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The department was formed in 2003 from the merger of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Department of Molecular Genetics. We are located in the Molecular Biology Research Building on the University of Illinois College of Medicine campus on the near west side of Chicago, next to Little Italy and a few miles from the Loop and Lake Michigan.

Overview Heading link

MBRB Building

Research

Our diverse basic science department is at the forefront of biomedical research, where faculty employ cutting-edge molecular and genetic approaches to explore a wide array of fundamental questions. Research interests spans from structural biology, drug development, biotech, signaling, developmental, cell, and cancer biology. New faculty recruits are studying stem cells, epigenetics, and the regulation of membrane protein turnover, and new projects have been initiated that address critical gaps in understanding SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19.

Education

Committed to education, our faculty plays key roles in undergraduate, graduate, and medical student instruction, as well as postdoctoral training. The Graduate Education in Biomedical Sciences (GEMS) program facilitates PhD student mentorship through research rotations, aligning with the diverse scientific investigations within our labs. Faculty members are associated with five GEMS Research Concentrations, offering prospective students rich opportunities.

In addition, our department contributes to the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) and guides undergraduates through the UIC Undergraduate Research Experience program, with alumni finding success in academia, industry, medicine, science writing, and patent law.  At its core, the department values diversity and inclusion in all forms, and the power that multiple, different perspectives bring to the process of problem solving.

Newsletter Heading link

Explore the latest developments, research highlights, and departmental updates through the Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics department newsletter.

Past Newsletters

Departmental Retreat Heading link

Each year the entire department gets together for 2 days of research talks, posters, and other fun activities. The past few years it has been held in Lake Geneva, WI.