Courses

The listing of a course description here does not guarantee a course’s being offered in a particular semester. Please refer to the published schedule of classes on the MyBU Student Portal for confirmation a class is actually being taught and for specific course meeting dates and times.

• GMS BT 442: Issues in Assisted Reproduction
  This course addresses the legal, ethical and scientific aspects of Assisted Reproduction (also called ART-Assisted Reproductive Techniques). The science of treating infertility has expanded amazingly in the last 15 years, from the use of sperm donors to selling eggs on the internet. Assisted Reproductive techniques are constantly changing and have given rise to many legal cases and ethical questions, which this course will. This course closely examines these legal and ethical questions. Online only; technology fee applies.
• GMS BT 482: Advanced Biomedical Research Laboratory Techniques
  This course will focus on more advanced laboratory skills that students would benefit from as they prepare for a career in the biomedical sciences. The course emphasizes the theoretical as well as the applied aspects of advanced research techniques in the biomedical sciences. The course is reinforced with applied, hands-on laboratory sessions that would provide practical experience in the topics covered in the preceding lectures. The majority of class time will be designed to provide students with ample hands-on time in the lab to practice their skills in the presence of the course instructor. The course will focus on providing students with a set of specialized laboratory skills, such as advanced cell culture practices, protein purification, and biospecimen processing and imaging. Students will also be educated in research methodology, data analysis, and data presentation. Topics covered include: transfections; reporter assays and a variety of optical assays; chromatography, electrophoresis and blotting techniques; dissection, tissue preservation techniques, and photomicroscopy. Students, even those with some previous laboratory hands-on experience, will benefit from this course because of its combined focus on the theoretical and applied aspects of advance laboratory techniques/methods.
• GMS BT 520: Biology of Cancer
  Prereq: BT 405 (Biochem) and BT 413 (Mol Bio) or consent of program director. This course focuses on the cellular and molecular changes that underlie the development and progression of human cancer. Students examine the pathways and processes that involve oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes to understand how they can contribute to cancer. Complex interactions including angiogenesis, tumor immunology, invasion and metastasis are studied as well. In addition,the course covers targeted approaches to cancer therapy and the latest scientific research including cancer epigenetics, microRNAs and cancer stem cells.
• GMS BT 540: Regulatory and Compliance Issues
  Clinical research is conducted to meet the needs of the intended patient population with an investigational medical intervention. But a favorable medical outcome is not the only criterion that is used to judge whether a product can be marketed. Clinical research needs to meet the rigorous standards of the regulators, the ethicists, and the auditors. This course reviews the laws that are in place that are designed to guide the complexities of clinical research. We will use case studies to illustrate what can really happen when clinical studies are conducted -- you may be surprised with what you find. Using group activities and exercises, we will explore the options and approaches used to manage these clinical research issues. 4 cr.
• GMS BT 560: Good Clinical Practices (GCP) in Clinical Research
  This course introduces the international standards for ethical conduct of research and maintaining the highest level of scientific quality when conducting clinical trials. Topics include the regulatory responsibilities of sponsors, monitors, and investigators conducting clinical trials; the phases of clinical trials leading up to FDA approval of a new drug or device; and how to get a trial up and running including the selection of qualified investigators, obtaining approval to conduct the study from an ethics committee, and completing the regulatory documentation that is required for getting a site ready to enroll patients. The course also covers ensuring data integrity, handling ethical dilemmas, and reporting of serious adverse events. Case studies, review of current media, and exercises will be used to practice the application of information provided in class and to demonstrate GCP compliance from an industry perspective. Group discussions, individual and group projects, and guest speakers help students learn the practical skills used in the field.
• GMS BT 594: Clinical Research Practicum
  for Fall and Summer 1 semesters. Prereq: 16 credits in clinical research. Directed study offering direct experience with the conduct of a clinical trial. Student will work on a supervised project within an approved clinical research site. For matriculated students only; register via the program director.
• GMS BT 595: Clinical Research Practicum
  for Spring and Summer 2 semesters. Prereq: 16 credits in clinical research. Directed study offering direct experience with the conduct of a clinical trial. Student will work on a supervised project within an approved clinical research site. For matriculated students only; register via the program director.
• GMS BT 596: Research Pract
  
• GMS BT 597: Research Pract
  
• GMS BY 762: Foundations of Structural Biology I
  Graduate Prerequisites: consent of instructor
  This graduate-level course provides a thorough grounding in the theory and major experimental methods of Structural Biology. The Fall semester (BY762) covers x-ray crystallography and electron microscopy. The Spring semester (BY763) covers NMR, protein thermodynamics, and spectroscopy. Semesters are independent and may be taken in either order. 2 cr, Fall sem.
• GMS BY 763: Foundations of Structural Biology II
  Graduate Prerequisites: consent of instructor
  This graduate-level course provides a thorough grounding in the theory and major experimental methods of Structural Biology. The Fall semester (BY762) covers x-ray crystallography and electron microscopy. The Spring semester (BY763) covers NMR, protein thermodynamics, and spectroscopy. Semesters are independent and may be taken in either order. 2 cr, Spring sem.
• GMS BY 772: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Imaging in Biology and Biochemistry
  Prereq: consent of instructor. An introduction to the basic theory and the fundamental measurements of NMR spectroscopy using the predominant biological nuclei, 1H, 2H, 13C, and 31P, and applications to structure and metabolism; NMR and MRI studies of pathological processes. Hamilton. 2 cr, Spring sem.
• GMS BY 774: Metabolism and Cellular Functions of Complex Lipids
  Prereq: consent of instructor. In-depth description of selected areas of lipid metabolism. Emphasis on functional roles of specific lipid species in cellular processes (e.g., cell activation, protein transport and function). Use of timely articles to discuss newly developed techniques and concepts. Zoeller. 2 cr, Spring sem.
• GMS BY 776: Macromolecular Assemblies I
  Graduate Prerequisites: consent of instructor
  This graduate course covers the concepts of the assembly of biomacromolecules, their structure and stabilizing forces, and biological function as related to structure. Examples are drawn from assemblies of proteins, lipids, lipoprotein systems, membranes and viruses. The Fall semester (BY776) covers protein assemblies, protein-nucleic acid assemblies, and membrane proteins. The Spring semester (BY777) covers lipid-protein assemblies. Semesters are independent and may be taken in either order. 2 cr, Fall sem.
• GMS BY 777: Macromolecular Assemblies II
  Graduate Prerequisites: consent of instructor
  This graduate course covers the concepts of the assembly of biomacromolecules, their structure and stabilizing forces, and biological function as related to structure. Examples are drawn from assemblies of proteins, lipids, lipoprotein systems, membranes and viruses. The Fall semester (BY776) covers protein assemblies, protein-nucleic acid assemblies, and membrane proteins. The Spring semester (BY777) covers lipid-protein assemblies. Semesters are independent and may be taken in either order. 2 cr, Spring sem.
• GMS BY 871: Biophysics Special Topics/Student Seminar
  A weekly program in which students present seminars on assigned or selected current scientific literature, attend seminars, and learn grant-writing skills. Emphasis is placed on class participation by all students. 2 cr, Fall sem.
• GMS BY 872: Biophysics Special Topics/Student Seminar
  A weekly program in which students present seminars on assigned or selected current scientific literature, attend seminars, and learn grant-writing skills. Emphasis is placed on class participation by all students. 2 cr, Spring sem.
• GMS BY 945: Research Biophysics
  Var cr
• GMS BY 946: Research Biophysics
  Var cr
• GMS CI 631: The Management of Clinical Trials
  Graduate Prerequisites: GMS CI 675 and consent of instructor
  This course is an integrative learning experience, combining a comprehensive review of the good clinical practice core principles with an explanation and analysis of selected portions of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), applicable to clinical research during the new drug development process. The case study approach is used in this course since the drug development industry translates these regulations into both written and unwritten standards, practices, and guidelines. Each session will use activities to expand the interpretation of the regulations, into an operational and organizational focus, further integrating real-life issues into the classroom. In order to ensure that classroom learning is linked with the students' work experiences, there will be an outside project required which will incorporate the course work with the simulated on-the-job situations, and a final presentation to share the learning with the entire class. 4 cr, Spring sem.