Department of Biological Sciences

In this 2-part course, students will receive training in professionalism. Training workshops will include Strengths Finder sessions, resume writing, finding community service and healthcare observation opportunities, crafting personal statements, navigating the complexities of the various application systems and strategies for admissions-test preparation.

In this 2-part course, students will receive training in professionalism. Training workshops will include Strengths Finder sessions, resume writing, finding community service and healthcare observation opportunities, crafting personal statements, navigating the complexities of the various application systems and strategies for admissions-test preparation.

Biochemistry is the study of molecular mechanisms that underlie biological systems. It provides the molecular basis for biomedical science. This case-study based course will discuss metabolic interrelationships, reaction rates, control mechanisms, integration of metabolic networks, with an emphasis on clinical implications.

Human Physiology provides students with an understanding of the function and integration of organ systems within the human body. This case-study based course will discuss the structure and function of human organ systems, homeostasis and the clinical implications of perturbations in these systems.

Comprehensive examination of mammalian viral, bacteria and fungal pathogens, with emphasis on the pathogenic mechanisms of disease, host responses, development of resistance. Case studies pertaining to diagnosis, prevention and therapies will be included.

A lecture course on the principles of virology, including the structure and diversity of viruses, viral strategies for survival and replication, and disease etiology and therapeutic treatments. A variety of different viruses will be examined that have influenced people and the environment, such as Influenza, HIV, and Polio, and important viruses in the news such as Ebola and Zika.

Public Health is the interdisciplinary study of socio-ecological determinants of health that underlie the well-being of individuals and communities. In this case-study based course, lectures, discussions and debates will be used to provide students with a strong foundation in concepts related to the humanistic aspects of healthcare delivery.

Detailed examination of the human immune system, including comprehensive examination of innate and adaptive host responses to pathogens, cancer, and environmental triggers. Emphasis on case studies and current research publications covering immunological diagnosis of disease, disorders of the immune system, and advance in the field.

Introduction to the fundamentals of clinical pharmacology as a translational scientific discipline focused on rational drug development and utilization in therapeutics. The course focuses on the following core principles of pharmacology: pharmacokinetics; drug metabolism and transport; drug therapy in special populations; assessment of drug effects; drug discover and development; pharmacogenomics and pharmacotherapy.

This course provides an in-depth foundation for understanding the relationship between molecular biology, genomics, molecular diagnostics and clinical medicine. It establishes a direct link between translational research and medical knowledge. This course delves into the molecular basis of the complex processes of human health and disease, their integration and control to translate clinical understanding into analysis at the level of the molecule, gene, chromosome and genome. Topics include organization and main characteristics of human genome and transcriptome, clinical ramifications of mutations, polymorphisms and chromosomal aberrations, molecular aspects of common diseases, such as cancer, principles of molecular diagnostics, gene therapy, personalized medicine and pharmacogenomics. Clinical relevance and application of the concepts covered in the course, as well as basic and advanced molecular methodologies used to integrate biological questions into molecular and translational medicine will be emphasized. Students will learn how molecular mechanisms drive disease, how these mechanisms are interrogated using modern technologies, and how molecular insights guide diagnosis, prognosis, and targeted therapy along the patient care pathway. Course is designed to cover concepts that are of fundamental importance
to students transitioning to professional schools and to enable them to acquire essential skills required in clinical settings.

An advanced course in biostatistics with a strong emphasis on statistical applications in public health and medical research. This course will provide students with statistical tools for the analysis and presentation of data, and will stress interpretation of statistical results from health science literature. Course topics will include: sampling and study design, graphical presentation of data, simple hypothesis testing, repeated measures analysis, and regression modeling.

This course will discuss ethical, cultural and moral issues in the context of modern health care delivery. Through the use of case-studies, lectures and discussions, students will be able to: articulate an ethical issue, assemble necessary information for making ethical decisions in a biological context, identify possible courses of medically-appropriate action and develop a morally and medically acceptable solution by synthesizing science based information.

This course will present students with current topics in Biomedical Sciences. Topics will vary each year and will focus on background knowledge and current problems and case studies within the topics. Examples of topics may include Developmental Biology, Health Economics, Parasitology/Pathology; Molecular Medicine.