epidemiology competences, with a focus on research planning, clinical data analysis, diagnostic test assessment, and risk measures.
Attendees will become proficient in developing clinical studies, interpreting data through statistical instruments, and developing predictive models. They will also become proficient in applying research outcomes to improve their clinical practice, make informed decisions, and develop communicative skills to present the results to colleagues, pet owners and the scientific community in a clear way. The Master sets the foundations for ongoing education, to remain abreast the latest developments of veterinary clinical epidemiology.
The course is provided only online and on-demand, to offer students the greatest flexibility. The course ends with a project work focused on one of the topics covered during the course, and discussed before a special committee that will grade the dissertation.
The Master in Veterinary Clinical Epidemiology Methodology (EPIVET) trains highly qualified professionals in the veterinary clinical epidemiology field, and focuses on small animals in particular. The goal is providing advanced competences to plan and analyse clinical and observational trials, to assess diagnostic tests and risk measurements, and to use innovative approaches to the creation of predictive models. Attendees will learn how to integrate scientific research into their clinical practice, improving clinical decision, health management and outcome reporting, in compliance with all ethical and regulatory aspects.
The Master in Veterinary Clinical Epidemiology Methodology (EPIVET) provides specific training on the following topics:
Module 1 – INTRODUCTION TO VETERINARY CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
Solid introduction focusing on the differences with population epidemiology and the specific application to the veterinary context. Some of the topics covered include: clinical epidemiology, normality and clinical variability, frequency measurements. It also analyses the importance of the clinical context when gathering and interpreting data.
Module 2 – VETERINARY CLINICAL TRIALS PLANNING
Planning insight, with a focus on internal and external validity. Some of the topics covered include: type of clinical trials (randomized, case-control, cohort), bias and confounding management, choice of the trial type based on specific clinical questions.
Module 3 – DIAGNOSTIC TEST ASSESSMENT AND CLINICAL RISK MEASURES
Use and assessment of diagnostic testing, with a focus on sensibility, specificity and predictive values. This module covers the integration of patient clinical management, calculation bases, and odds ratio interpretation with related risk. Goal of this module is fostering a critical and conscious use of diagnostic data, to support evidence-based clinical decisions.
Module 4 – EXPLORATIVE AND INFERENTIAL ANALYSIS OF VETERINARY CLINICAL DATA
Practical skills of explorative and inferential analysis of data gathered in veterinary clinical trials. Some of the topics covered include: methods to describe and summarize data, group and association inferential analysis tools, statistical model making principles to support advanced analyses.
Module 5 – PREDICTIVE MODELS AND MACHINE LEARNING INTRODUCTION IN VETERINARY CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
Concepts and practical applications in predictive models and machine learning techniques in veterinary clinics. Some of the topics covered include: construction and validation of clinical predictive models, introduction to the main machine learning techniques, practical clinical management cases.
Module 6 – ETHICAL AND REGULATORY ASPECTS IN VETERINARY CLINICAL RESEARCH
Ethical principles and regulations governing the sector, focusing on national and international law. Some of the topics covered include: animal welfare, ethical principles in clinical trials, and management of the regulatory permits required to conduct clinical trials.
Module 7 – SYSTEMATIC REVISIONS AND META-ANALYSIS FOR VETERINARY PRACTICE
Competences and essential instruments for evidence-based clinical decisions, with a focus on the assessment of evidence reliability, through structured grading systems. From research and critical selection of trials, to evidence summary, the entire process is covered to develop the skills to design, interpret and apply systemic revisions, in the clinical and research field, and contribute to evidence-based practice.
The Master in Veterinary Clinical Epidemiology Methodology (EPIVET), in its first edition at the University of Padua, in partnership with the Clinica Veterinaria San Marco (Veggiano, PD) – a third-party centre, leader in Europe for pet diagnosis and care, and recognized since 2011 as research hub by the Ministry for University and Research – trains professionals capable of planning clinical trials, assessing diagnostic tests, interpreting clinical data through statistical instruments, and developing predictive models.
The course faculty comprises field experts, and will offer several standpoints on the topic to enrich everyone’s training experience.
The general ranking of merit for the academic year 2025/26 will be published on the Italian page of this Master according to the timing provided in the Call.
Information
FAQ
Admission to the Master is based on degrees only. The methods are described on the Master’s participation form, available on the website of the University of Padua.
Yes, the following allowances are provided for:
1)Fee waiver for attendees with disabilities
Any attendees with a certified disability and invalidity between 66% and 100%, or those holding the relevant certification, pursuant to Law 104, shall not be required to pay the enrolment fee. They will be required to pay only the pre-enrolment and insurance fees, plus any stamp duties.
2) PA110 and students who graduated with honours
PA employees enrolling in the Master will benefit from a €330 discount on the second enrolment fee.
3) University staff
University staff may enrol in the course even in the case of supernumerary quota, in order to allow for their ongoing education. The enrolment fee for the University technical-administrative staff is equal to 20% of the fee required. If the technical-administrative staff possesses the requirements to enrol in the Course, they will obtain the related Diploma or Certificate upon its completion; if they do not possess the admission requirements, they may be admitted as auditors and be entitled to a participation certificate
4) Enrolment fee for auditors
The enrolment fee for auditors is equal to 50% of the course enrolment fee.
At the end of the course, the auditors who complied with the minimum attendance threshold will be entitled to a participation certificate issued by the Course Director.
The Master’s attendance is required and the minimum threshold to obtain the title and the certificate of attendance is 70% of online lessons.
The Master does not provide for any internships, only a project work on one of the topics covered during the Master.
The dissertation will be discussed online, before an assessing committee.
No, the Master does not provide any ECM, as it provides 60 CFU instead. By virtue of this attribution, attendees are exempted from acquiring the ECM.