In addition to the required courses, students are encouraged to enroll in elective courses relevant to their research interests. Listed here are a few representative electives completed by M3D students. Please feel free to choose from these offerings or choose from the large menu offered at the University of Washington. (All electives are subject to approval by the M3D leadership.)
| CONJ526: Intro to Systems Biology & Quantitative Approaches to Biomedical Sciences Covers philosophy of systems biology, experimental design, and the linkages between discovery and hypothesis-driven science. Reviews quantitative systems biology tools for genomics, proteomics, modeling and data integration, and emerging technologies. |
| CONJ530: Directing Stem Cells Toward Regenerative Medicine An introduction to the rapidly developing field of human embryonic stem cells in regenerative medicine crossing all medical disciplines including ethics. Requires a strong background in biological sciences. |
| CONJ531: Signaling Mechanisms in Excitable Cells Mechanisms of cellular signaling, particularly in nerve and muscle. Electrical, chemical, and mechanical signaling in the cell that lead to processes such as electrical excitability, action potentials, and muscle contraction. Prerequisite: comprehensive undergraduate course in general biochemistry and molecular biology, or permission of instructor. |
| CONJ532: Signal Transduction – from the Cell Membrane to the Nucleus Intracellular signaling pathways leading from cell membrane receptors to nucleus. Pathways activated by seven transmembrane receptors and G-proteins, insulin/PI3 kinase, nitric oxide and WNTs and mechanisms of signal termination. Cytokine/Jak/Stat signaling and role of subcellular localization in signal transduction. Prerequisite: basic knowledge of biochemistry. |
| CONJ537: Mechanism of Transcriptional Regulation Biochemical mechanisms of gene transcription covering a broad range of transcriptional regulation, including mechanisms of transcriptional initiation, elongation, and termination. Regulation of transcription by chromatin. Includes a special lecture regarding regulation of transcription in cell growth and differentiation. |
| IMMUN538: Immunologically Based Diseases and Treatments Addresses the mechanisms leading to the development of immunologically based diseases. In particular, covers immunological basis and treatment of infection, autoimmunity, and cancer. |
| LAB M/G H 549: Global Laboratory Systems Provides an overview of the role of clinical and public health laboratories in a national public health system, both in US and globally. Covers the functional components of a laboratory system and the importance of quality laboratory information on public health policy making. Topics include disease diagnosis, surveillance, outbreak response, law and regulation and how laboratory information contributes to health policy development. |
| MCB522: The Developmental Basis of Human Disease Uses recent discoveries in human genetics to guide student learning about animal development. Explores the normal developmental function of genes that have been identified as causal in human developmental disorders such as skeletal dysmorphologies, ciliopathies, autism, and cancer. |
| PATH 513: Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration Introduction to the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie neurodegenerative diseases, including introduction to the normal development and anatomy of the central nervous system, a review of epidemiologic, genetic, and clinical research tools used in the investigation of these diseases, and a systematic review of the major neurodegenerative diseases. |
| PATH530: Human Cytogenetics Sources and methods of preparation and identification of human chromosomes. Molecular structure and mapping of chromosomes. Human cytogenetic pathology: karyotype-phenotype interactions, chromosome breakage, and cancer cytogenetics. Prerequisite: permission of instructor. |
| PATH580: Mitochondria and Metabolism in the Pathogenesis of Human Disease Explores the fundamentals of mitochondrial biology, bioenergetics, and cellular metabolism. Includes topical lectures and literature reviews introducing students to advanced metabolic concepts within the context of human disease. |