Anatomy

Neuroendocrinology, neuroimmunology, testicular function and dysfunction, cell and tissue culture under conditions of microgravity, embryonic development, neurooncology, computer-aided anatomical reconstruction and diagnosis, cardiac morphometry and dysfunction, cytotoxic effects of Alzheimer's peptide amyloid B on arterioles, cytoskeletal proteins, response of the nervous system to injury and methods of repair.

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Molecular aspects of cancer, diabetes, atherosclerosis and Alzheimer's Disease, cell signaling, hormonal regulation of cholesterol biosynthesis, chemical carcinogenesis, growth factors, control of gene expression, insulin, transcription factors, translation efficiency, mitogenic signaling, oncogenes, apoptosis, leptin, obesity, nitric oxide metabolism, heme biosynthesis, mitoses, transgenic technology, steroidogenesis, tumor suppressor genes, lipoprotein metabolism, HLA gene structure, protein chemistry and structure, bioenergetics, metalloenzymes, connective tissue biochemistry, molecular immunology, and biochemistry of thyroid, steroid and peptide hormones.

Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Cellular and molecular biology of ovarian cancer: DNA damage and repair, telomerase and growth regulation, steroid hormone and vitamin D receptors in regulation of normal and malignant cell proliferation and apoptosis, Molecular genetics of ovarian carcinoma, AKT2 oncogene and tumor suppression genes in oncogensis, growth factor and growth factor receptors in papillogenesis and carcinogenesis.

Medical Microbiology and Immunology

Studies of faculty include immunology and molecular biology of oncogenic herpesviruses, retroviruses, Bartonella, Legionella, and Streptococcus, interaction of drugs of abuse with the immune system, DNA vaccine development against HIV, Alzheimer's Disease, and tumor viruses, identification of novel transcription factors, signal transduction and cell cycle regulation.

Pharmacology and Therapeutics

Molecular, cellular, and systemic actions of drugs with an emphasis on neuropharmacology and cardiovascular pharmacology; studies include: structure-function relationship of nicotinic and GABA-ergic receptors, mechanisms of cell-cell signaling, in autonomic/intracardiac neurons, and animal models of Alzheimer's Disease and the response of the brain to aging, role of metalloproteinases in neurological disease, cellular mechanisms involved in mood disorders and schizophrenia, molecular mechanisms of repair and regeneration in brain injury, the role of the brain chemistry in depression and addictive behaviors, the effects of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases on smooth muscle cell proliferation, and endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation caused by flavonoid compounds.

Physiology and Biophysics

Interactions among brainstem respiratory neurons, computer analysis and simulations of neural networks, vascular dysfunction in Alzheimer's Disease, endothelial dysfunction and endotoxin shock, cardiac hormones and kidney function, neurophysiology of cough and sleep-induced breathing disorders, endocrine and neuroendocrine control of reproductive processes, structure/function correlates of ion channels and neurotransmitter transporters and ion channel regulation by G protein signaling pathways.

Neurosciences Concentration

The PhD Program in Medical Sciences offers an interdisciplinary Neuroscience Concentration for research training. Faculty representing both basic science and clinical departments who are engaged in research on the nervous system participate in the program. The interdisciplinary structure permits considerable flexibility in training; each student's program is tailored to meet individual needs and interests.