Outline: Molecular Basis
of Medicine
Please Note
Information on this site pertains to MD students who matriculated in the 2006-2007 academic year or later. All other students matriculating prior to 2006 should refer to their year's Guide to the Scholarly Concentrations for more information.
Director
Jeffrey Axelrod, MD, PhD
Objectives and Goals
Molecular Basis of Medicine is one of the seven Scholarly Concentration Foundations. Required course work is designed to serve future practicing physicians by training them in how scientific data are generated and evaluated in the research laboratory, with a focus on the molecular mechanisms that underlie fundamental biological processes. Medical students participate in coursework and laboratory research side-by-side with graduate students and MSTP students pursuing the PhD and are exposed to the rigor and structure that support first-rate scientific investigation.
Requirements
Courses:
Students who pursue Molecular Basis of Medicine in conjunction with an application area, such as Immunology, are required to complete 6 units. Among the six must be:
BIOC 230 Molecular interventions in human disease (3 units)
Other units will be selected in consultation with the Scholarly Concentration faculty. Students interested in completing all 12 units in MBM are encouraged to devise a course plan to present to the director. In addition to BIOC 230, it is strongly recommended that one of these courses be GENE 203 (Human Genetics). Students who elect to participate in an Application Area will design the balance of the 12 units requirement with the Director of their Application Area.
Research:
The vast majority of MBM students will complete the equivalent of a year of full time laboratory research, and will therefore pursue a five-year graduation plan. Some students elect to continue their research by entering a PhD program. Support for time spent in the lab may be obtained by application to the MedScholars Program, and students are also encouraged to apply for funding from outside sources, such as the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
