Research

Research Areas

The Molecular Genetics and Developmental Biology (MGDB) graduate program brings together faculty in both basic and applied sciences, including researchers from the School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Magee-Womens Research Institute and Biological Sciences. MGDB research is at the cutting edge of many emerging fields, including developmental and reproductive biology, stem cell biology, proteomics, computational biology and genomics. The faculty members in the MGDB program have diverse research interests and are exploring questions that address fundamental and critical issues in biomedical research.

MGDB research is at the cutting edge of many emerging fields, including developmental and reproductive biology, stem cell biology, proteomics, computational biology and genomics. Our work has direct relevance to acute injury, cancer, diabetes, muscular dystrophy, heart disease, kidney disease, fertility/infertility, congenital disorders and other genetic diseases and regenerative medicine.

Faculty research interests can be broadly divided into three major areas:

Developmental and Reproductive Biology

Researchers in this area are focused on the broad scope of developmental events including early embryonic patterning, organogenesis, and the transition from gamete to a reproductive organism.

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Molecular Genetics

Researchers in this area are focused on signaling and transcriptional responses of cells to their environment. Researchers in this area also study DNA damage and repair in the context of normal tissue development, meiosis and cancer

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Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine

Researchers in this area are focused on 1) the basic mechanisms controlling stem cell biology and developmental potential with investigations ranging from embryonic stem cells to induced pluripotent stem cells to adult tissue stem cells; and (2) tissue regeneration.

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