​The research in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is conducted in the laboratories of 25 research groups, headed by 12 faculty members and 13 emeritus professors. The scientific interests of these groups are varied and are characterized by the use of biochemical, cellular and molecular biological methodologies to explore mechanisms underlying physiological and pathological processes and to develop therapeutic agents and strategies. The diverse nature of this research also dictates the wide array of model systems used ranging from work on purified proteins for high resolution studies through cell cultures, simple animal models such as Caenorhabditis elegans and up to higher animal models.

The research topics investigated by the department's scientists include: biochemical mechanisms of signal transmission in the nervous system and the involvement of ion channels and membrane transport proteins; molecular responses to environmental and metabolic stresses, such as oxygen deficiency, radiation and drug exposure; differentiation of osteoclasts; aging-associated degenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease; neoplastic transformation and metastasis; metabolic diseases such as diabetes, mitochondrial diseases and lipid-storage diseases; regulation of inflammatory cytokine gene expression; regulation of splicing by epigenetic modifications and effects of deregulated splicing on cancer development or therapy; effects of metabolites on epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and construction of synthetic biology systems for cancer therapy.

The Department is committed to bringing together brilliant scientific minds in creative and collaborative environments to study basic science and medically relevant problems through a multidisciplinary approach to biomedical research. Together, our researchers are generating and utilizing innovative approaches to meet the challenges of medicine in the 21st century.