INFO 601. Introduction to Bioinformatics
3 Credit Hours

Introduction to bioinformatics and computational biology, with emphasis on concepts and application of informatics tools to molecular biology. It covers biological sequence analysis, gene prediction, genome annotation, gene expression analysis, protein structure prediction, evolutionary biology and comparative genomics, bioinformatics databases, cloud computing, basic R-based data analysis, simple programming skills using Perl, Linux/Unix environment and command lines, visual analytics, and social/legal aspects of open science. It will have a class research project component.

INFO 602. Algorithms in Bioinformatics
3 Credit Hours

This course introduces various fundamental algorithms and computational concepts for solving questions in bioinformatics and functional genomics. These include graph algorithms, dynamic programming, combinatorial algorithms, randomized algorithms, pattern matching, classification and clustering algorithms, hidden Markov models and more. Each concept will be introduced in the context of a concrete biological or genomic application. A broad range of topics will be covered, ranging from gene identification, genome reconstruction, microarray data analysis, phylogeny reconstruction, sequence alignments, to variant detection.

INFO 603. Biological Data Management
3 Credit Hours

The introduction of biological data management concepts, theories, and applications. Basic concepts such as relational data representation, relational database modeling, and relational database queries will be introduced in the context of SQL and relational algebra. Advanced concepts including ontology representation and database development workflow will be introduced. Emerging big data concepts and tools, including Hadoop and NoSQL, will be introduced in the context of managing semi-structured and unstructured data. Application of biological data management in biology will be covered using case studies of high-impact widely used biological databases. A class project will be required of all participants.

INFO 604. Next-generation Sequencing Data Analysis
3 Credit Hours

The introduction of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies and the various new genomics applications. Basic analysis begins with NGS data representations using FASTQ, BAM, and VCF files. Major NGS applications in the characterization of DNA, RNA, methylation, ChIP, and chromatin structure analysis will be described. Topics will cover alignment, whole genome de novo assembly, variant detection, third generation sequencing technologies, functional genomics, metagenomics, single cell genomics, genetic diseases and cancer genomics. NGS workflows and translational applications in disease biology and genome medicine will also be emphasized.

INFO 662. Biomedical Applications of Natural Language Processing
3 Credit Hours

Students will be introduced to Natural Language Processing (NLP) including core linguistic tasks such as tokenization, lemmatization/stemming, Part of Speech tagging, parsing and chunking. Applications covered include Named Entity Recognition, semantic role labeling, word sense disambiguation, normalization, information retrieval, question answering and text classification. Applications and data will have a biomedical focus, but no biology or medical background is required.

CNBY 410/610. Cancer Cell Growth
3 Credit Hours

This course will cover the basic tenets of cell biology as they apply to cancer. Topics to be covered will include the cell cycle, how cells normally grow and divide, how they stop growing and how that process is disrupted in cancer; the normal processes associated with cell death such as autophagy, apoptosis and necrosis; the concepts of “stemness” and immortalization in relation to cancer cells and the role of telomerase, mutagens, environmental toxins and DNA repair. Prerequisites: CNBY 320 [Min Grade: C]

CNBY 420/620. The Cancer Genome
3 Credit Hours

This course will provide an overview of genomic organization transcription and translation, prior to commencing an in-depth study of cancer genetics and the roles of oncogenes, tumor suppressors, RNA, DNA methylation, gene amplification and the control of gene expression and the viral causes of cancer. Students will also be introduced to basic concepts in bioinformatics and database mining using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) as a model. Prerequisites: CNBY 320 [Min Grade: C]

CNBY 430/630. The Tumor Terrain
3 Credit Hours

This course will examine cancer cell physiology in terms of the tumor microenvironment, nutrients and angiogenesis and will explore how these influence cancer cell survival, invasion and metastasis. Prerequisites: CNBY 320 [Min Grade: C]

CNBY 440/640. Tumor Signaling Pathways
3 Credit Hours

In this course the major cell signaling pathways involved in cancer cell development will be examined. An initial overview of signaling (cytosolic, nuclear, dual-address), receptors and basic second messenger pathways (PKA/PKC) will be followed by an in-depth study of pathways of particular relevance to cancer such as receptor tyrosine kinases, RAS, PI3 kinase/PTEN, growth factors (e.g. EGF, TGF-β), integrins, Wnt/β-catenin and JAK/STAT pathways. The role of post-translational modifications of proteins, such as glycosylation will also be discussed. Prerequisites: CNBY 320 [Min Grade: C]

CNBY 450/650. Cancer Immunology & Histopathology
3 Credit Hours

This course will examine the pathological changes that occur in cancer cells and tissues. The course will start with a brief overview of normal histology and will then focus on pathological changes that occur in some select cancers, e.g., colon, lung and breast. This will be followed by exploration of the roles of infection and immunity in cancer that will involve the role of innate and adaptive immunity and cancer cell defenses. The course will conclude by discussing cancer staging and classification of different cancers. Prerequisites: CNBY 320 [Min Grade: C]

CNBY 470/670. Oncology Therapy
3 Credit Hours

Major advances have been made in the diagnosis and treatment of multiple cancers. This course will review current therapeutic approaches to cancer treatment including radiotherapy, chemotherapy, surgery and gene therapy. This course will also include an introduction to the role of personalized medicine in cancer treatment. The course will conclude by considering other facets of caring for the patient with cancer including maintenance of nutrition, mental health and palliative care. Prerequisites: CNBY 320 [Min Grade: C]

GGSC 610: Genetic Basis of Human Disease
3 Credit Hours

This course will focus on the medical applications of genetics and genomic technologies. Topics covered include, but are not limited to major forms of chromosomal abnormalities, mutations and genetic disorders, genetic risk assessment and population genetics, and genomic approaches to diagnosis.

GGSC 615: Aquatic Animal Models of Human Disease
3 Credit Hours

This course will cover the basic anatomy, biology, life history, husbandry, and research applications for a variety of aquatic organisms used as animal models of human disease in biomedical research. Species discussed will include zebrafish, Medaka, Xiphorous, Onchorynchus, Xenopus, and Axolotls.

GGSC 620: Applications of Bioinformatics
3 Credit Hours

Introduction to computational tools and bioinformatics databases used in the fields of genetics and genomic sciences. This course will cover a wide variety of different bioinformatics applications, which will be taught through use of available on-line bioinformatics resources. Topics covered include large-scale genomic databases, sequence analysis systems, protein sequence analysis, structural bioinformatics, protein folding, and homology modeling.

GGSC 635: Zebrafish as a Model for Biomedical Research
3 Credit Hours

This course will focus on the biology, husbandry, and management of zebrafish used as an animal model of human disease in biomedical research. The course is suitable for undergraduate and graduate students. Topics will include anatomy, physiology, systems design, water quality management, behavior and enrichment, spawning and larviculture, nutrition and live feeds, diseases, quarantine, biosecurity, and regulatory compliance.

GGSC 665: Research Techniques for Aquatic Animals of Human Diseases
3 Credit Hours

This course will focus on the techniques and procedures used for research with aquatic animal models of human disease. Lecture and lab approaches are used.

GGSC 670: Principles of Pharmacogenetics
3 Credit Hours

Most of the drugs that we use today were developed with the assumption that the same drug will work equally well in all the patients that have the same disease. However, there is considerable variability between individual patients - both in the therapeutic response and the adverse effects of the same drug - that is largely determined by the differences in their genotypes. Pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics study the genetic determinants of drug response, with the goal to identify genetic variants that can be used to predict the efficacy of a particular drug in a particular patient and to avoid adverse drug reactions. This will ultimately enable implementation of personalized treatment options, by selecting the drugs that will have the best efficacy and the least toxicity for each individual patient. This course will introduce students to the basic principles of pharmacogenetics, demonstrate examples of drug/genotype interactions, highlight the available pharmacogenetic resources, and discuss the potential benefits, as well as limitations and challenges of pharmacogenetics and personalized medicine.

GGSC 690: Model Systems for Genetics Disorders
3 Credit Hours

Invertebrate and non-human vertebrate species are commonly used in scientific research work to provide significant insights into human genetic processes and disease. This course focuses on the different methods and strategies by which researchers use these systems for genetic and genomic analyses of human biology and relevant disorders. Model organisms covered include, but are not limited to nematodes (C. elegans), fruit flies (Drosophila sp.), zebrafish (Danio rerio), and mice (Mus musculus).

GGSC 691: Personalized Genomic Medicine
3 Credit Hours

Significant developments in the fields of genetics and genomics are making it possible to tailor medical care to the specific needs of patients. New diagnostic tests, up to and including whole genome sequencing, provide increasingly powerful tools for the identification of the genetic basis of both rare and common disorders. Better understanding of the causes of disease are permitting drugs to be developed that precisely target disease mechanisms, increasing the efficacy and avoiding side effects. These and other new advanced are leading to major changes in healthcare delivery and provide the consumer with new opportunities and complex choices. This course will focus on exploring state-of-the-art genetic, genomic, and informatic tools now available to enable personalization of healthcare.

BY 531. Advanced Recombinant DNA Technology
3 Credit Hours

Manipulation of genes and their regulations, and techniques used in recombinant DNA technology. Independent project required.

BY 629. Evolutionary Biology
3 Credit Hours

This course introduces the history of evolutionary thought and modern evolutionary theory. Discussions cover (but are not limited to) the history of life, mechanisms of evolutionary change, sexual selection, adaptation, speciation, and molecular evolution. Students will also be introduced to historical and contemporary studies of evolution on a wide variety of topics and organisms. Regular meetings outside of lecture will involve discussions of classic and contemporary research papers in the field.

BY 634. Functional Genomics and Systems Biology
3 Credit Hours

Systems biology is an inter-disciplinary study underlying complex biological processes as integrated systems of many interacting components. This course will give students a foundation in understanding complex biological interactions at the molecular, network and genomic level. This course will cover state-of-the-art high throughput established and novel approaches used in genome sequencing, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics to obtain, integrate and analyze complex data. The students will also get familiar with knowledge on experimental perturbation of genomes, gene regulatory networks, comparative genomics and evolution, basic bioinformatics. This course will be a combination of text based lectures and discussions of the current literature relevant to Functional Genomics and Systems Biology.

BY 637. Epigenetics
3 Credit Hours

This course provides a survey of the field of epigenetics, introducing the student to the diverse areas of epigenetic research in a variety of eukaryotic systems. The course combines lectures with discussion of primary literature and research talks from invited faculty speakers working in epigenetics. In addition to providing an overview of the field of epigenetics, this course emphasizes working with primary scientific literature and the development of critical reading skills. Additional assignments are required for graduate credit.

MIC 601. Foundations in Immunology I: The Innate Immune System
3 Credit Hours

This course will introduce the cells, receptors, signaling pathways and soluble mediators associated with the innate immune response. The basic components of the innate immune system will then be discussed in the context of their role in the physical, physiological, phagocytic and inflammatory barriers that comprise the innate immune system. Importantly, emphasis will be placed on the molecular and cellular mechanisms that are used by the innate immune system to detect and respond to microbial pathogens to provide the first line of defense.

MIC 602. Foundations in Immunology II: The Adaptive Immune System
3 Credit Hours

This course will provide an in-depth analysis of the cells (T, B and antigen presenting cells), tissues (primary and secondary) and soluble factors (cytokines and chemokines) that comprise the adaptive humoral immune response. The course will examine how cells of the adaptive immune system discriminate self from non-self, including the nature of antigen receptors, the types of antigens recognized and the signals involved in the generation of effector cells that mediate the response.

MIC 603. Foundations in Immunology III: Microbial Pathogen-Immune System Interaction
3 Credit Hours

This course will provide an overview of major concepts related to virulence mechanisms utilized by microbial pathogens and their effect on the host immune response. Emphasis will be placed on important virulence factors/mechanisms associated with bacterial, viral and fungal pathogens and how these alter various components of the innate and adaptive immune responses to allow escape of the pathogen and its survival. This course will introduce the concept of emerging infectious diseases and how their spread is related to their ability to escape detection by the immune system.

MIC 604. Foundations in Immunology IV: Immunologically-Mediated Diseases
3 Credit Hours

This course will focus on the role of the immune system, including the molecular and cellular processes, that contribute to morbidity and mortality associated with immunodeficiency (congenital and acquired), asthma/allergy, autoimmunity (systemic and organ-specific), transplantation and inflammatory syndromes associated with heart disease, cancer, chronic neurological disease and diabetes.

NBL 610: Molecular Biology of the Neuron
3 Credit Hours

Molecular Biology of the Neuron will provide students an advanced understanding of how the brain works with a focus on protein function. Everything the brain does is built upon the actions of proteins, many of which are completely unique to the brain. Together we will work to thoroughly understand the exact molecular mechanisms utilized by the brain to support the complex function of our most fascinating organ. Topics covered will include brain morphogenesis, axonal outgrowth, synapse formation, neurotransmitter biosynthesis, intracellular signaling, and the blood brain barrier. Students should have a significant background in biology and/or chemistry prior to enrolling in the course. Students will be required to purchase a text. Grades will be assigned based on points accumulated through weekly quizzes, cumulative exams, and written reports.

NBL 625. Methods in Human Nueroimaging
3 Credit Hours

Cognitive neuroscience research has provided valuable insights into the workings of the human brain. The ability to perform neuroimaging studies on awake human individuals engaged in cognitive, social, sensory, and motor tasks has produced a conceptual revolution in the study of human cognition. This course will comprehensively examine the methods and techniques in neuroimaging with the primary goal of building basic knowledge in the concepts and techniques of neuroimaging. The course will explore techniques, such as single and multi cell recordings, deep brain stimulation, electroencephalography, magnetoencephalography, and diffusion tensor imaging, and focuses on functional magnetic resonance imaging. Course goals: By the end of the course, students will have gained basic knowledge in the field and will be able to read and critically assess scientific journal articles that make use of a variety of neuroimaging methods. The secondary and implicit goal of this course is to create and nurture, in students, a genuine interest in neuroscience and neuroimaging.

NBL 633: Diseases of the Nervous System
3 Credit Hours

Molecular mechanisms and treatments for neurological, psychiatric, and injury based disorders and diseases of the nervous system. Topics include neurodevelopmental disorders (including intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorders), neurological disorders (including neurodegenerative and demyelinating disease), neuropsychiatric disorders (including depression disorders and schizophrenia), and injury to the nervous system (including stroke and traumatic brain and spinal cord injury).

NBL 634: Mechanisms of Memory
3 Credit Hours

Molecular, cellular, systems and medical components of neuroscience, with an emphasis on cognition and cognitive disorders. Covers topics ranging from genes and molecules to human behavior, using cognitive function and clinical cognitive disorders as the unifying theme, with a focus on learning and memory and disorders of these processes.

PY 653. Foundations of Behavioral Neuroscience
4 Credit Hours

Neural systems which control behavior will be studied, incorporating knowledge gained from neurobiological and psychological research. Topics will include synaptic communication, sensation and perception, movement, genetic influences on behavior, motivation, emotions, psychopathology, brain plasticity, and an extended module on learning.

PY 687. The Dynamics of Pain
3 Credit Hours

This course provides a comprehensive study of pain, from basic anatomy through clinical treatment and measurement.

PY 693. Cognitive Neuroscience
3 Credit Hours

How cognitive processing originates from brains. Focus on synthetic approaches to sensory-input guided behavior implemented in a biologically realistic manner; neurobiological wetware underlying cognition; study and construction of synthetic approaches that emulate biological behavior and psychological processes.

MBS 611: Introduction to Pharmacology
3 Credit Hours

This course will provide students with an overview of the discipline of Pharmacology or the science of the mechanism and regulation of drug action. Processes will be discussed that are affect most drugs and xenobiotics including absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination. The course will provide students with concepts that will be applicable to understanding the activity and regulation of drugs discussed in the Systems Pharmacology courses. Concepts presented in the course will be advantageous to all students in understanding therapeutic drug use or in appreciating drug use and action in many different research settings.

MBS 612: Systems Pharmacology I
3 Credit Hours

This course will introduce the use, mechanism of action and physiological properties of major drug families that are to the nervous system and the endocrine/reproductive system. In addition, this course will also cover specific classes of drugs including antibtiotics and chemotherapeutics. Concepts presented in this course will be advantageous to all students in understanding therapeutic drug use or in appreciating drug use and action in many different research settings. This course is a companion course to MBS 613 (Systems Pharmacology II). Prerequisite: MBS 611 (Introduction to Pharmacology or consent of Course Director).

MBS 613: Systems Pharmacology II
3 Credit Hours

This course will introduce drug use, mechanism of action and physiological properties of major drug families, with a focus on specific organ systems (pulmonary, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and renal systems; skin, muscle and bone). Concepts presented in this course will be advantageous to all students in understanding therapeutic drug use or in appreciating drug use and action in many different research settings. This course is a companion course to MBS 612 (Systems Pharmacology I). Prerequisite: MBS 611 (Introduction to Pharmacology or consent of Course Director).

BMS 614: Toxicology, Drug Discovery and Development
3 Credit Hours

This course is designed to provide students with an introduction to the field of toxicology and its association with pharmacology. This course will also provide an overview of the thought processes associated with defining drug targets and developing drug candidates. The course is separated into two modules: 1) introduction to toxicological issues associated with the drug and xenobiotic exposure; 2) introduction to the process of identifying a drug target, and developing and validating a drug that pharmacologically interacts with the target.

INFO 601. Introduction to Bioinformatics
3 Credit Hours

Introduction to bioinformatics and computational biology, with emphasis on concepts and application of informatics tools to molecular biology. It covers biological sequence analysis, gene prediction, genome annotation, gene expression analysis, protein structure prediction, evolutionary biology and comparative genomics, bioinformatics databases, cloud computing, basic R-based data analysis, simple programming skills using Perl, Linux/Unix environment and command lines, visual analytics, and social/legal aspects of open science. It will have a class research project component.

INFO 602. Algorithms in Bioinformatics
3 Credit Hours

This course introduces various fundamental algorithms and computational concepts for solving questions in bioinformatics and functional genomics. These include graph algorithms, dynamic programming, combinatorial algorithms, randomized algorithms, pattern matching, classification and clustering algorithms, hidden Markov models and more. Each concept will be introduced in the context of a concrete biological or genomic application. A broad range of topics will be covered, ranging from gene identification, genome reconstruction, microarray data analysis, phylogeny reconstruction, sequence alignments, to variant detection.

INFO 603. Biological Data Management
3 Credit Hours

The introduction of biological data management concepts, theories, and applications. Basic concepts such as relational data representation, relational database modeling, and relational database queries will be introduced in the context of SQL and relational algebra. Advanced concepts including ontology representation and database development workflow will be introduced. Emerging big data concepts and tools, including Hadoop and NoSQL, will be introduced in the context of managing semi-structured and unstructured data. Application of biological data management in biology will be covered using case studies of high-impact widely used biological databases. A class project will be required of all participants.

INFO 604. Next-generation Sequencing Data Analysis
3 Credit Hours

The introduction of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies and the various new genomics applications. Basic analysis begins with NGS data representations using FASTQ, BAM, and VCF files. Major NGS applications in the characterization of DNA, RNA, methylation, ChIP, and chromatin structure analysis will be described. Topics will cover alignment, whole genome de novo assembly, variant detection, third generation sequencing technologies, functional genomics, metagenomics, single cell genomics, genetic diseases and cancer genomics. NGS workflows and translational applications in disease biology and genome medicine will also be emphasized.

INFO 662. Biomedical Applications of Natural Language Processing
3 Credit Hours

Students will be introduced to Natural Language Processing (NLP) including core linguistic tasks such as tokenization, lemmatization/stemming, Part of Speech tagging, parsing and chunking. Applications covered include Named Entity Recognition, semantic role labeling, word sense disambiguation, normalization, information retrieval, question answering and text classification. Applications and data will have a biomedical focus, but no biology or medical background is required.

BY 520: General Endocrinology
3 Credit Hours

Roles of endocrine and neuroendocrine chemical messengers in the control of cellular and physiological processes. Term paper required. Prerequisite: BY 256 or permission of instructor.

BY 605. Microbial Physiology
3 Credit Hours

Microbial structure and function, growth, metabolism, and regulation of cellular activity. Independent project required. Prerequisites: BY 271 and 3 semester hours of organic chemistry.

BY 629. Evolutionary Biology
3 Credit Hours

This course introduces the history of evolutionary thought and modern evolutionary theory. Discussions cover (but are not limited to) the history of life, mechanisms of evolutionary change, sexual selection, adaptation, speciation, and molecular evolution. Students will also be introduced to historical and contemporary studies of evolution on a wide variety of topics and organisms. Regular meetings outside of lecture will involve discussions of classic and contemporary research papers in the field.

BY 637. Epigenetics
3 Credit Hours

This course provides a survey of the field of epigenetics, introducing the student to the diverse areas of epigenetic research in a variety of eukaryotic systems. The course combines lectures with discussion of primary literature and research talks from invited faculty speakers working in epigenetics. In addition to providing an overview of the field of epigenetics, this course emphasizes working with primary scientific literature and the development of critical reading skills. Additional assignments are required for graduate credit.

BY 640. Immunology
3 Credit Hours

Immune system and functions of host humoral and cellular immune responses. Mechanisms of antigen and antibody reactions and basic immunological methods. Term paper required.

BY 634. Functional Genomics and Systems Biology
3 Credit Hours

Systems biology is an inter-disciplinary study underlying complex biological processes as integrated systems of many interacting components. This course will give students a foundation in understanding complex biological interactions at the molecular, network and genomic level. This course will cover state-of-the-art high throughput established and novel approaches used in genome sequencing, transcriptomic, proteomics and metabolomics to obtain, integrate and analyze complex data. The students will also get familiar with knowledge on experimental perturbation of genomes, gene regulatory networks, comparative genomics and evolution, basic bioinformatics. This course will be a combination of text based lectures and discussions of the current literature relevant to Functional Genomics and Systems Biology. Prerequisite: BY210 minimum grade of C.

BY 540. Biology of Aging
3 Credit Hours

Current understanding of aging, measuring aging changes, theories of aging and aging changes in various human systems.

CH 664. Biophysical Chemistry
3 Credit Hours

Common physical methods for understanding the structure and stability of macromolecules that include several spectroscopic, thermodynamic and computational methods. Underlying physical principle described, instrumentation discussed, and examples cited from the literature.

GGSC 610: Genetic Basis of Human Disease
3 Credit Hours

This course will focus on the medical applications of genetics and genomic technologies. Topics covered include, but are not limited to major forms of chromosomal abnormalities, mutations and genetic disorders, genetic risk assessment and population genetics, and genomic approaches to diagnosis.

GGSC 615: Aquatic Animal Models of Human Disease
3 Credit Hours

This course will cover the basic anatomy, biology, life history, husbandry, and research applications for a variety of aquatic organisms used as animal models of human disease in biomedical research. Species discussed will include zebrafish, Medaka, Xiphorous, Onchorynchus, Xenopus, and Axolotls.

GGSC 620: Applications of Bioinformatics
3 Credit Hours

Introduction to computational tools and bioinformatics databases used in the fields of genetics and genomic sciences. This course will cover a wide variety of different bioinformatics applications, which will be taught through use of available on-line bioinformatics resources. Topics covered include large-scale genomic databases, sequence analysis systems, protein sequence analysis, structural bioinformatics, protein folding, and homology modeling.

GGSC 635: Zebrafish as a Model for Biomedical Research
3 Credit Hours

This course will focus on the biology, husbandry, and management of zebrafish used as an animal model of human disease in biomedical research. The course is suitable for undergraduate and graduate students. Topics will include anatomy, physiology, systems design, water quality management, behavior and enrichment, spawning and larviculture, nutrition and live feeds, diseases, quarantine, biosecurity, and regulatory compliance.

GGSC 665: Research Techniques for Aquatic Animals of Human Diseases
3 Credit Hours

This course will focus on the techniques and procedures used for research with aquatic animal models of human disease. Lecture and lab approaches are used.

GGSC 670: Principles of Pharmacogenetics
3 Credit Hours

Most of the drugs that we use today were developed with the assumption that the same drug will work equally well in all the patients that have the same disease. However, there is considerable variability between individual patients - both in the therapeutic response and the adverse effects of the same drug - that is largely determined by the differences in their genotypes. Pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics study the genetic determinants of drug response, with the goal to identify genetic variants that can be used to predict the efficacy of a particular drug in a particular patient and to avoid adverse drug reactions. This will ultimately enable implementation of personalized treatment options, by selecting the drugs that will have the best efficacy and the least toxicity for each individual patient. This course will introduce students to the basic principles of pharmacogenetics, demonstrate examples of drug/genotype interactions, highlight the available pharmacogenetic resources, and discuss the potential benefits, as well as limitations and challenges of pharmacogenetics and personalized medicine.

GGSC 690: Model Systems for Genetics Disorders
3 Credit Hours

Invertebrate and non-human vertebrate species are commonly used in scientific research work to provide significant insights into human genetic processes and disease. This course focuses on the different methods and strategies by which researchers use these systems for genetic and genomic analyses of human biology and relevant disorders. Model organisms covered include, but are not limited to nematodes (C. elegans), fruit flies (Drosophila sp.), zebrafish (Danio rerio), and mice (Mus musculus).

GGSC 691: Personalized Genomic Medicine
3 Credit Hours

Significant developments in the fields of genetics and genomics are making it possible to tailor medical care to the specific needs of patients. New diagnostic tests, up to and including whole genome sequencing, provide increasingly powerful tools for the identification of the genetic basis of both rare and common disorders. Better understanding of the causes of disease are permitting drugs to be developed that precisely target disease mechanisms, increasing the efficacy and avoiding side effects. These and other new advanced are leading to major changes in healthcare delivery and provide the consumer with new opportunities and complex choices. This course will focus on exploring state-of-the-art genetic, genomic, and informatic tools now available to enable personalization of healthcare.

BY 531. Advanced Recombinant DNA Technology
3 Credit Hours

Manipulation of genes and their regulations, and techniques used in recombinant DNA technology. Independent project required.

BY 629. Evolutionary Biology
3 Credit Hours

This course introduces the history of evolutionary thought and modern evolutionary theory. Discussions cover (but are not limited to) the history of life, mechanisms of evolutionary change, sexual selection, adaptation, speciation, and molecular evolution. Students will also be introduced to historical and contemporary studies of evolution on a wide variety of topics and organisms. Regular meetings outside of lecture will involve discussions of classic and contemporary research papers in the field.

BY 634. Functional Genomics and Systems Biology
3 Credit Hours

Systems biology is an inter-disciplinary study underlying complex biological processes as integrated systems of many interacting components. This course will give students a foundation in understanding complex biological interactions at the molecular, network and genomic level. This course will cover state-of-the-art high throughput established and novel approaches used in genome sequencing, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics to obtain, integrate and analyze complex data. The students will also get familiar with knowledge on experimental perturbation of genomes, gene regulatory networks, comparative genomics and evolution, basic bioinformatics. This course will be a combination of text based lectures and discussions of the current literature relevant to Functional Genomics and Systems Biology.

BY 637. Epigenetics
3 Credit Hours

This course provides a survey of the field of epigenetics, introducing the student to the diverse areas of epigenetic research in a variety of eukaryotic systems. The course combines lectures with discussion of primary literature and research talks from invited faculty speakers working in epigenetics. In addition to providing an overview of the field of epigenetics, this course emphasizes working with primary scientific literature and the development of critical reading skills. Additional assignments are required for graduate credit.

MIC 601. Foundations in Immunology I: The Innate Immune System
3 Credit Hours

This course will introduce the cells, receptors, signaling pathways and soluble mediators associated with the innate immune response. The basic components of the innate immune system will then be discussed in the context of their role in the physical, physiological, phagocytic and inflammatory barriers that comprise the innate immune system. Importantly, emphasis will be placed on the molecular and cellular mechanisms that are used by the innate immune system to detect and respond to microbial pathogens to provide the first line of defense.

MIC 602. Foundations in Immunology II: The Adaptive Immune System
3 Credit Hours

This course will provide an in-depth analysis of the cells (T, B and antigen presenting cells), tissues (primary and secondary) and soluble factors (cytokines and chemokines) that comprise the adaptive humoral immune response. The course will examine how cells of the adaptive immune system discriminate self from non-self, including the nature of antigen receptors, the types of antigens recognized and the signals involved in the generation of effector cells that mediate the response.

MIC 603. Foundations in Immunology III: Microbial Pathogen-Immune System Interaction
3 Credit Hours

This course will provide an overview of major concepts related to virulence mechanisms utilized by microbial pathogens and their effect on the host immune response. Emphasis will be placed on important virulence factors/mechanisms associated with bacterial, viral and fungal pathogens and how these alter various components of the innate and adaptive immune responses to allow escape of the pathogen and its survival. This course will introduce the concept of emerging infectious diseases and how their spread is related to their ability to escape detection by the immune system.

MIC 604. Foundations in Immunology IV: Immunologically-Mediated Diseases
3 Credit Hours

This course will focus on the role of the immune system, including the molecular and cellular processes, that contribute to morbidity and mortality associated with immunodeficiency (congenital and acquired), asthma/allergy, autoimmunity (systemic and organ-specific), transplantation and inflammatory syndromes associated with heart disease, cancer, chronic neurological disease and diabetes.

NBL 610: Molecular Biology of the Neuron
3 Credit Hours

Molecular Biology of the Neuron will provide students an advanced understanding of how the brain works with a focus on protein function. Everything the brain does is built upon the actions of proteins, many of which are completely unique to the brain. Together we will work to thoroughly understand the exact molecular mechanisms utilized by the brain to support the complex function of our most fascinating organ. Topics covered will include brain morphogenesis, axonal outgrowth, synapse formation, neurotransmitter biosynthesis, intracellular signaling, and the blood brain barrier. Students should have a significant background in biology and/or chemistry prior to enrolling in the course. Students will be required to purchase a text. Grades will be assigned based on points accumulated through weekly quizzes, cumulative exams, and written reports.

NBL 625. Methods in Human Nueroimaging
3 Credit Hours

Cognitive neuroscience research has provided valuable insights into the workings of the human brain. The ability to perform neuroimaging studies on awake human individuals engaged in cognitive, social, sensory, and motor tasks has produced a conceptual revolution in the study of human cognition. This course will comprehensively examine the methods and techniques in neuroimaging with the primary goal of building basic knowledge in the concepts and techniques of neuroimaging. The course will explore techniques, such as single and multi cell recordings, deep brain stimulation, electroencephalography, magnetoencephalography, and diffusion tensor imaging, and focuses on functional magnetic resonance imaging. Course goals: By the end of the course, students will have gained basic knowledge in the field and will be able to read and critically assess scientific journal articles that make use of a variety of neuroimaging methods. The secondary and implicit goal of this course is to create and nurture, in students, a genuine interest in neuroscience and neuroimaging.

NBL 633: Diseases of the Nervous System
3 Credit Hours

Molecular mechanisms and treatments for neurological, psychiatric, and injury based disorders and diseases of the nervous system. Topics include neurodevelopmental disorders (including intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorders), neurological disorders (including neurodegenerative and demyelinating disease), neuropsychiatric disorders (including depression disorders and schizophrenia), and injury to the nervous system (including stroke and traumatic brain and spinal cord injury).

NBL 634: Mechanisms of Memory
3 Credit Hours

Molecular, cellular, systems and medical components of neuroscience, with an emphasis on cognition and cognitive disorders. Covers topics ranging from genes and molecules to human behavior, using cognitive function and clinical cognitive disorders as the unifying theme, with a focus on learning and memory and disorders of these processes.

PY 653. Foundations of Behavioral Neuroscience
4 Credit Hours

Neural systems which control behavior will be studied, incorporating knowledge gained from neurobiological and psychological research. Topics will include synaptic communication, sensation and perception, movement, genetic influences on behavior, motivation, emotions, psychopathology, brain plasticity, and an extended module on learning.

PY 687. The Dynamics of Pain
3 Credit Hours

This course provides a comprehensive study of pain, from basic anatomy through clinical treatment and measurement.

PY 693. Cognitive Neuroscience
3 Credit Hours

How cognitive processing originates from brains. Focus on synthetic approaches to sensory-input guided behavior implemented in a biologically realistic manner; neurobiological wetware underlying cognition; study and construction of synthetic approaches that emulate biological behavior and psychological processes.

MBS 611: Introduction to Pharmacology
3 Credit Hours

This course will provide students with an overview of the discipline of Pharmacology or the science of the mechanism and regulation of drug action. Processes will be discussed that are affect most drugs and xenobiotics including absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination. The course will provide students with concepts that will be applicable to understanding the activity and regulation of drugs discussed in the Systems Pharmacology courses. Concepts presented in the course will be advantageous to all students in understanding therapeutic drug use or in appreciating drug use and action in many different research settings.

MBS 612: Systems Pharmacology I
3 Credit Hours

This course will introduce the use, mechanism of action and physiological properties of major drug families that are to the nervous system and the endocrine/reproductive system. In addition, this course will also cover specific classes of drugs including antibtiotics and chemotherapeutics. Concepts presented in this course will be advantageous to all students in understanding therapeutic drug use or in appreciating drug use and action in many different research settings. This course is a companion course to MBS 613 (Systems Pharmacology II). Prerequisite: MBS 611 (Introduction to Pharmacology or consent of Course Director).

MBS 613: Systems Pharmacology II
3 Credit Hours

This course will introduce drug use, mechanism of action and physiological properties of major drug families, with a focus on specific organ systems (pulmonary, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and renal systems; skin, muscle and bone). Concepts presented in this course will be advantageous to all students in understanding therapeutic drug use or in appreciating drug use and action in many different research settings. This course is a companion course to MBS 612 (Systems Pharmacology I). Prerequisite: MBS 611 (Introduction to Pharmacology or consent of Course Director).

BMS 614: Toxicology, Drug Discovery and Development
3 Credit Hours

This course is designed to provide students with an introduction to the field of toxicology and its association with pharmacology. This course will also provide an overview of the thought processes associated with defining drug targets and developing drug candidates. The course is separated into two modules: 1) introduction to toxicological issues associated with the drug and xenobiotic exposure; 2) introduction to the process of identifying a drug target, and developing and validating a drug that pharmacologically interacts with the target.