This course delves into the biotechnology techniques and advances that have impacted the world of biomedical research and medicine.

Generally taken as the second graduate level independent study. Involves an oral presentation at a laboratory meeting or to departmental faculty. Students complete contract with their faculty sponsor.

The focus is on presentation of manuscripts highlighting innovative discoveries and technical approaches as well as controversial results that address topics related to development and disease. The topics detail contemporary use of genetically engineered organisms to define cell signaling required to establish cell lineages in developing tissues, the process of gametogenesis and epigenetic imprinting and how these mechanisms are disrupted in diseases such as cancer.

Presentation and critique by students of recent scientific papers in the field of immunology and infectious diseases.

Presentation of research projects and literature review by faculty and graduate students within the department as well as by guest speakers from around the world.

Students will learn a very structured method/approach to writing scientific papers beginning with use of their their own data (in figure or table format) brought to class and step by step construction of scientific information that will result in a manuscript, thesis, dissertation or planning document.

Presentation and critique by students of recent scientific papers and their own work in progress.

Description not available at this time.

Changes in the prevalence of cancer and contemporary diagnostics and treatments. While these have dramatically decreased mortality, cancer continues to claim more than 585,000 lives annually. The focus will be on the mechanisms that are corrupted in cancer cells and the differences in vulnerability among tissues, the technologies used to define pathways and lessons learned and strategies being used to exploit the vulnerabilities of tumors for personalized and targeted therapeutics.