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Ph.D. PROGRAMS OF STUDY

M.S. Programs of Study

Interdisciplinary Studies

Other Program Information

Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology [top]

molecular genetics; DNA and RNA metabolism; regulation of gene expression during development and differentiation; protein and glycoprotein structure and function; membrane function and biogenesis; transport; cell-cell interactions; regulation of cell growth and metabolism; physical biochemistry; and enzymology

Program in Biomathematics and Biostatistics [top]

statistical and mathematical modeling; development of new models for the design and analysis of research studies; formulation of mathematical models of biological systems

Program in Cancer Biology [top]

all aspects of cancer biology; including tumor/host interactions; metastasis and invasion; tumor cell biology and biochemistry; tumor heterogeneity; cell surfaces; cancer genetics; retroviruses; regulation; and development

Program in Cell and Regulatory Biology [top]

integration of molecular, cellular, and systems approaches to cell biology, physiology and pharmacology in one of four interacting academic tracks

  • Program home page
  • Program Director: Dr. Carmen Dessauer, Carmen.W.Dessauer@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-6308

    Cell Biology Track

    signal transduction mechanisms including receptor-ligand interactions, second messengers, and kinase cascades; protein structure-function relationships; cell motility and cytoskeleton; gene regulation; control of cell division and apoptosis; cellular and genetic changes associated with cancer

    Pharmacology Track

    cellular and molecular pharmacology; drug-receptor interactions; drug metabolism; mechanisms of drug resistance; cancer therapy

    Physiology Track

    physiology of epithelia and of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, nervous and reproductive systems; regulation of ion channels and transporters; regulation of growth and differentiation in vivo; plasticity of neurons and muscle

    Reproductive Biology Track

    molecular, cellular, and genetic mechanisms involved in gametogenesis, ovarian and testicular endocrine and paracrine function, and in pregnancy; regulation of normal and cancerous growth of reproductive tracts; hormone action and signal transduction in reproductive tissues; action of environmental toxicants

Program in Genes and Development [top]

eukaryotic molecular biology; developmental biology human genetics; structural biology; biochemistry and cell signaling; cancer biology

Program in Genetic Counseling [top]

classical and molecular genetics; cytogenetics; psychosocial issues associated with clinical genetics practice; development of skills to comprehend the research aspects of genetics and clinical experience in a variety of genetics clinics

Program in Human and Molecular Genetics [top]

cancer genetics; cytogenetics; developmental genetics; evolutionary genetics; genetic epidemiology; genomics; human genetics; immunogenetics; molecular evolution; molecular genetics; population genetics; and somatic-cell genetics

Program in Immunology [top]

basic immunologic mechanisms; the immunobiology and immunotherapy of cancer; immunopathology; immunology of infectious diseases; molecular immunology; immunodeficiencies; immunogenetics; transplantation immunology; immunopharmacology; and lymphoid malignancies

Program in Medical Physics [top]

therapy, including radiotherapy; imaging, including both diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine; and safety, including radiation protection from ionizing and non-ionizing radiation

Program in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics [top]

molecular basis of pathogenesis; microbial genetics and physiology; molecular microbiology; signal transduction; mycology; prokaryotes and lower eukaryotes as model systems; microbial diversity; and genomics

Program in Molecular Carcinogenesis [top]

cellular and molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis loosely categorized into four inter-related areas: cellular and molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis; DNA damage, repair and mutagenesis; molecular and biochemical genetics; and prevention of cancer induction

Program in Molecular Pathology [top]

mechanisms of cellular pathology; pathogenesis of infectious disease; immunopathology; cellular and molecular pathology; and carcinogenesis and chemical pathology

Program in Neuroscience [top]

learning; memory; nervous system plasticity; neural networks; the visual system; behavior; drug actions; and neural circuitry and transmission

Program in Oral Biomaterials [top] INACTIVE

dental materials science; clinical and laboratory research methodology; and statistics

Program in Virology and Gene Therapy [top]

molecular virology and biology; viral carcinogenesis; viral immunology; viral nucleic acid and protein biochemistry; viral pathogenesis; and neoplastic and infectious diseases of animals and man

M.D./Ph.D. Program [top]

A joint M.D./Ph.D. Program is offered through the combined efforts of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. This Program affords qualified students the opportunity to earn the M.D. and the Ph.D. degrees in an integrated seven-year program study.

The unique features of the Program include the integration of clinical and research training throughout the program; the completion of a year of clinical studies in the Medical School prior to the start of laboratory research; a seminar course in molecular medicine attended regularly by students at all stages of the program; specialized tracks in Cancer and Development, Neuroscience, and Molecular Medicine; and a Graduate School faculty of 400 from which to choose a dissertation advisor.

Patient-Based Biological Research [top]

The objective of this program is to provide a training curriculum designed for those individuals who wish to become scholars in research pertaining directly to the human model. Trainees will receive instruction in all aspects of patient-oriented research, including design of clinical investigational studies, optimization of translational endpoints, biostatistics, epidemiology and ethical and regulatory issues specific to research done in human beings in addition to rigorous training in the biomedical sciences.

Toxicology Program [top]

Studies in molecular and cellular mechanisms of toxicity in the organs and systems; nutritional toxicology; mutagenesis/carcinogenesis; occupational/environmental medicine; toxicity of chemotherapeutic drugs; radiation-induced injury; and exposure assessment analysis.

Vascular Biology Program [top]

This training is multidisciplinary, encompassing diverse areas of basic and translational research on blood vessels, including developmental and stem cell biology, molecular and cellular biology, structural biology, vascular genetics and genomics, biomedical engineering, gene and cell therapy, cancer biology and metastasis, arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, coronary artery disease, stroke and other vascular diseases.