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Graduate Programs in Biomedical Sciences

The Saint Louis University Graduate Programs in Biomedical Sciences is made up of four programs:  Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Molecular Microbiology and Immunology; Pathology; and Pharmacological and Physiological Sciences.  

First-year courses focus on the basic biochemical, molecular, cellular and organismal aspects of the biomedical sciences, preparing you for more intensive, individualized instruction that will be unique to the discipline you choose to study in the following years.

Instructors come from all four Ph.D. programs. Their charge is to introduce you to the most recent findings and the methodologies used to study major issues in their fields. Coursework includes didactic lectures, small-group problem-solving sessions, student presentations and hands-on research experience.

Active seminars in all departments and programs provide broad exposure to the wide scope of biomedical research and introduce you to potential future employers or collaborators. We emphasize the preparation of technically skilled and thoughtful scientists for diverse careers in academia, industry or government.

Learn More About Graduate Study in the Biomedical Sciences

Diversity 

The Saint Louis University School of Medicine is committed to the importance of diversity. We seek to immerse our graduate and medical students in a training atmosphere that prepares them for the practice of medicine in a multicultural America. We strive to demonstrate this inclusiveness in the classroom and in all areas of our admissions practices, academic advising, student services and activities, curricular offerings and administrative policies. Our goal is to produce well-rounded and culturally competent professionals who will respectfully serve their diverse communities.

The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion oversees the School of Medicine’s efforts to promote inclusion for the graduate and medical school community. Programs, events and initiatives are designed to raise awareness, inspire action, support equitable employment and cultivate a culture of diversity and inclusion.

Visit the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Applications and Financial Aid

You must complete both the classified graduate school application and the graduate program in biomedical sciences application to be considered for our Ph.D. programs.

SLU Graduate School Application

Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences Supplemental Application

Email the completed application for the Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences to Katherine Kornuta at katherine.kornuta@health.slu.edu.

Financial aid is available, and all first- and second-year students receive a nationally competitive student stipend, as well as tuition waivers and health insurance. Stipends, health benefits and tuition costs are the responsibility of your advisor or doctoral program during the final years of your graduate study and are most commonly provided by research grants or contracts.

Colloquiums

The biomedical sciences colloquiums are scheduled every Wednesday at noon. Unless otherwise announced, all colloquium sessions will be held in Auditorium B of the Learning Resource Center.

CORE Graduate Program Colloquiums Schedule

Date Presenter Paper
Feb. 7, 2024 Kaitlyn Danforth

Neuronal cholesterol synthesis is essential for repair of chronically demyelinated lesions in mice

Berghoff, Stefan A et al. Cell reports vol. 37,4 (2021)
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109889

March 6, 2024 Jennfier Brown

Long‐term exercise pre‐training attenuates Alzheimer’s disease-related pathology in a transgenic rat model of Alzheimer’s disease

Yang, Luodan et al. GeroScience vol. 44,3 (2022)

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-022-00534-2

March 20, 2024 Don Ashley Malabana

 CAR density influences antitumoral efficacy of BCMA CAR T cells and correlates with clinical outcome

Rodriguez-Marquez, Paula et al.  Science advances vol. 8,39 (2022)

https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abo0514
 

April 10, 2024 Spencer Jones

Elevated dietary ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids induce reversible peripheral nerve dysfunction that exacerbates comorbid pain conditions

Boyd, Jacob T et al. Nature metabolism vol. 3,6 (2021)

https://doi.org/10.1038/s42255-021-00410-x

April 24, 2024 Capri Charleston

A gut-derived metabolite alters brain activity and anxiety behaviour in mice

Needham, B.D., Funabashi, M., Adame, M.D. et al. Nature 602, 647–653 (2022)

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-04396-8

 

Wednesdays at noon in LRC Auditorium B (unless indicated otherwise)

All students, staff and faculty are encouraged to attend. The schedule for the spring semester is distributed in December. There are 11 presentations by the first-year core students, leaving some open dates for volunteers. Any faculty member, post-doctoral fellow or senior graduate student who would like to present in the spring should contact Willis K. Samson, Ph.D. at willis.samson@health.slu.edu