Cell and Molecular Biology of Medicine

At the core of most modern medical treatments is an understanding of how cells and biological molecules work. In this course we examine how medications such as antibiotics, anti-viral drugs, chemotherapy, and psychiatric drugs work. We also look at the molecular biology and treatment of conditions such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and auto-immune disorders, for example, Lupus.

Class time is devoted to interactive lectures and in-class assignments designed to help students understand the connections between science and medical treatments. Outside of class, participants are expected to write a number of short essays exploring how various modern medical treatments work on a cellular and molecular level.