About the Department

The Mission of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry has three components:

• Research in the fields of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Teaching the Biochemistry curriculum of the medical, dental, and allied health programs
• Service to the University, national and international scientific communities

Research in the Department advances basic understanding of the biochemical and molecular mechanisms underlying both normal cellular processes and disease states in humans. Through multidisciplinary collaborative work, scientists can translate these basic findings into studies that will benefit patients. This research focus is exemplified by two translational National Cancer Institute program projects grants for which Department faculty serve as principal investigators. These projects include faculty in both clinical and basic science departments across the Medical Center.

Selected Research Programs with Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry

• Epigenetic mechanisms governing the transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Dr. Samson Jacob heads a multidisciplinary team funded by an NCI Program Project grant that includes MCB faculty members Drs. Mark Parthun and Saïd Sif. The project combines basic studies into mechanisms of epigenetic regulation of gene expression in leukemia cells and translational studies utilizing strategies that target epigenetic changes that occur in human leukemia.
• Genetic analysis of the tumor microenvironment. Dr. Michael Ostrowski heads a multidisciplinary team including seven departments and four colleges in efforts to define genes that act from cells other than the tumor cell in breast cancer progression. The team is funded by an NCI Program Project Grant, the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Program and the Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
• Molecular mechanisms underlying neuromuscular diseases and spinal cord injury. Seven faculty members work in this area of biomedical research. Particularly of note are studies that combine basic science and translational studies led by Dr. Arthur Burghes on Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Dr. Sung-Ok Yoon on spinal cord injury and Dr. Jill Rafael-Fortney on heart defects in Muscular Dystrophy patients.
• Mitochondrial biology and dysfunction in human disease. Dr. Douglas Pfeiffer heads this multidisciplinary working group of 34 members from six different colleges at OSU.
• Molecular genetics of the regulation RNA processing, transport and stability. Dr. Dan Schoenberg directs the campus Center for RNA Biology composed of 27 faculty members from seven colleges. This group of faculty account for a substantial percentage of the high-impact papers published at Ohio State and are among the most well funded faculty group in the Life Sciences.
• Structural biology. The department is the home of structural biology in the College of Medicine. Dr. Charles Bell focuses on determining the structure at the atomic level of important biological molecules, for example the androgen receptor and cytokine receptors. This type of work is critical for rational design of new drugs for a host of human diseases.