Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Welcome to the discipline of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in the Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology are disciplines at the nexus of modern biomedical research. Our discipline has a long and distinguished history, with deep roots in cancer, metabolism biophysics, neuroscience, proteomics and structural biology. I am honored to serve as Chairman of a distinguished group of faculty and to oversee constantly, exciting new changes in our discipline. Biochemical-oriented basic and clinical research is key to gaining new knowledge for the prevention and combating of disease and expanding the boundaries in medicine and science. The multidisciplinary nature of biochemistry and molecular biology, coupled with collegial staff, makes our discipline an exciting place to explore. Furthermore our respected faculty serves the worldwide scientific community through a well-established network of collaborations, leadership and active participation in national and international conferences, serving in study sections and on federal agency panels. Additionally, our discipline's faculty roster encompasses editors of journals and members of editorial boards.

Our well grant-funded discipline offers a PhD graduate program to educate future generations of critical thinkers and leaders in their fields. Our faculty provide outstanding mentoring to enable students and postdoctoral fellows learn how to identify and tackle critical biomedical research problems in a challenging, rigorous and rewarding academic milieu. Training is customized under the mentorship of our successful faculty. Our past graduates have gone on to postdoctoral positions at major institutions and at biotech and pharmaceutical companies both in North America as well as internationally. Our MD/PhD students have flourished in outstanding academic medicine positions. Our cadre of postdoctoral scientists have obtained excellent positions in academia or in the biotech/pharmaceutical industry.

As you travel through our website, I hope that you share the sense of excitement that our discipline has for our research and our enthusiasm for biomedical science. Please join us as we continue our work at the cutting edge of biomedical research in the 21st century.

Carpe Scientia,

Marc J. Glucksman

Mission Statement

The primary missions of the discipline of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology are to teach both medical and graduate students and to increase knowledge through biomedical research. The underlying aims of these missions are to provide an outstanding and up-to-date education and to make substantial contributions to the understanding of health and disease with high-quality, modern research. A major goal of the discipline is to be nationally recognized for the quality and impact of our biochemical research.

The research orientation of the nine investigators within the discipline is on protein structure/function relationships in important biomedical systems including protein-RNA interactions. The emphasis on the study of proteins (i) allows a common research bond and language among faculty, (ii) complements ongoing research in other CMS disciplines, (iii) coincides with the cutting edge of modern biomedical research, and (iv) provides teaching capability across a spectrum of biochemical topics. Each faculty member interacts with other research programs at CMS as appropriate for the biological system they are studying. As part of a university wide initiative to create areas of excellence, new faculty continue to be recruited into the discipline in the area of the structural biology of membrane proteins.

Educational Environment

The research interests of the faculty are diverse and assure that students obtain a well-rounded exposure to both traditional and newer interdisciplinary approaches of scientific inquiry. Nearly all of the faculty direct their own independent research programs funded by research grants from the National Institutes of Health and other federal and private funding agencies. The strengths in protein structure and function, protein-RNA interaction, molecular biology, genetics, and enzymology prepare the student for challenging careers in biomedical academia or in biotechnology companies.

The discipline maintains an active Seminar series that brings distinguished scientists to our campus to discuss their work. Graduate students have the opportunity to meet with these scientists to gain an even broader exposure to current topics of research. In addition, several Journal Clubs (Biochemistry, Cell Biology and Anatomy, Gene Expression, Neurosciences, Membrane Journal Club, Molecular Cell Sciences) meet throughout the year to discuss recent developments in literature.

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science educates medical doctors, health professionals and biomedical scientists in a personalized atmosphere. The University is located at 3333 Green Bay Road, North Chicago, IL 60064, and encompasses Chicago Medical School, College of Health Professions, Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine, and School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. The suburban environment provides pleasant, safe, and affordable living for students with the excitement of Chicago music, art, sports and theatre only 30 miles away.