Research in the Department of Biomedical Science

Faculty members in the Department of Biomedical Science are actively engaged in delivering an outstanding education to medical students and graduate students. Through research, the department strives to understand human disease pathology and use this understanding to develop new therapeutic approaches to treat human diseases. The department has a joint doctoral program with the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science in Integrative Biology, a Master’s Degree in Biomedical Science and a Graduate Certificate in Biomedical Science.   

Some areas of research concentration in the biomedical sciences include:  

• RNA metabolism in bacterial pathogens and its functions promoting oxidative stress survival and governing virulence gene expression
• Novel treatment approaches for arthritis and other inflammatory diseases by engineering enzymes and inhibitors
• Neurotransmitter systems and neurodegenerative diseases with concentration on GABA and glutamate neurotransmitter systems as well as brain diseases
• Developmental neurobiology with concentration on olfactory (odorant sensory system) system
• Behavioral neurobiology with concentration on drug abuse and addiction
• Physiology and pathophysiology of cardiovascular system with focus on heart development, heart vascular biology and heart physiology
• Visual system with concentration on macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, retina electrophysiology, dry eyes and gene therapy for retinal diseases
• Immunology and allergy research with concentration on immune response and asthma
• Cancer research with concentration on prostate cancer, breast cancer and other forms of cancer
• Development of novel therapeutics for HIV/AIDS
• Other areas of research include stem cell technology and biomarkers identification and validation