Developmental and Stem Cell Biology MTA

Developmental biology addresses a fundamental question: how do organisms develop from zygotes? As a discipline, developmental biology encompasses genetics, cell biology, physiology and evolution; as an area of current biomedical research, it provides insights into complex processes that, when disrupted, result in disease. One aspect of developmental biology, the specification and differentiation of distinct cell lineages, has led to the identification and isolation of embryonic, fetal and adult stem cells. Stem cell biology, an area of intense current interest, holds great promise for the potential treatment of human disease and for understanding basic questions in development. The goal of this training area is to produce young scientists who are skilled in the experimental techniques of developmental and cell biology and committed to careers that will advance our understanding in these areas, including applications that will ultimately help alleviate human disease. The program will include basic and advanced coursework, seminars and journal clubs. Trainees will work with affiliated faculty drawn from the entire Mount Sinai community to provide a comprehensive, multifaceted training experience. It is anticipated that the Training Faculty in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology will include not only developmental and stem cell biologists but also cell biologists working on fundamental problems of relevance to developmental and stem cell biology.