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2015-2016 University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Anatomy and Cell Biology, PhD
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 Return to: Degree and Certificate Programs
PhD program is closed for entry beginning Fall 2015
Note For the Current Academic Year:
Incoming PhD students should refer to the Integrated Biomedical Sciences section of this catalog. The following information is intended for incoming MS students, current MS and current PhD students. Questions about the future plans should be directed to the program director.
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Anatomy and Cell Biology: Admission Requirements
Applicants are encouraged to complete their application files by April 1, preceding the intended date of admission since the course cycle begins in the fall semester. Applications, however, will be considered on a rolling basis for applicants to the MS or PhD degree program who are enrolled in Rush Medical College or other individuals eligible for advanced standing, e.g., in post-professional master’s work. Rush Medical College students must go on a leave of absence from the Medical College while pursuing an MS or PhD degree in The Graduate College and will reenter Rush Medical College upon graduation from The Graduate College.
The Division of Anatomy and Cell Biology seeks students whose backgrounds demonstrate motivation toward research and teaching as well as a capacity for independent study. Consideration is given to the student’s area of interest with respect to the expertise of individual faculty.
Preferences for majors in biological sciences should include laboratory experience as well as coursework experience in anatomy, physiology, cell and molecular biology, and embryology/developmental biology. Students with backgrounds supporting interests in biomechanics or kinesiology should contact the Program Director.
Acceptable academic and test performances (GPA/GRE/MCAT/TOEFL) are described in The Graduate College guidelines. Specific divisional admission requirements may be waived at the discretion of the Division of Anatomy and Cell Biology’s Graduate Advisory Committee, thus giving the student advanced standing in either the master’s or doctoral programs.
Anatomy and Cell Biology: Academic Policies
The Division is bound by academic policies of the University and The Graduate College.
Assessment of Progress
The student’s progress will be assessed continuously based upon performance in the courses taken and upon evaluations by the Division of Anatomy and Cell Biology’s Graduate Advisory Committee. Good academic standing necessary for graduation requires maintenance of a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0. Students who fail to earn at least “B” grades in courses within the division, or whose overall GPA falls below 3.0, are placed on probationary status for review of their progress by the Graduate Advisory Committee. Pending this review, any student on probation may be recommended for a remedial action or for dismissal from the program. An outline of these specific academic policies and grievance mechanisms is accessible on the departmental Web site; a printed version may be obtained from the Graduate Program Director.
Graduate College/Rush University Academic Policies
Academic policies specific to The Graduate College are located earlier in this catalog. In addition, the Academic Resources and Policies section of this catalog contains Rush University academic policies.
Anatomy and Cell Biology: Thesis/Dissertation Process
Guidance
Each entering student is guided in his or her course of study by the Program Director with the assistance of the Graduate Advisory Committee until such time as the student determines a course of dissertation/thesis scholarship and selects a Research Advisor. The Research Advisor must hold an appointment in the Division of Anatomy and Cell Biology. The Research Advisor assists the student in development of a dissertation/thesis proposal, selection of a dissertation/thesis committee and in oversight of the dissertation research and writing. The student, in consultation with the Research Advisor and Graduate Program Director, is responsible for assuring that his or her graduate coursework satisfies requirements of both the Division and The Graduate College for completion of the degree.
Candidacy Requirements for Doctoral Students
Preliminary Examination
After completing the course requirements, the student must take the preliminary examination in order to qualify for degree candidacy. This examination emphasizes the student’s ability to synthesize material, to solve problems and to communicate verbally and in writing. The first part of this examination consists of a written, comprehensive examination on course material. The second part, an oral examination, is based on the student’s dissertation proposal.
Dissertation
Upon completion of both parts of the preliminary examination, the degree candidate devotes his or her time mainly to dissertation research and writing. The dissertation must be an original experimental or applied study; its format and review must comply with requirements of The Graduate College. The candidate must present the work in a University-wide forum and defend the completed dissertation before his or her research committee. This dissertation committee should be comprised of five members with at least one member from outside the division. An extramural committee member is recommended. The composition of the committee is governed by the Graduate College’s Policy and Procedures document.
Anatomy and Cell Biology: Advanced Placement
The programs in Anatomy and Cell Biology are well-suited to medical students interested in pursuing an MS or PhD degree because of significant overlap in required coursework for these programs. Exemptions are ordinarily permitted for courses taken as medical students at Rush (or possibly other institutions), subject to review by the departmental Graduate Advisory Committee.
The MS for medical students provides an opportunity for students to engage in research training and to fulfill the thesis requirement without significant additional coursework. The thesis research is completed in one additional year, ordinarily between the student’s second and third medical school years. This training is significant for students seeking academic careers in medicine as physician-scientists but whose specialty interests require extended residency programs and post-residency fellowship commitments.
The PhD program would typically follow a traditional 2-3-2 plan, with three years devoted to doctoral study between the medical preclinical and clinical programs. Students interested in pursuing a PhD degree should contact the Program Director to discuss the opportunities and application procedure.
Anatomy and Cell Biology: Tuition Scholarships, Stipends and Employment
Tuition Scholarships/Stipends
Tuition scholarships are provided for all doctoral trainees along with stipend support equivalent to NIH guidelines and according to Graduate College’s Policy and Procedures for predoctoral fellowships. No tuition forgiveness or stipends are provided to master’s students. Tuition and stipend for MD students pursuing an MS degree are based on Graduate College’s Policy and Procedures and resources available to the department and the advisor.
Paid Employment
Outside employment is not permitted under ordinary circumstances. A student who desires to work or needs to work for financial or other reasons is first advised to discuss his or her situation with the research advisor who can best assess potential issues that may relate to conduct of research or other degree requirements. If the student cannot resolve the situation with his or her advisor, the student may petition the Program Director to help arrive at a recommendation that is in the student’s best interest. In any case, the Program Director should stand apprised of any instances of employment.
Anatomy and Cell Biology: Research Activities
Research in the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology stresses the pathobiology of tissue repair and regeneration in connective tissue (especially bone and cartilage), the eye and cancer biology. Many of these studies are directed to developing modes of protection against injury or finding ways that growth factors and cytokines can promote healing in experimental models. Biomedical projects, closely allied to problems encountered in the clinical setting, are enriched by collaborative work with the Departments of Orthopedic Surgery, Biochemistry and Ophthalmology and the Section of Rheumatology. Students are encouraged to perform research in cross-disciplinary areas to take advantage of opportunities in the medical environment at Rush to develop basic research problems with a disease orientation. In addition to the biomedical research detailed below, faculty members have interests in the development of new educational constructs that use computers to facilitate instruction and applied learning through case study work. Faculty laboratories are located in the Armour Academic Center and Jelke Building. These laboratories support a variety of projects ranging in scope from cell and tissue culture work using molecular probes and biochemical methods to experimental surgery and studies on biomechanics and gait. There is ready accessibility to scanning and transmission electron microscopy, a confocal microscope, mechanical testing equipment and a bioinstrumentation laboratory as well as opportunities in specialty laboratories throughout the Medical Center. Most faculty members collaborate not only with other researchers at Rush, but with investigators elsewhere in the United States and abroad.
As a small department, a premium is placed on close relationships between students and their faculty mentors for guidance in development of new projects. The department normally hosts post-doctoral MD or PhD investigators who are committed to related lines of investigation and who are valuable resources for students. Highlights of faculty research interests in the department include:
Bone Biology and Orthopedics
Methods of enhancing bone regeneration for improving fixation of orthopedic implants (e.g., for joint replacement) are being investigated in experimental models and in patients. These studies feature mechanisms by which bone adapts to altered mechanical stresses and to the presence of foreign materials in these devices. The role of growth factors and cytokines is being studied in these models. (Sumner, Virdi)
Bone Biology and the Bone Marrow Stroma
Mesenchymal stem cells in the bone marrow stroma can give rise to a number of cell lineages, including osteogenic, chondrogenic, myogenic and adipogenic. Isolation and characterization of the early progenitors has a great potential for their use in clinical situations of tissue repair and regeneration. Our research interests focus on molecular studies using gene-expression profiling and the role of these cells as vehicles for delivering growth factors to the site of repair. (Virdi, Sumner)
Joint Pathophysiology
The pathophysiologic processes that produce damage to joints and articular cartilage are being examined in experimental models. Possible approaches to protecting cartilage from damage and inducing cartilage repair are being studied as a means to restore articular surfaces damaged by trauma or osteoarthritis. The role of bone in the development and progression of osteoarthritis is controversial. Several of our recent studies have suggested that bone may play a critical role. (Williams, Sumner, Thorp)
Movement Disorders
Faculty investigator and a team of collaborators are investigating: (1) Balance, gait and functional mobility deficits in neurodegenerative disorders as well as identifying potential functional markers for early detection of such disorders. (2) Novel technologies to measure hyperactive motion including repetitive, stereotyped movements in individuals with Fragile X Syndrome and autism as potential outcome measures in future therapeutic intervention trials. (O’Keefe)
Cartilage Biology and Bone Growth
The long-term goals of this research area is to understand the molecular mechanisms that govern chondrocyte maturation (hypertrophy) during skeletal development; and to identify putative therapeutic targets that regulate chondrocyte maturation and are therefore involved in the pathogenesis of related skeletal dysplasias and/or osteoarthritis. Current projects are focused on identification of transcriptional determinants that mediate tissue-specific mouse Col10a1 expression in hypertrophic chondrocytes in vivo and characterizing the role of Runx2, AP-1 (Activator Protein-1) and other putative transcription factors in late endochondral bone formation. (Zheng)
Ocular Lens
The structural basis of lens opacification (cataract), lens structure/function relationships as a consequence of aging, cataract formation and ocular/systemic diseases and fiber cell elongation/migration in normal lens and models of cataract are being investigated. (Al-Ghoul)
Cancer Research
Dissemination of cancer cells from primary tumor to distal organs (e.g., bone, lungs) is the primary cause of cancer-related deaths. A compelling and therapeutically relevant question is how cancer cells acquire a metastatic phenotype and escape from the primary tumor. Research interests focus on the understanding the role of transcriptional regulatory networks operative during cancer progression and metastasis to bone using various approaches (molecular, biochemical and imaging), and in vitro and in vivo models of cancer metastasis. (Pratap)
Cancer stem cells are highly metastatic and play a key role in tumor recurrence and resistance to radiation and chemotherapy. Cross-talk between the sonic hedgehog signaling pathway, heparanase, and PI-3 kinase signaling pathway, are implicated in promoting cancer stem cell self-renewal and tumor cell invasiveness. Studies in the Xu laboratory focus on the role of these signaling pathways in tumorigenesis and metastasis of thyroid and breast cancer and targeting these signaling pathways for cancer treatment and prevention. (Xu)
Osteosarcoma is the most common malignant bone cancer in children. Current treatment includes aggressive preoperative and postoperative multidrug chemotherapy. Nonetheless, it is estimated that 30% of patients with localized disease and 80% of patients with metastatic disease at diagnosis will relapse. Recurrent tumors are thought to arise from therapy-resistant cancer cells that survive the initial treatment. Determining the molecular basis for chemotherapy resistance should allow one to more effectively target these therapy resistant cells. The tumor suppressor protein p53 is activated and triggers cell death pathways in response to DNA damaging chemotherapeutic drugs. More than 50% of cancer harbor inactivating mutations in p53, and in many cases mutations in p53 have been linked to a diminished response to chemotherapy. A long-term goal in the Maki Lab is to identify molecular mechanisms responsible for therapy resistance in osteosarcoma and other cancers, and then use this information to more effectively target resistant cells. (Maki)
Anatomy and Cell Biology: Curriculum
The Division is bound by academic policies of the University and The Graduate College.
Doctoral Degree in Anatomy and Cell Biology
The first- and second-year curricula are devoted to anatomy coursework and complementary electives selected from cell and molecular biology, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, immunology, neuroscience, biostatistics and ethics in research. Methods and special topics courses during the first year help the student select and work more closely with his or her research advisor and identify project lines for dissertation research. Participation in the departmental journal club is expected each semester. This is primarily a research-based degree, but doctoral students are also encouraged to serve as instructional assistants in the core anatomy courses to improve their comfort level in working with students and anticipating future roles in teaching. Admission to degree candidacy for dedication to dissertation research is contingent upon successful completion of: 1) coursework requirements, 2) a written comprehensive examination and 3) a dissertation proposal to be presented to the student’s dissertation committee for approval.
2 Credit Hours From:
Graduate College Core curriculum
- GCC-501 to GCC-514 (Cell/Molecular Biology) (1 - 2 ea)
2 Credit Hours From:
Extra-departmental and other GCC courses; e.g.
Semester Hours:
Rush Medical College students who temporarily suspend their studies to pursue a degree in Anatomy and Cell Biology may have a modified plan of study based on courses they have completed as medical students.
13 Credit Hours From:
Graduate College Core curriculum
13 Credit Hours From:
Graduate College Core curriculum
- GCC-501 to GCC-514 (Cell/Molecular Biology) (1 - 2 ea)
2 Credit Hours From:
Extra-departmental and other GCC courses; e.g.
Semester Hours:
Rush Medical College students who temporarily suspend their studies to pursue a degree in Anatomy and Cell Biology may have a modified plan of study based on courses they have completed as medical students.
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