Enrollment is primarily limited to students matriculated at the Sackler Institute. Students in other GSAS programs can enroll in Sackler courses with permission of the instructor. Check the class schedule (available in the basic medical sciences office) for up-to-date information on courses before registering. Students should familiarize themselves with the separate calendars used by the School of Medicine and the Graduate School of Arts and Science since certain basic medical sciences courses begin before or after the opening of the regular term in the Graduate School of Arts and Science. Courses are offered on the School of Medicine campus unless otherwise indicated.

Two-Part Courses: A hyphen indicates a full-year course with credit granted only for completing both terms. A comma indicates credit is granted for completing each term.

Scientific Methods: Survival Techniques for Young Investigators in Biomedical Research G16.1999  Required of all first-year Ph.D. and M.D.-Ph.D. students. Sun. 0 points.
Although tremendous scientific progress has been made during the past two centuries, the way we train our young investigators to do research has basically remained unchanged: we practice apprenticeship. While our students are provided courses on select subjects, formal instruction on how to do research is not offered. As this can be frustrating and inefficient for the students, Dr. Tung-Tien Sun has organized a course to assist students in learning how to get laboratory techniques to work reproducibly and predictably; read a paper actively rather than passively; select a good project; keep current with the scientific literature and the relevance of such a task; write a scientific paper; become an effective seminar speaker. This course consists of five sessions, each two hours long (one hour lecture plus one hour discussion), covering several topics that a graduate student must master in order to survive and to excel in doing research. The course covers the following topics: experimental design, literature analysis, scientific writing, oral presentation, and computer skills.

Scientific Integrity and the Responsible Conduct of Research G16.2000  Required of all first-year Ph.D., M.D.-Ph.D., and honor students; postdoctoral trainees; and clinical research fellows at NYUSOM. Stalk. 0 points.
This is a 10-week course, which meets each spring semester for approximately 1.5 hours per week. Students are required to complete readings and attend small group discussions (consisting of 10 students each). Each discussion group is led by a senior graduate student or postdoctoral fellow who presents different case studies on the lecture topic presented that week. Written materials and other resources may be given out each week. To demonstrate the trainees’ comprehension and retention of information presented during the course, a written examination must be passed.

Foundations of Cell and Molecular Biology I, II G16.2001, G16.2002 
I offered every fall; II offered every spring. Prerequisites: basic biochemistry and cell biology. Lecture and conference. Borowiec and staff. 6 points per term.
Intensive, two-semester course. Provides a broad overview of nucleic acid and protein metabolism and function. The fall semester covers DNA metabolism, including DNA replication, repair, and recombination; chromatin structure; RNA transcription and processing; and translation control mechanisms. The spring semester covers various aspects of cell biology, signal transduction, and genetics. Topics include biogenesis of cellular membranes; vesicular transport; the cytoskeleton; cell differentiation and development; concepts in receptor signaling; and genetics of model organisms. Each semester is comprised of two or three modules that differ somewhat in organization, including the number of required lectures. Each module places significant emphasis on student-led discussions. The reading of primary research articles is heavily stressed. Grades are assigned on the basis of examination, essay, and discussion scores.

Principles of Structural Biology G16.2004  Offered every fall. Hubbard. 4 points.
The goal of this course is to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the structures of proteins and nucleic acids, the modes of interaction that underlie protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid recognition, and how knowledge of macromolecular structure leads to an understanding of biological processes. Topics include enzyme structure and mechanism, membrane proteins, ligand-receptor recognition, protein-protein interactions in signal transduction, molecular machines, and protein-nucleic acid recognition. The class meets three times per week—two lectures and one discussion session.

Introduction to Cellular Neuroscience G16.2005  Offered every fall. Lecture and conference. Gardner, staff. 6 points.
Introduction to the anatomy, cell biology, molecular structure, and physiology of neurons and glial cells. Equips students with the skills necessary to read the contemporary neuroscience literature as well as provides a grounding in the fundamental concepts of cellular neurobiology. Emphasis is on basic cellular and molecular mechanisms used by neurons to receive, integrate, and transmit information. Subjects covered include the fine structural anatomy and electrophysiological properties of neurons and glia, the role of ion channels in intracellular and intercellular communication, mechanisms of synaptic transmission and integration, biochemistry and physiology of neurotransmitters, and regulation of neuronal function by gene expression.

Molecular Parasitology G16.2010  Offered in the fall of odd-numbered years. Lecture and conference. Rodriguez, staff. 4 points.
Broad overview of the variety, the mechanisms of pathogenesis, and the health impact of parasites that cause disease in humans. Parasites covered in different years may vary, but they include those causing malaria, trypanosomiasis, toxoplasmosis, and amebiasis, as well as examples of opportunistic or emerging parasites. An in-depth analysis of current areas of immunological and molecular research being conducted on these disease-causing parasites is presented in a combined reading and lecture format in which students and course coordinators review background and assigned literature on a given topic, followed by a lecture from an active researcher in that area. Students then meet with the speaker for further informal discussion.

Medical Microbiology G16.2202  Offered every fall. Lecture, laboratory, and conference. Vilcek, staff. 3 points.
This course is roughly divided into two sections: virology and bacteriology/ mycology. The virology section covers viral structure, classification, and replication; viral pathogenesis; antiviral drugs; viral oncogenesis; host-parasite interactions; and methods of prevention. The bacteriology/mycology section covers bacterial structure, function, and classification; microbial adaptation (genetics, genetics of pathogenesis, and antibiotic resistance); mechanisms of microbial pathogenesis; antibiotic design and targets; host-parasite interactions; epidemiology of infectious disease; and methods of prevention.

Molecular Virology G16.2210  Offered in the spring of odd-numbered years. Prerequisites: G16.2001 or equivalent advanced molecular and cellular biology course, undergraduate genetics. Lecture and conference. Mohr, staff. 4 points.
This course is an introduction to the molecular biology and pathogenesis of animal viruses. Twenty lectures cover fundamental aspects of the viral life cycle (viral entry into cells, replication, transformation, control of translation) host response (innate and acquired immune response) and explore the biology of a number of medically important RNA and DNA viruses, including some emerging pathogens. Selected readings assigned by the lecturers are discussed in separate sections

Genetics G16.2213  Offered every fall. Klein, staff. 6 points.
Transmission genetics in diploid organisms. Principles and methods of genetic analysis in diploid organisms—including Drosophila, worms, zebrafish, plants, mice, and humans—are emphasized. Classes include lectures, problem solving, and discussion of primary literature. Topics include linkage, gene interactions, mapping, mutagenesis, clonal analysis, sex determination, transgenic studies, use of mosaics, imprinting, and methods of study in human genetics.

Introductory Immunology G16.2306  Offered every fall. Dustin, staff. 4 points.
This comprehensive core course, designed for research-oriented students, provides a broad but intensive examination of the immune response, with a special emphasis on the experimental approaches that led to our current understanding of immunological principles. Students are assigned weekly reading in the form of textbook chapters and a primary research paper. Students and faculty discuss the textbook information during one session each week, and regular quizzes on this information provide feedback to all students on their preparation and progress. Critical analysis of the original research articles in a discussion format is held on Fridays. The research papers form the starting point for a dialogue between students and faculty that probes intellectual and practical questions in immunology research, venturing beyond the material presented in the papers into related issues and current research.

Advanced Immunology G16.2308  Offered every spring. Prerequisite: G16.2306 or the equivalent. Lecture and conference. Lafaille, staff. 4 points.
Students are assigned two to three “papers of the week,” which are sent by e-mail a week in advance of the seminar. Students are selected to present the papers to fellow classmates and faculty. The papers are discussed for their significance (questions addressed and their relevance), techniques utilized, analysis of data, and perspectives.

Molecular Oncology G16.2318  Offered in the spring of even-numbered years. Lecture. Pellicer, Teebor. 4 points.
Studies the molecular basis of cancer. Topics include somatic mutations and DNA repair mechanisms; viral systems relevant to cellular transformation and human cancer; the pathogenesis of cancer as a consequence of alterations in oncogenes; growth factor genes and tumor suppressor genes, with emphasis on the function of their normal counterparts; tumor progression; mechanisms of metastasis; and tumor immunology.

Principles in Pharmacology G16.2401  Stanley, Stern. 3 points.
This course is a combination of lectures, workshops, and seminars. The lectures and workshops are part of the Medical Pharmacology course for medical students. Topics include pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, drug metabolism, drug receptors, and drugs affecting the nervous system. The seminars, for graduate students only, are designed to introduce the students to the use of molecular pharmacology in drug development.

Molecular Signaling and Drug Development G16.2404  Lecture and conference. Cardozo. 4 points.
This course, divided into two parts, focuses on modern drug design and discovery. In the first part, lectures relating to modern drug design discuss structure/function analysis, rational drug design, combinatorial chemistry, automation, target discovery, and gene-based therapies. In the second part, lectures relating to drug discovery as it applies to biology and medicine discuss peptides as inhibitors of amyloidosis, receptors and AIDS, angiogenic inhibitors, anti-obesity peptides, vaccine development for malaria, inflammation, anticancer drugs, and factors that control neuronal survival/death. Each student is expected to write a research paper related to one of these topics. One session is devoted to business considerations in drug development, including interactions between academia and industry. At the end of the course, each student writes a plan for developing a new drug that is related to topics in the course or that utilizes methodology discussed in the course. This plan includes a short introduction, a description of the experimental design, and a discussion of the expected outcomes.

Molecular Pharmacology of Receptors G16.2406  E. Levy. 3 points.
This course gives an overview of the principles in pharmacology, modern approaches to studying pharmacology, and molecular aspects of receptors and signal transduction. The course is divided into three parts. The first part, introduction to molecular pharmacology, focuses on some of the basic concepts in signaling, drug-receptor interactions, and pharmacokinetics. The second part, modern approaches to pharmacological research, emphasizes methods such as crystallography, mass spectrometry, and genetic studies with Drosophila and C. elegans as pharmacological tools. The third part, applications of pharmacology research, focuses on the structure and function of tyrosine kinase receptors, receptor phosphatases, G protein receptors, insulin receptors, steroid/thyroid hormone nuclear receptor gene family, glycoproteins and proteoglycans of the nervous system, recycling and internalization of receptors, exocytosis and receptors for neurotransmitters, and proteolytic processing of receptors and ligands. Classes include lectures as well as weekly discussions on selected papers.

Tutorials in Biomedical Sciences G16.2511-2611  1.5-4 points per term.
Advanced instruction on a limited topic.

Bioinformatics G16.2604  Prerequisite: a thorough understanding of theoretical and practical aspects of molecular biology, and some university-level mathematics and statistics, but no knowledge of computer programming or computer hardware is necessary. Lecture and laboratory. Brown. 4 points.
This practical course in bioinformatics emphasizes the use of computers as a tool in molecular biology research. The course devotes approximately equal time to applications available on the Web and to those available at the School of Medicine’s Research Computing Resource. Rather than teach specific commands, discussions emphasize underlying principles that enable scientists to make better use of computer programs. Includes an introduction to the VMS operating system, the basics of computer communications (telnet, e-mail, Usenet, and the WWW), using sequence databases, similarity searching, multiple alignment, DNA sequencing, and phylogenetics.

Advanced Topics in Microbial Pathogenesis G16.2607  Lecture and laboratory. Darwin, Raper. 4 points.
The objective of this course is to familarize students with an integrative approach to host-parasite interactions. Microbial diseases are the result of a very complex interaction between the parasite and the host. Recent developments in the genetics and physiology of pathogens as well as in the immune response of the host make microbial pathogenesis a very exciting field of research. This course provides an integrative view of different pathogens.

Developmental Genetics I, II G16.2610, 2609  Lecture and laboratory. Lehmann, staff. 6 points each term.
Fundamental questions, concepts, and methodologies of modern inquiry into the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of development are explored through lectures, readings in the primary literature, and laboratory work. Topics include embryonic axis determination, region-specific gene expression, cell specification through cell-cell interaction, gastrulation, and organogenesis.

Concepts of NS Organization G16.2611 (section 1)  Hillman, staff. 3 points.
This course presents the central and peripheral nervous systems in terms of anatomical localization, connectivity, and functional relevance of NS organization. It analyzes sensory systems and their topographical projections into the CNS together with output as fundamental controls of behavior. The presentations include the hierarchy of integrative centers that act to generate simple to complex reflexes and the formulation of consciousness and memory. The lectures focus on spinal cord, brainstem, cerebellum, thalamus/hypothalamus, basal ganglia, limbic centers, and cortical regions as components of interconnection and function. Development and comparative phylogeny are used to illustrate organizational relationships in the adult human brain. Attendees will be able to describe effects of localized lesions at specific sites along the neuraxis or recognize functional deficits as being from localized brain or spinal cord involvement.

Systems Neuroscience G16.2611 (section 2)  Gardner. 3 points.
Systems neuroscience is the study of the activity and interactions of cells (neurons and glia) that form circuits underlying specific nervous system functions. This course covers neuronal systems involved in visual, auditory, somatosensory, vestibular, olfactory, and gustatory sensations. It also reviews the major brain regions involved in motor control, including the spinal cord, motor cortex, basal ganglia, and cerebellum. The emphasis is twofold: explaining how the activity patterns of each brain area result from the underlying circuitry and properties of the individual cellular elements, and how these activity patterns relate to behavior.

Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience G16.2611 (section 3)  Salzer. 3 points.
This course is required for all first-year neuroscience students to be taken in conjunction with the Systems Neuroscience and Developmental Neuroscience courses.

Introduction to Developmental Neuroscience G16.2611 (section 4)  Fishell, Salzer. 3 points.
This course is required for all first-year neuroscience students to be taken in conjunction with the Systems Neuroscience and Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience courses.

Introduction to Parasitology G16.2616  Offered in the spring of odd-numbered years. Lecture and laboratory. Sinnis. 3 points.
This course is an introduction to the range of eukaryotic organisms that causes disease in humans. The course covers the helminths and the protozoan parasites and studies insects as both agents and vectors of human disease. For each pathogen, students learn its life history, epidemiology, clinical features of the disease it causes, and pathogenesis. The course also covers the basic principles of laboratory diagnosis and treatment. In the laboratory sessions, students look at prepared slides, make wet mounts of live parasites, and learn to prepare thick and thin blood films for diagnosis of malaria. At the end of the course, the students work on group projects that address questions such as: (1) Do helminth infections protect against the development of autoimmune diseases? (2) Will there ever be a malaria vaccine? 3. Do parasites always evolve towards less virulence?

Readings in Biomedical Sciences G16.3715-4402  1-4 points per term.
Advanced instruction on a limited topic.

Advanced Topics in Structural Biology G16.4403  Prerequisite: G16.2004. Kong. 4 points.
This course teaches students the underlying theory and techniques used in X-ray crystallography, electron microscopy, NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and computer modeling. The information in this course enables students to pursue their dissertation research in structural biology. Topics include X-ray diffraction, phasing, and refinement; cryoelectron microscopy, image processing, and tomography; multidimensional NMR spectroscopy; MALDI-TOF and Q-TOF mass spectrometry; and ab initio and homology modeling of proteins.

Fundamental Concepts of Magnetic Resonance Imaging G16.4404  Prerequisites: calculus, linear algebra, general physics, general chemistry, electromagnetism I and II (optional). Chen. 3 points.
Magnetic resonance imaging is a fast-growing interdisciplinary field. In this course, students learn how the knowledge they gain from their education in physics, chemistry, mathematics, and computer science can be utilized to further understand the biomedical sciences.

Introduction to Tissue and Organ Systems G16.4406  Offered every fall. Loomis. 4 points.
This survey course and its accompanying laboratory are the cornerstone for the newly developed graduate training program in pathobiology. The specific goal of this course is to provide an overview of the basic development and physiology of mammalian tissues and organs and introduce the tools, techniques, and strategies important in the study of in vivo model systems for human disease.

Introduction to Histopathology Laboratory G16.4407  Offered every fall. Loomis. 2 points.
This introductory laboratory course must be taken in conjunction with the lecture course Tissues and Organ Systems. The specific goal of this laboratory course is to introduce students to the tools, techniques, and strategies necessary for the study of in vivo model systems for human disease.

Cryoelectron Microscopy of Macromolecular Assemblies G16.4408  Offered every fall. Stokes. 3 points.
This comprehensive course covers the theory and practice of solving molecular structures by electron microscopy. The course starts with optics, sample preparation, and a basic mathematical description of diffraction before moving into a detailed exploration of the three main methods of structure determination: electron crystallography, single particle analysis, and electron tomography. The course ends with a discussion of map interpretation and molecular fitting. This is predominantly a lecture course involving one 2-hour lecture per week accompanied by a discussion session and an occasional practical session using the facilities at the New York Structural Biology Center. Lectures are given by expert electron microscopists from around New York City, and students from various campuses are encouraged to attend.

Advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging G16.4409  Offered every spring. Prerequisite: G16.4404. Chen. 6 points.
This course continues from Fundamentals of MRI, taught in the fall, and successful completion of the fall course is a prerequisite. The course introduces and utilizes mathematical concepts such as the Fourier transform, k-space, and the Bloch equations to describe the physical and mathematical principles governing data acquisition and image reconstruction. Topics covered include diffusion, perfusion, functional brain imaging, cardiac MRI, spectroscopic imaging, clinical MRI, rf engineering, contrast agents, and molecular imaging. This course includes weekly lectures, discussion sessions revolving around assigned research articles, and practical labs pertinent to material covered in the lectures.

Advanced Tissues and Organ Systems G16.4410  Offered every spring. Prerequisites: G16.4406, G16.4407. Loomis. 4 points.
This course combines a practical lab component with lectures and discussions. The first half of the course focuses on three complex organ systems: the cardiovascular, endocrine, and nervous systems. The goals are to understand the individual systems as well as their interactions with other systems and resulting impact on the function or dysfunction of the organism as a whole. The goal of the second half of the course is to provide a strong foundation in basic immunology and the host response to infectious, inflammatory, and autoimmune stimuli. The laboratory sessions provide a more robust, three-dimensional understanding of normal organ function as well as better conceptualization of the underlying cellular processes leading to disease.

Pathobiology of Disease G16.4411  Offered every spring. Erlebacher. 2 points.
This course focuses on the molecular, cellular, and organismal basis of disease pathogenesis and how modern experimental approaches have led to new therapies. Students take the course in the spring semester of both their first and second years. Each year, the course discusses two complex disease entities. The course is based on student presentations and the critical evaluation of selected papers from the contemporary literature. There is also a writing component to the course: Students write their own abstracts to existing papers that approach disease pathophysiology in whole animal models. This exercise helps students learn how to distill core data from in vivo experiments, and to appreciate the inherent advantages and limitations of in vivo approaches.

RESEARCH
Individual investigations may be undertaken in each department in the areas of research listed below and in related fields. The number of points for each course is at the discretion of the adviser.

Research in Biochemistry G16.3101-3102  Bar-Sagi, Borowiec, Chao, Cowan, Hong, Huang, Klein, Kong, Lee-Huang, Neubert, Reinberg, Ziff. 1-12 points per term.

Research in Cell Biology G16.3007-3008  Adesnik, Burden, Chao, Cowin, Fisher, Fishman, Frey, Gutstein, Kluger, Kreibich, Mignatti, Munger, Nance, Orlow, Philips, Reinberg, Rifkin, Ron, Ryoo, Sabatini, Salzer, Stokes, Sun, Wang, E. Wilson. 1-12 points per term.

Research in Developmental Genetics G16.3403  Burden, Dasen, Dasgupta, Fishell, Fitch, J. Hubbard, Lehmann, Loomis, Nance, Rushlow, Ryoo, Small, Torres-Vazquez, Treisman, Yelon. 1-12 points per term.

Research in Microbiology G16.3201-3202  Basilico, Belasco, Blaser, A. Darwin, K. H. Darwin, Derkatch, Ernst, Garabedian, Landau, Laal, Littman, Mansukhani, Mohr, Novick, Perez-Perez, Schneider, Tanese, Unutmaz, Vilcek, A. Wilson, Zolla-Pazner. 1-12 points per term.

Research in Parasitology G16.3701-3702  Carlton, Clarkson, Day, Eichinger, Frevert-Clarkson, Nardin, Raper, A. Rodriguez, Sinnis. 1-12 points per term.

Research in Pathology G16.3301-3302  Aifantis, Bar-Sagi, Basch, Bhardwaj, Burakoff, Cronstein, Demaria, Dustin, Dynlacht, Erlebacher, Fujii, Ghiso, Gold, Hanna, Hernando, Hioe, J. Lafaille, D. Levy, Littman, Meruelo, Newcomb, V. Nussenzweig, Nyambi, Ostrer, Pellicer, Skok, S. Smith, Teebor, Trombetta, Turnbull, Zagzag, Zolla-Pazner. 1-12 points per term.

Research in Pharmacology G16.3401-3402  Bach, Burden, Cardozo, Carr, Coetzee, Cronstein, Dasgupta, David, Fishman, Gardner, Holz, S. Hubbard, E. Levy, Logan, Margolis, Mohammadi, Neubert, Reinberg, Reith, Samuels, Simon, Skolnik, Stanley, Sun, R. Xu, Yamasaki. 1-12 points per term.

Research in Physiology and Neuroscience G16.3501-3502  Axel, Baker, Blanck, Bloomfield, Burden, Chao, Chen, Chesler, Coetzee, Dasen, Fishman, Gan, Gardner, Ginsberg, Gonen, Grossman, Helpern, Hillman, Holz, Inglese, Javitt, Jensen, Johnson, Kao, Kolodny, Laflen, Lalwani, V. Lee, Llinás, Mathews, Morley, Rice, Rosenbluth, Rubinson, Rudy, Salzer, Simpson, Sugimori, Walton, T. Wisniewski. 1-12 points per term.

Research in Structural Biology G16.3715  Belasco, Brown, Cowan, Gonen, Helpern, Hubbard, Jerschow, Kallenbach, Kong, Mohammadi, Neubert, Schlick, Seeman, Stokes, Turnbull, Wang, Xu. 1-12 points per term.

SEMINARS

Seminar in Biochemistry G16.3111, 3112  E. Ziff, staff. 1.5 points per term.

Seminar in Cell Biology G16.3115, 3116  E. Wilson, staff. 1.5 points per term.

Seminar in Developmental Genetics G16.3404  Treisman, staff. 1.5 points per term.

Seminar in Microbiology G16.3211, 3212  Belasco, staff. 1.5 points per term.

Seminar in Parasitology G16.3711, 3712  Eichinger, staff. 1.5 points per term.

Seminar in Pathology G16.3311, 3312  D. Levy, staff. 1.5 points per term.

Seminar in Pharmacology G16.3411, 3412  Bach. 1.5 points per term.

Seminar in Physiology and Neuroscience G16.3507, 3508  Bloomfield, staff. 1.5 points per term.

Seminar in Structural Biology G16.3713  Stokes, staff. 1.5 points per term.

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