Course Descriptions - Spring 2006

G16.1998 Introduction to Pre-doctoral Research
This course is offered on a non-credit pass/fail basis and required of all first year graduate students. Students are expected to meet regularly with the Director to discuss research rotations and prepare reports on a quarterly basis discussing results.
Non-credit
Course Director: Joel Oppenheim (212) 263-8001 oppenj01@popmail.med.nyu.edu

G16.2000 Scientific Integrity and the Responsible Conduct of Research
A non-credit course entitled "Scientific Integrity and the Responsible Conduct of Research" is, as mandated by the NIH, required for all first year Ph.D. and M.D./Ph.D. students. The course meets weekly during the Spring semester for approximately 1 1/2 hours per week. Students are assigned to sections and are responsible for required readings and participating in discussion sessions. Case studies will be presented each week by senior graduate students and/or postdoctoral fellows. To evaluate the student's comprehension and retention of information presented during the course, a written final examination must be passed. Attendance is closely monitored throughout the course.
Non-credit
Course Director:
Debra Stalk, MPH (212) 263-3520 debra.stalk@med.nyu.edu

G16.2002 Foundations of Cell and Molecular Biology II
Foundations II provides a broad overview of cell biology, signal transduction, and basic genetic mechanisms in three modules. The Cell Biology module covers protein transport, endocytosis, molecular motors, cell-cell interaction and cell adhesion. The Signal Transduction module will include G-proteins, hormonal signaling, concepts in receptor tyrosine kinase signaling, and the cell cycle. The final segment provides an introduction to the genetics of bacterial and phages, yeast, drosophila, mice, and humans. Genetic approaches to whole genome analysis will also be emphasized. The reading of primary research articles is heavily stressed. Lectures will generally be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays in MSB 393 from 9:00 to 10:30 A.M. The discussion sessions, held on Friday, will be in two sections (9:00-10:30 A.M., and 10:30-12:00 noon) in the west wing of the Biochemistry Library (MSB 391). Sections will be decided during the first week of class. The course has a total of three exams that are a mixture of in-class and take-home exams. Attendance and participation in discussion sessions will account for a portion of the final grade.
6 credits
Course Director: James Borowiec (212) 263-8453 borowj01@popmail.med.nyu.edu
Syllabus

G16.2104 Tutorial in Advanced Cell Biology_
This tutorial is required of advanced students in the cellular and molecular biology program. Students will be paired with CMB faculty to study a varied number of topics.
1.5 credits
Course Director: Daniel Rifkin (212) 263-5234 rifkid01@popmail.med.nyu.edu_

G16.2306 Introduction to Immunology
This comprehensive core course will provide a broad but intensive examination of the immune response, with a special emphasis on the experimental approaches that led to our current understanding of immunological principles. Designed for research-oriented students but open to others, the class will meet 2 times each week. Students will be assigned weekly reading in the form of textbook chapters and a primary research paper. Students and faculty will discuss the textbook information during one session each week, and regular quizzes on this information will provide feedback to all students on their preparation and progress. Critical analysis of the original research articles in a discussion format will be held in the second session each week. The research papers will form the starting point for a dialogue between students and faculty that will probe intellectual and practical questions in immunology research, venturing beyond the material presented in the papers into related issues and current research. This is a discussion class and participation in the discussions will be required. Grading will be based on exams and participation. Mid-term and Final Exams will require students to apply general and specific information and approaches learned from the readings and discussion.
4 credits
Course Director: Michael Dustin (212) 263-3207 dustin@saturn.med.nyu.edu
Syllabus

G16.2318 - Molecular Oncology
Studies the molecular basis for cancer. Topics include somatic mutations and DNA repair mechanisms, viral systems relevant to cellular transformation and human cancer, the pathogenesis of cancer as a consequence of alterations in oncogenes, growth factor genes and tumor suppressor genes with emphasis on the function of their normal counterparts as well, tumor progression, mechanisms of metastasis, and tumor immunology.
4 Credits
Course Directors:
George Teebor (212-263-5473) - George.Teebor@msnyuhealth.org
Angel Pellicer (212-263-5342) - pellia01@popmail.med.nyu.edu
Syllabus

G16.2404 Molecular Signaling and Drug Development
This course is divided into two parts. The first covers the basics of drug-receptor interactions, and modern approaches to the drug design and development process (virtual library screening, rational drug design, and combinatorial chemistry, etc.). The second part will explore novel possibilities for future drug development as related to specific medical problems, such as HIV, diseases of protein folding, angiogenesis inhibitors, inflammation, and stem cells. A subset of lectures are given by invited speakers from pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies. Each lecture is followed by a student presentation of a research paper and group discussion. At the end of the course, students write a paper outlining and testing a new idea for pharmacological intervention.
4 credits
Course Director: Timothy Cardozo (212) 263-6337 - timc@saturn.med.nyu.edu
Syllabus

G16.2604 Bioinformatics
This is a practical course in Bioinformatics which will emphasize how to use the computer as a tool for biomedical research. The course will cover sequence similarity, multiple alignment, protein motifs and secondary structure, phylogenetics, genome browsers, and microarray data analysis. Students will learn basic UNIX commands and will write simple programs in Perl and shell scripting languages. Prerequisites include a thorough understanding of theoretical and practical aspects of molecular biology, and some University level mathematics and statistics, but no prior knowledge of computer programming or computer hardware is necessary.
4 credits
Course Director: Stuart Brown (212) 263-7689
browns02@popmail.med.nyu.edu
http://www.med.nyu.edu/rcr/rcr/course/syllabus.html

G16.2606 Tutorial in Developmental Genetics
This seminar is required for all graduate students in the Developmental Genetics program. Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows present recent results and discuss the history and future of their research projects.
1.5 credits
Course Director: Ruth Lehmann (212) 263-8071 lehmann@saturn.med.nyu.edu

G16.2607 Advanced Topics in Microbial Pathogenesis
The objective of this course is to familiarize students with an integrative approach to host-microbial interactions. Recent developments in the genetics and physiology of pathogens as well as in the immune response of the host make microbial pathogenesis a very exciting field of research. In terms of course structure, the Wednesday afternoon session will be arranged as a journal club wherein research papers selected by the speaker will be presented by two students and moderated by course directors and the Friday session will feature a speaker covering an overview of a disease area and their research.
3 credits
Course Directors:
Jayne Raper (212) 263-7632 jr57@nyu.edu
Andrew Darwin (212) 263-3223 darwia01@popmail.med.nyu.edu
Syllabus

G16.2608 Readings in Neuroscience
Journal Club required of all second and third year Neuroscience students.
1.5 credits
Course Director: Stewart Bloomfield (212) 263-5770 stewart.bloomfield@med.nyu.edu

G16.2609 Developmental Genetics II
This course is a continuation of the seminar series taught by faculty of the Developmental Genetics program in Fall '05. Successful completion of DG I and permission of the instructors is a prerequisite for participation in this course. The course combines a practical component and a discussion. In the practical part, experiments that have led to the discovery of important aspects of developmental biology are demonstrated and conducted by the students. For the discussion, student will read and discuss research articles pertinent to the respective laboratory session.
6 credits_
Course Director: Ruth Lehmann (212) 263-8071 lehmann@saturn.med.nyu.edu
Syllabus

G16. 2611, Section 001 Tutorial in Neuroanatomy_This course presents the central and peripheral nervous systems in terms of anatomical localization, connectivity and functional relevance of NS organization. We will analyze sensory systems and their topographical projections into the CNS together with output as fundamental controls of behavior. The presentations will include the hierarchy of integrative centers that act to generate simple to complex reflexes and the formulation of consciousness. Thirty-two sessions will include a two hour lecture and a two hour lab each week that includes practical and didactic examinations. The sessions will begin in early February and end in early June 2005. The laboratories will utilize human brain specimens to reinforce lecture presentations. Upon completion, students should be able to: Conceptualize the human nervous system from a structural and general functional point of view; formulate a philosophical understanding of relationships between input and output systems and the integrative connectivity that binds them together within brain structures; anatomically localize structures and centers throughout the human brain and describe functional connectivity.
3 credits_
Course Directors: _
Dean Hillman (212) 263-7430 hillmd01@popmail.med.nyu.edu
Kalman Rubinson (212) 263-6792 kr4@nyu.edu

G16. 2611, Section 002 Tutorial in Systems Neuroscience
This course will run from February 10 - April 7th. This course is required for all first year Neuroscience students to be taken in conjunction with the Cellular and Developmental tutorials offered this spring. Details to follow.
3 credits
Course Director: Esther Gardner 212 263 5412 gardne01@popmail.med.nyu.edu

G16. 2611, Section 003 Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
This course will run from January 9th through February 8th. This course is required for all first year Neuroscience students to be taken in conjunction with the Systems Neuroscience and Developmental Neuroscience tutorials offered this spring. Details to follow.
3 credits
Course Director: Jim Salzer 212 263 0758 salzer@saturn.med.nyu.edu
Syllabus

G16. 2611, Section 004 Developmental Neuroscience
This course will run from April 12th through June 2nd. This course is required for all first year Neuroscience students to be taken in conjunction with the Systems Neuroscience and Cellular and Molecular tutorials offered this spring. Details to follow.
3 credits
Course Directors:
Gord Fishell 212 263 7691 fishell@saturn.med.nyu.edu
Jim Salzer 212 263 0758 salzer@saturn.med.nyu.edu

G16.4012 - 4402 Readings in Biochemistry - Structural Biology
Students can sign up for a 1-3 credit readings course as an elective. The graduate student will select a faculty member that is working in an area matching their interests.