The 1980s and early 1990s were times of extraordinary advances in our understanding of the molecular aspects of biology. However it is now apparent that opportunities to use molecular probes to explore complex biological systems will drive the next phase of advancement. As noted recently by Francis Collins, Director of the National Center for Human Genome Research at NIH, "The next important phase of scientific development must be directed towards understanding the functional expression of genes and the study of physiological systems under the control of these newly discovered nucleotide sequences." Functional genomics provides experimental approaches to assess gene function with information and reagents provided by structural genomics. Integrative Biology Graduate Program (IBGP) fosters training in research areas focused on understanding the molecular and cellular basis of integrated biological systems. Principles and techniques used to study multicellular biological preparations are applied to investigate hypotheses arising from knowledge of molecular and cellular biology. Multicellular preparations may include co-cultures of different cell types, isolated tissues, organ systems, or whole animals. Thus, cells and tissues are studied in their "social" context.
The Integrative Biology Graduate Program (IBGP) promotes effective cross-disciplinary research involving approximately sixty faculty members in basic science and clinical departments with the goal of training students for careers as independent investigators. Some areas of research interests in this program include response and adaptation to physiological (exercise, microgravity, and pregnancy), and pathological (hypertension inflammatory and immune diseases, diabetes, sepsis, and cancer) stresses. Specific areas of investigation address cell-cell signaling, including the basis of fertilization, exocrine secretion, renal tubular transport, gene regulation in development and differentiation, regulation of cardiovascular function and metabolism, regulation of muscle contraction and protein turnover, sensory regulation of behavior, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, and tumor biology.
The IBGP is a component of the Division of Basic Science. All students who have performed satisfactorily in the First Year Curriculum are qualified to enter the Integrative Biology Graduate Program. Beginning in the second year, students will complete at least 9 semester hours of advanced course work including the Human Biology and Disease course (3 semester hours) and other electives covering topics such as adaptations to stress, fundamentals of neuroscience, genetic engineering and gene therapy, genetics of unicellular and multicellular organisms, metabolic regulation and signal transduction. Students are also encouraged to design tutorial topics related to their specific interests. The IBGP Guidelines provide more detail on the curriculum, qualifying examination process, and dissertation.
Please consult the Southwestern Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Catalog for additional information. The Program Chairman, Dr. Yi Liu, may be contacted by phone (214) 645-6033 or by e-mail at Yi.Liu@UTSouthwestern.edu.
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Integrative Biology Faculty
Degree Plan
Course Decriptions
Journal Clubs 2009-2010
WIPS 2009-2010
Mechanisms of Disease Training Track
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