Experimental Pathology

342 Brady Memorial Laboratory, 785.6721
M.S., M.Phil., Ph.D.F

Chair
Jon Morrow (Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental Biology)

Director of Graduate Studies
David Stern (785.4832, df.stern@yale.edu)

Professors
Philip Askenase (Internal Medicine), Richard Bucala (Internal Medicine), Young Choi, José Costa, S. Evans Downing (Emeritus), Stuart Flynn, Nikki Holbrook (Internal Medicine), Michael Kashgarian (Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology), Jung Kim, Paul Lizardi, Marc Lorber (Surgery), Joseph Madri, Vincent Marchesi (Director, Boyer Center for Molecular Medicine; Cell Biology), Mark Mooseker (Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology), Jon Morrow (Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology), Jordan Pober (Immunobiology; Dermatology), John Rose (Cell Biology), David Stern, Raymond Yesner (Emeritus)

Associate Professors
Xin-Yuan Fu, Earl Glusac (Dermatology), Robert Homer, Diane Krause (Laboratory Medicine), Jennifer McNiff (Dermatology), Archibald Perkins (Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology), Miguel Reyes-Mugica (Pediatrics), David Rimm, Marie Robert, John Sinard (Ophthalmology), Wenxin Zheng

Assistant Professors
Serguei Bannykh, Mary Chacho, Tamara Handerson (Dermatology), Liming Hao, Pei Hui, Dhanpat Jain, Diane Kowalski, Rossitza Lazova (Dermatology), Marguerite Pinto, Pars Ravichandran, Idris Tolgay Ocal, David Tuck

Research Scientists
Janet Brandsma (Comparative Medicine), Christine Howe

Associate Research Scientists
Robert Camp, Gouri Chaterjee, Jan Czycyk, Debbie Dillon, Nancy Kirkiles-Smith, Meng Liu, Keyvan Mahboubi, Mark Mattie, Deepti Pradhan, Nina Rose, Michael Stankewich, Zenta Walther, Thomas Welte, Bogdan Yatsula, Shao-Min Zhang, Zhushan Zhang

Fields of Study
Fields include molecular and cellular basis of cancer; biology, biochemistry, and pathology of the plasma membrane; cells, molecules, and response to stimuli of connective tissue; interaction of viruses with animal cells; pathology of organ systems; somatic cell genetics and birth defects; biology of endothelial cells; assembly of viruses.

Special Admissions Requirements
A strong background in basic sciences is recommended for applicants to the program, including biology, chemistry through organic and physical chemistry, mathematics through calculus, biochemistry, genetics, or immunology. GRE General Test or MCAT is required.

To enter the Ph.D. program, students apply to an interest-based track, usually the Pharmacological Sciences and Molecular Medicine track, within the interdepartmental graduate program in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences.

Special Requirements for the Ph.D. Degree
There is no foreign language requirement. Three to four terms of course work including courses in biochemistry, genetics, immunology, cell biology, and pathology are selected according to the student's background and choice. The qualifying examination has both written and oral parts. After a reading period of six weeks the student will answer, in essay form, one of two questions in each of three subject areas, which include a brief research proposal. The oral examination will specifically address the chosen areas of interest in addition to general problems of pathology. Upon completing the course requirement with at least two terms of Honors, passing the qualifying examination, and submitting a thesis prospectus, students will be admitted to candidacy. They must then submit a written thesis describing the research and present a thesis research seminar.

In accordance with the BBS program, Ph.D. students are expected to participate in two terms (or the equivalent) of teaching.

Master's Degrees
M.Phil. See Graduate School requirements. Awarded only to students who are continuing for the Ph.D. Students are not admitted for this degree.

M.S. Awarded only to students who are not continuing for the Ph.D., but who have successfully completed one year of the doctoral program. Students are not admitted for this degree.

Program materials are available upon request to the Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Experimental Pathology, Yale University, PO Box 208023, New Haven CT 06520-8023; Web site, info.med.yale.edu/pathol/training/gtp.htm/.

Courses
Note: Pathology 600, 616, 617, and 618b are primarily geared toward medical students, but may be taken by graduate students with the permission of the director of medical studies (Dr. Joseph Madri).

PATH 600, Pathological Basis of Human Disease.  Joseph Madri and staff.
Fundamental principles underlying the pathological alterations in function and structure that constitute the reaction of the organism to injury. Pathology of diseases involving special organs and systems. Correlation of the clinical and anatomical manifestations is emphasized. For EPH graduate students and MSTP students who are required to take PATH 100 for graduate credit.

PATH 616, Autopsy Pathology.  John Sinard and staff.
Participation in the autopsy service with members of the house staff in pathology. Participation in autopsies and the presentation and review of the clinical and anatomical findings of postmortem examinations with senior members of the department. Opportunities exist for correlation studies with previous biopsies, and clinical investigative and cell biologic techniques in relation to necropsy material. Six weeks minimum, full time. Enrollment limited to two students.

PATH 617, Anatomic Pathology.  José Costa and staff.
The department offers an elective to medical students in the third and fourth years that provides a broad experience in general diagnostic techniques. Students have opportunities to participate in surgical pathology, cytology (including fine-needle aspiration), and autopsy. A daily diagnostic conference is scheduled for both residents and students, and an additional two hours of conference are provided each week exclusively for the students. In addition to direct responsibilities in the handling of the cases, the student has the opportunity to apply the special techniques of electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry. A minimum of four weeks is suggested for this elective. Five students are accommodated every four to six weeks.

PATH 618b, Clinical and Pathologic Correlates in Renal Disease.   Michael Kashgarian, Norman Siegel.
A series of clinical pathologic conferences designed to illustrate clinicopathologic correlates in renal disease. At each session, one student acts as clinician and another as pathologist in the evaluation and discussion of case material from autopsies or renal biopsies. Discussions are informal, but require preparation in advance and all participants are expected to contribute in each session. One two-hour session per week for six weeks. Given once in spring term. Limited to twelve students.

PATH 620a and b, Laboratory Rotations in Experimental Pathology.  David Stern.
Laboratory rotations for first-year graduate students.

PATH 640a, From Molecular Biology to Molecular Medicine: New Concepts, Trends, and Applications.  Xin-Yuan Fu, Paul Lizardi.
The objective of the course is to update students on the most recent progress in the research field of molecular medicine. The course has five themes: (1) Genome projects and applications. (2) Bioinformatics in gene discovery and pathway analysis. (3) Gene therapy: theory and practice. (4) Signaling pathways and molecular targets with small compounds. (5) Applications of biologicals such as cytokines and cell surface proteins in molecular therapy.

PATH 650b, Cellular and Molecular Biology of Cancer.  David Stern, Archibald Perkins.
A comprehensive survey of cancer research from the cellular to the clinical level. The relation of cancer to intracellular and intercellular regulation of cell proliferation is emphasized, as are animal models for cancer research. Background in molecular genetics and cell biology is assumed. Open to advanced undergraduates with permission of the organizers.

PATH 670b, Biological Mechanisms of Reaction to Injury.  Michael Kashgarian, Jon Morrow, José Costa, and Archibald Perkins.
An introduction to human biology and disease as a manifestation of reaction to injury. Topics include organ structure and function, cell injury, circulatory and inflammatory responses, disordered physiology, and neoplasia.

PATH 680a, Seminar Course.  Staff.
Readings and discussion in topics relevant to cell biology, pharmacology, and molecular medicine. The class emphasizes analysis of the primary research literature and development of presentation skills.

PATH 690a, Molecular Mechanisms of Disease.  Staff.
The molecular defects underlying fundamental human diseases. Covers the cellular and molecular mechanisms of infectious and degenerative diseases, vascular and inflammatory processes, AIDS, and hemorrhagic disorders. Objective is to highlight the interface between experimental and molecular medicine and how it relates to the pathogenesis of human diseases.

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