Training in Cellular, Molecular and Biomedical Studies (CMBS)

ABSTRACT The Integrated Program in Cellular, Molecular and Biomedical Studies (CMBS) is an umbrella program that presents students with a unique opportunity to obtain individualized training in all aspects of biomedical sciences, including basic cell and molecular biology, microbiology, structural biology, biophysics, genetics, immunology, neurobiology, systems and computational biology, as well as translational biomedical disease-related research. The underlying rationale for this program was to provide graduate students with a thorough grounding in the basics of biochemistry, genetics, cell and molecular biology through a series of ‘core courses.’ With the aim of expanding and unifying the graduate programs, the CMBS program has been expanded to include not only an umbrella track, but also tracks in Structural Biology/Molecular Biophysics, Cell Biology/Stem Cell Biology, Microbiology and Immunology, Pathobiology and Mechanisms of Disease, Cancer Biology and Systems Biology. All the students in these tracks take the same ‘core courses’ and then choose elective courses specific to the tracks. One of the unique aspects of the CMBS program is that students can elect to stay in the “umbrella” track, thereby allowing them to choose their own program of courses that fit their interests. For the core courses, trainees will take courses in biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, molecular genetics and statistics. They will take courses in responsible conduct of research, and training in rigor and reproducibility. They will have many opportunities to present their research and will submit a first author paper before they graduate. Students in this training program will learn to evaluate and analyze biomedical literature critically and identify important biomedical research questions. They will also assess the significant questions and to determine if the research questions were approached rigorously, develop an independent research plan with rigorous and reproducible experimental design, quantitative approaches and data interpretation and identify rules of responsible conduct of research. As part of their training they will learn to perform research independently, responsibly and rigorously and conduct work both individually and as part of a research team. Upon completion of the training program, they will be able to present research to a wider audience, both in oral and written presentations and evaluate the possible careers in biomedical research that are available upon graduation. The CMBS Program hosts a student research seminar series and a biennial student faculty retreat. Most students graduated in 5-6 years. We plan to support eight students for two years during their first two years of graduate study. The CMBS Program remains the premier cellular and molecular biology graduate program at Columbia University Medical Center and support from this Training Grant is crucial for the continued success of this program.