Focused on the molecular mechanisms of human disease

The Rosenstiel Basic Medical Sciences Research Center houses faculty from the Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry and Physics Departments collaborating in interdisciplinary research to advance our knowledge of the genetic and molecular basis of human disorders, identifying new therapeutic targets and facilitating next-generation therapies.

Research integrates structural, molecular, genetic and cell biological approaches, and emphasizes the use of model organisms including bacteria, yeast, flies and mice.

Areas of Research

Molecular Biology
  • DNA repair: repair of damaged chromosomes, mechanisms of mutagenesis (Professors Haber, Lovett)
  • Transcription and translation: gene silencing, transcriptional regulation in Drosophila, roles of circular RNA, regulation of translation in flies and mammals (Professors DeLuca, Kadener, Marr, Ragunathan)
Cell Biology

  • Brain development: genomic encoding of connectomes (Professor Kurmangaliyev)

  • Cell shape: mechanics of cell development (Professor Yevick)

  • Cytoskeleton and motility: actin-based motility, archaebacterial cytoskeleton (Professors Bisson, Goode, Rodal)

  • Membranes and protein traffic: synapse formation and endosomal traffic, viral entry (Professors Ivanovic, Rodal)

Protein Biochemistry

  • Structure and function: protein chaperones and protein folding, relationship of protein function to structure, enzyme catalysis and kinetics (Professors Pandelia, Pochapsky, Street)