ACADEMICS & CURRICULUM

Course Directors:  Jason Bodily, PhD (Department of Microbiology and Immunology), David McGee (Department of Microbiology and Immunology), Oren Rom (Department of Pathology and Translational Pathobiology)

When course is offered:  Fall, Annually

This is an introductory course for first year Ph.D. Graduate Students.  Students will learn scientific methods from examples in the literature and from research rotations.  They will learn how to find, read, and assess scientific literature. Students will present work from their rotations in both written and oral forms. The oral presentations will include description of the method used, its practical applications, its limitations, and how the method was used in the research rotation for specific experiments. The written presentation will be in a manuscript form with the major parts of a paper included.

A weekly seminar program for IGP students. Students will attend the weekly seminar offered in one of the basic science departments each week of the fall and spring seminar. During the course of the semester, the specific seminar series attended generally will correspond to the program of the student’s lab rotation mentor. Students are expected to participate in the discussions both semesters and to present a fifty-minute seminar during the spring semester. If no seminar is offered by the rotating department during a given week, the student is expected to attend a seminar in another department.

A weekly journal club focused on current topics in Biomedical Sciences for students participating in the IGP program. Students will attend a journal club offered in one of the five basic science departments each week of the fall and spring semesters. During the course of the semester, the weekly journal club attended will correspond to the department/program of their current lab rotation mentor. Students are expected to participate in the discussions both semesters and to present a 30-45 minute journal club during the spring semester. If no journal club is offered by the rotating department during a given week, the student is expected to attend a journal club from another department.

This course provides students in the IGP program credit for their efforts in laboratory rotations. To help identify a mentor and dissertation project, each matriculating student in the IGP program will rotate through up to five laboratories during the course of the first two semesters. Each rotation will be six weeks long. Once a mentor is identified during the second semester, the student will remain in the lab for the rest of the semester.

Course Director:  Lucy Robinson, Ph.D. (Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)

When course is offered:  Fall, Annually

Prerequisites:  None
Textbook:  Biochemistry, Voet and Voet, 4th Edition

Course Description:  This course provides an introduction to the basic biochemical properties of amino acids and proteins, a discussion of protein assembly and folding into the three-dimensional structures required for function and an introduction to basic principles of enzyme kinetics, examples of enzyme active site structure and mechanism of action. Topics on membrane transport, carbohydrates and the important biochemical processes and enzymes that cells utilize to generate metabolic energy are also included in this section. The course concludes with a basic introduction to nucleic acids structure and function: replication, transcription, RNA processing and protein synthesis

Course Director:  Kelly Tatchell, Ph.D. (Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)

When course is offered:  Spring, Annually

Prerequisite:  IDSP 110

Textbook: Molecular Biology of the Cell, Alberts et al, 5th Edition

Course Description:  This course will provide the student with an overview of classical genetics as well as an in-depth consideration of several fundamental processes involving DNA, including its recombination and repair. The course will also explore the emerging areas of genomics and proteomics. Lectures and discussions of the current literature will comprise the course.

Course Director:  Donard Dwyer, Ph.D. (Dept of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Neuroscience)

When course is offered:  Fall, Annually

Prerequisites:  none

Textbook:  Principles and Techniques of Practical Biochemistry, Wilson & Walker, 5th Edition

Course Description:  Methods in Biomedical Sciences is a discussion of principles and application of common methods used for detection and analysis of macromolecules and their structure, function, and interaction. This course covers biochemical methods of separation and detection of macromolecules as well as structural analysis.  There will be some form of out-of-class work for many lecture topics, including problems, literature reviews and visits to core facilities and major equipment. The goals of the course are: to develop an understanding of basic methods applied to the study of proteins and nucleic acids; to become familiar with the instrumentation used for these methods (students should be aware of what instrumentation is required to use a particular method and have a basic idea how it is used), and to become aware of the ways that these methods and techniques are applied to biomedical study, i.e., understand what methods could/should be used to study a particular scientific problem. There will be one exam at the end of the course.

Course Director:  Rona Scott, Ph.D. (Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology)

When course is offered: Fall, Annually

Prerequisites: none

Course Description:  Goals are the same as for IDSP 116. This course covers recombinant DNA methods, including cloning and gene expression, DNA sequencing, PCR, and mutagenesis. The course also covers analysis of nucleic acids and proteins, including interaction detection methods, genomics and proteomics and also covers direct observation methods of analysis and immunological methods. There will be one exam at the end of the course.

Course Directors:  Christopher Schmoutz, Ph.D. (Dept. of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Neuroscience; Shile Huang, Ph.D. (Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)

When course is offered:  Fall, Annually

Prerequisites: none

Textbook: Molecular Biology of the Cell, Alberts et al, 6th Edition

Course Description: An introduction to cellular signaling processes in eukaryotic cells, cell structure and the mechanisms underlying cell division and protein trafficking. The course will focus on the cell biology of the nucleus, regulation of the cytoskeleton, secretory pathways, endocytosis, protein targeting, ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis, apoptotic mechanisms, mechanisms of cell division and cell cycle control, the mechanisms involved in protein and membrane trafficking, and adhesion-mediated biology.  Lectures and discussions of the current literature will comprise the course.

Course Director:  David Gross, Ph.D. (Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)

When course is offered:  Spring, Annually

Prerequisites:  IDSP 111, 112, 113, 114, 115

Textbook: Molecular Biology of the Cell, Alberts et al, 5th Edition                  

Course Directors: Christopher Schmoutz, Ph.D. (Dept of Pharmacology, Toxicology & Neuroscience). Xiuping Yu, Ph.D. (Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)

When course is offered:  Spring, Annually

Course Description:  This course will discuss the theories and applications of laboratory animal models to study human diseases. The goal of this course is to give students a working knowledge of the use of animal models in research, types of models and how to choose for translational relevance.

Course Director:  Xiuping Yu, Ph.D. (Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)

When course is offered:  As needed

Prerequisites:  Permission of course director.

Course Description:  This is a two credit introductory course team-taught by basic scientists and clinical    scientists. Three topics will be covered:  1) An introduction and overview of cancer; 2) cancer cell biology; 3) the molecular pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cancer; . Students will learn about the biochemical mechanisms operating during development of neoplasia, oncogenes, tumor suppresser genes, metastasis, angiogenesis, tumor immunology, diagnostic approaches (conventional and molecular) and treatment modalities. The course will consist of lectures and literature discussions that stress the research approaches and findings that currently form the basis for our understanding of how neoplastic cells arise and form cancers. This course will form the basis for more advanced courses in the cell and molecular biology of cancer.

Course Director:  Shile Huang, Ph.D. (Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)

When course is offered:  As needed

Prerequisites:  IDSP 201, Approval by Course Director

Course Description:  An advanced course, involving lecture and discussion, to study the processes involved in the development of metastatic disease. Students will learn the fundamentals, including the key molecules, events and signaling pathways that are directly involved in the invasive/metastatic processes. Important seminal papers as well as current literature will form the basis of student discussion.

Course Director:  Jason Bodily, Ph.D. (Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology)

When course is offered:  Fall and Spring semesters

Prerequisites:  none

Course Description:  A journal club/research in progress format is used for the discussion of published and unpublished findings in cancer biology. Emphasis is on critical evaluation of experimental design and interpretation. Students will present and participate in overall discussions. Grading will be based on participation and attendance. The class will meet once a week for 1 hr.

Course Director:  Nancy Leidenheimer, Ph.D. (Dept of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)

When course is offered:  Fall semester

Prerequisites:  none

Description of course: An overview of bioinformatics and computational biology in the context of biomedical research. This course will enable students to integrate bioinformatics into their research projects by providing an understanding of the computational resources, tools, interfaces, and databases that are useful to the non-bioinformatician. Basic skills such as sequence alignments, “omics” analysis, and pathway construction will be taught with relevance to cancer, microbiology, neuroscience, and biochemistry. Students will also be introduced to translational/medical bioinformatics, as well as the power of programming for mining databases. Programming skills are not required.

Course Director:  Steven Alexander, Ph.D. (Dept. of Molecular and Cellular Physiology)

When course is offered:  Spring, Annually

Prerequisites for course:  None

Course Description:  An integrative approach to the physiology, anatomy, histology and pharmacology of the cardiovascular system.

Course Director:  Karen Stokes, Ph.D. (Dept. of Molecular and Cellular Physiology)

When course is offered:  Spring, Annually

Prerequisites for course:  None

Course Description:  An integrative approach to understanding the kidney's role in maintaining homeostasis. Emphasis will be on global regulation of salt, water and acid/base balance seen from a traditional as well as molecular perspective. Where available, "knockout" animals and functional expression analyses are incorporated.

Course Director:  Christopher Pattillo, Ph.D. (Dept. of Molecular and Cellular Physiology)

When course is offered:  Spring, Annually

Prerequisites for course:  None

Course Description:  An integrative course covering the physiology, anatomy/histology and pharmacology of the respiratory system.

Course Director:  Norman Harris, Ph.D. (Dept. of Molecular and Cellular Physiology)

When course is offered:  Spring, Annually

Prerequisites for course:  None

Course Description:  Integrative course covering the anatomy, physiology and pharmacology of the gastrointestinal tract.

Course Director: Diana Cruze-Topete, Ph.D. (Dept of Molecular and Cellular Physiology)

When course is offered:  Spring, Annually

Prerequisites for course:  None

Course Description:  An integrative course covering the physiology, anatomy, histology and pharmacology of the endocrine system.

Course Director:  Elizabeth Disbrow, Ph.D. (Dept. of Pharmacology, Toxicology & Neuroscience)

When course is offered:  Spring, Annually

Prerequisites for course:  None

Course Description:  Integrative anatomical, physiological and pharmacological examination of the nervous system.

Course Director:  Elizabeth Disbrow, Ph.D. (Dept of Pharmacology, Toxicology & Neuroscience)

When course is offered:  annually, fall semester

Prerequisites for course:  none

Textbook:  Understanding Statistics in the Behavioral Sciences, R. Pagano, 10th edition

Course Description:  This course is designed for graduate students who have little background in statistics. The lectures and associated homework assignments will provide working knowledge of basic statistical methods and their applications. Lectures will be based on chapters from the textbook. Topics will include frequency distribution, correlations, regression analysis, probability,  distributions and hypothesis testing. Examples of use of these methods, descriptions of experimental design incorporating these methods and ethical treatment of data will be considered in all aspects of the course.

Course Director:  Nobel Bhuiyan, Ph.D. (Dept of Medicine)

When course is offered:  annually, fall semester, after IDSP 226

Prerequisites for course: none

Textbook:  Understanding Statistics in the Behavioral Sciences, R. Pagano, 10th edition

Course Description:  This course is designed for a graduate student who has knowledge of basic statistics. The lectures and homework assignments will provide working knowledge of more advanced statistical methods/concepts and their applications. Lectures will be based on chapters from the textbook. Additional material will supplement this text. Topics will include power analysis, parametric and non-parametric analysis, analysis of variance and components and factor analyses. Examples of use of these methods, descriptions of experimental design incorporating these methods and ethical treatment of data will be considered in all aspects of the course.

Course Directors:  Xiaohong Lu, Ph.D. (Dept. of Pharmacology, Toxicology & Neuroscience) and Dr. Shile Huang (Dept of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)

When course is offered:  As needed

Prerequisites for course:  none

Course Description:  An overview of gene therapy emphasizing the clinical history, the types of diseases that could benefit the most and ethical issues. Some of the major gene transfer vector systems will be covered in detail, highlighting advances in this rapidly developing field. Student's grades will be based on participation in discussion of current research and review articles, as well as exams.

Course Director: Andrew Yurochko, Ph.D. (Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology)

When course is offered:  Annually, fall semester

Prerequisites for course:  None

Course Description:   This IDSP235 Grant Writing course will provide a broad overview of the principles of grantsmanship, and the multiple steps involved in grant writing and submission and review of a grant application. Elements of the class will include how to write a competitive grant, grant submission, the role of the Office of Sponsored Programs in grant submissions, the review process, and the submission of revised applications. The overall goal of the course is to provide the student with a basic understanding of the entire grant process, along with an education about the specifics of grant writing and how to try to secure funding as an academic scientist.

Course Director:  Kelly Tatchell, Ph.D. (Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)

When course is offered:  Fall, annually

Prerequisites for course:  None

Textbook:  Scientific Integrity, Francis L. Macrina, 4^th edition

Course Description: The objective of this course is to provide an understanding of the underlying philosophy in scientific endeavors and the ethical issues that face scientists. The course will involve detailed discussions about the history of scientific thought, the scientific method, experimentation and data collection, mentoring and current ethical issues. Sessions will include lectures and discussions by faculty and students.

Course Director:  Kelly Tatchell, Ph.D. (Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)

When course is offered:  Summer, annually

Prerequisites for course:  None

Textbook:  Scientific Integrity, Francis L. Macrina, 4^th edition

Course Description: This course is a continuation of IDSP240A. The objective of this course is to provide an understanding of the underlying philosophy in scientific endeavors and the ethical issues that face scientists. The course will involve detailed discussions about scientific collaborations, ethical issues of human clinical trials, experimentation and data collection, mentoring and current ethical issues. Sessions will include lectures and discussions by faculty and students.

Course Director:  Kenneth McMartin, Ph.D. (Dept of Pharmacology, Toxicology & Neuroscience)

When course is offered:  Every semester

Prerequisites for course:  None

Course Description:  A discussion format in which students, postdoctoral fellows, research personnel and faculty from the Health Sciences Center with a common interest in toxicology and Environmental Health meet to present emerging concepts, research data and hypothesis-driven research proposals in all toxicological sub-specialties. Topics will be selected from peer-reviewed toxicology-based literature, from research findings from the participant's own laboratories, or from proposals in preparation for external funding. Class sessions will include occasional, scheduled meetings with toxicologists from nearby institutions in the tri-state area. Students will be taught oral presentation skills, methods of evaluating current trends in Toxicology literature and research, and fundamentals of the grant-writing and review process. Grading will be based on student presentations and participation in class discussion. Section A is offered in the fall semester for 0.5 credit and Section B is offered in the spring semester for 0.5 credit.