Department Overview

The Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences at Mount Sinai School of Medicine is a hybrid basic science and clinical department that offers a broad-based program of instruction, research, and clinical services in Genetics and Genomic Sciences. The faculty of the Department is expert in the application of molecular, biochemical, immunologic, cytogenetic, and somatic cell approaches for the study of genetic diseases. As described in the Peterson's Guide and in the Research section of our Web site, the research themes in the Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences include gene discovery, use of knockout mice to study disease pathogenesis, and gene therapy. In addition, Department faculty are involved in the molecular and biochemical characterization of mutant genes and their gene products in various inherited metabolic diseases (e.g., lysosomal storage diseases, porphyrias, hemophilias, hemoglobinopathies, sideroblastic anemia, and cystic fibrosis); gene mapping using in situ hybridization and somatic cell genetic techniques; development and evaluation of enzyme replacement and gene transfer for the treatment of genetic diseases using animal model systems; and the use of molecular techniques for the diagnosis (and prenatal diagnosis) of genetic diseases.

Additional resources are available in specialized areas in Mount Sinai School of Medicine's Research Facilities and in computational resources in various departments. Research training is provided via the Ph.D. or MSTP (M.D./Ph.D.) programs of Mount Sinai School of Medicine's Graduate School of Biological Sciences. Details of the governance structure of the school are found in the Faculty Handbook. A rigorous and robust new medical school curriculum has been implemented and is available for review. The five year vision and goals of the Department are described in "The Departmental Roadmap."