Our Mission

The Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Molecular Medicine is one of the first cross-departmental graduate programs at The University of Iowa. It was founded by John Menninger in 1974, and funded by a National Research Service Award Training Program in Molecular Medicine from 1975-1992. This initial Program did not admit students or grant degrees. Instead, after their first year of graduate study, students from various departments were chosen and awarded stipends based on merit. Similarly to today, the students and faculty met for a weekly seminar, designed to inform trainees about the variety of research that was of interest to cell and molecular biologists, to give trainees practice in presenting their research to a critical audience, and to provide a social connection for trainees who were working in various departments. In 1992, the Molecular Biology Graduate Program was formalized into a degree-granting PhD program, and in 2017, the program changed its name to Molecular Medicine to reflect a expanded focus on translational science.

Today, the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Molecular Medicine still fosters the interdisciplinary efforts of a diverse group of investigators—both faculty and students—with common interests in molecular and cellular biology. Currently the program faculty represent the departments of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Dows Institute for Dental Research, Internal Medicine, Microbiology, Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, Neurology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Otolaryngology, Pathology, Pediatrics, Pharmacology,  Psychiatry, Radiation Oncology, and Surgery. The program actively recruits new students with diverse research interests.

Molecular Medicine Events

 Molecular Medicine Interdisciplinary Program Thesis Defense Seminar: Misty Perez promotional image

Molecular Medicine Interdisciplinary Program Thesis Defense Seminar: Misty Perez

Friday, April 4, 2025 2:00pm
Pappajohn Biomedical Discovery Building
Misty Perez is a PhD candidate in the Biomedical Science (Molecular Medicine) Interdisciplinary Graduate Program. She is a part of Dr. Matt Potthoff's lab.
Molecular Medicine Interdisciplinary Program Thesis Defense Seminar: Kyleakin Helm-Kwasny promotional image

Molecular Medicine Interdisciplinary Program Thesis Defense Seminar: Kyleakin Helm-Kwasny

Thursday, April 17, 2025 10:30am
Medical Education Research Facility
Kyleakin Helm-Kwasny is a current student of the Molecular Medicine Graduate Program, PhD Candidate, and is in Dr. Al Klingelhutz's laboratory.

Neuroscience & Pharmacology Workshop - Olivia Klein and Emma Luhmann

Thursday, April 17, 2025 12:30pm to 1:30pm
Pappajohn Biomedical Discovery Building
Presented by Olivia Klein Graduate Student in the labs of Drs. Mark Schultz and Marco Hefti Presented by Emma Luhmann Graduate student in Dr. Kevin Campbell's lab
Molecular Medicine Interdisciplinary Program Thesis Defense Seminar: Kai Vorhies promotional image

Molecular Medicine Interdisciplinary Program Thesis Defense Seminar: Kai Vorhies

Friday, April 18, 2025 10:30am
Medical Education Research Facility
Kai Vorhies is a PhD candidate in the Biomedical Science Program (Molecular Medicine) and a member of Matt Potthoff's lab within the Neuroscience & Pharmacology Department. He is excited to share his research and defend his thesis.
Iowa mascot in lab coat looking at microscope

# 24

Ranking in research among public institutions

a person in a science lab

$ 295 Million

External medical research funding for FY2023

science lab

# 44

Overall ranking by the 2024 U.S. News & World Report

Molecular Medicine News

Abel Lab

Sleep research led by Ted Abel featured in Fall 2024 issue of Medicine Iowa

Friday, November 15, 2024
BSURP 2025

BSURP 2025 Application Portal Opens 11/1

Thursday, October 31, 2024

Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs Events

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Seminar: Dr. Kara Davis

Thursday, May 1, 2025 10:30am to 11:20am
Medical Education Research Facility
This event is open to the public. Understanding Cellular Predictors of Relapse in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Kara Davis, PhD Stanford University

Neuroscience & Pharmacology Workshop - Abigail (Abby) Morrison and Julius Yevdash

Thursday, May 1, 2025 12:30pm to 1:30pm
Medical Education Research Facility
Presented by Abby Morrison Graduate Student in Dr. Kristina Thiel's lab Presented by Julius Yevdash Graduate student in the labs of Drs. Colin Kenny and Robert Weigel

Circadian control of cerebrovascular toxicity of environmental toxicants

Friday, May 2, 2025 11:00am to 12:00pm
Medical Education Research Facility
Michal Torobek, MD, PhD, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami School of Medicine, will present his research on the Circadian control of cerebrovascular toxicity of environemental toxicants.
ACB Seminar Series - Alan Saghatelian  promotional image

ACB Seminar Series - Alan Saghatelian

Wednesday, May 7, 2025 9:30am to 10:30am
Bowen Science Building
Dr. Alan Saghatelian, a Professor from the Salk Insitute for Biological Studies will present a seminar titled, "Searching the Dark Matter of the Proteome for Functional Proteins."
Curator Guided Tour of 'A Roll of the Dice: Symbolism in the Sackner Archive' with Rich Dana promotional image

Curator Guided Tour of 'A Roll of the Dice: Symbolism in the Sackner Archive' with Rich Dana

Wednesday, May 7, 2025 4:00pm to 5:00pm
University of Iowa Main Library
Join curator Rich Dana for a special guided tour of the current Main Library Gallery exhibition, A Roll of the Dice: Symbolism in the Sackner Archive. All are welcome to attend this free event. About the exhibit:   In 1897, French Symbolist poet Stéphane Mallarmé revolutionized the world of graphic design with a single poem that forever changed the way we look at words. His work illustrated how text conveys meaning not only through words, but also as visual symbols that contain a deeper...
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