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: Matthew Juber promotional image

Molecular Medicine Interdisciplinary Program Thesis Defense Seminar: Matthew Juber

Thursday, May 15, 2025 9:30am
Medical Education Research Facility
Matthew Juber is a PhD candidate in the Biomedical Science (Molecular Medicine) Interdisciplinary Graduate Program. His research has been with Dr. Matt Potthoff's laboratory.If you are unable to attend in person, please consider showing support via Zoom. https://uiowa.zoom.us/j/96219241107
Molecular Medicine Interdisciplinary Program Thesis Defense Seminar: Sandra Blom promotional image

Molecular Medicine Interdisciplinary Program Thesis Defense Seminar: Sandra Blom

Friday, June 6, 2025 1:00pm
Medical Education Research Facility
Sandra Blom is a PhD candidate in the Biomedical Science (Molecular Medicine) Interdisciplinary Graduate Program. Her research has been with Dr. Samuel Stephens's laboratory.If you are unable to attend in person, please consider showing support via Zoom.Join Zoom Meetinghttps://uiowa.zoom.us/j/93210709435Meeting ID: 932 1070 9435

Molecular Medicine Interdisciplinary Program Thesis Defense Seminar: Nathan Witmer

Monday, June 30, 2025 10:00am
Medical Laboratories
Nathan Witmer is a PhD candidate in the Biomedical Science (Molecular Medicine) Interdisciplinary Graduate Program. His research has been conducted in Ryan Boudreau's laboratory. If you are not able to attend in person, please consider showing your support by attending via Zoom.Join Zoom Meetinghttps://uiowa.zoom.us/j/95883392288Meeting ID: 958 8339 2288
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$ 295 Million

External medical research funding for FY2023

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

Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs Events

TBN

Friday, May 9, 2025 11:00am to 12:00pm
Medical Education Research Facility
Michael Ashley Spies, PhD, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Pharmacy will present his research. His research investigates the fundamental properties of protein-ligand interactions, from a physical and chemical perspective. Their primary focus is on pharmaceutically relevant enzymes.

Hawk-IDDRC Seminar Series: Elizabeth Berry-Kravis, MD, PhD; Rush University Medical Center

Friday, May 9, 2025 12:00pm
Virtual
Please join us for the Hawk-IDDRC Seminar Series Elizabeth Berry-Kravis, MD, PhD; Rush University Medical Center Professor, Departments of Pediatrics, Neurological Sciences, Anatomy and Cell Biology Director, RUSH Pediatric Neurosciences F.A.S.T. Center for Translational Research Friday, May 9, 2025, noon CST in the Pediatric Conference Center JCP2415 More information to come!  
ACB Seminar Series - Prasanna Satpute-Krishnan promotional image

ACB Seminar Series - Prasanna Satpute-Krishnan

Wednesday, May 14, 2025 9:30am to 10:30am
Bowen Science Building
Dr. Prasanna Satpute-Krishnan, an Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Uninformed Services University of Health Sciences, will present a seminar titled "Stress Cleaning: How Calnexin Tosses Out Misfolded Proteins From a Cluttered Endoplasmic Reticulum and the P24-Family Sends them to the Dump."
Molecular Medicine Interdisciplinary Program Thesis Defense Seminar: Matthew Juber promotional image

Molecular Medicine Interdisciplinary Program Thesis Defense Seminar: Matthew Juber

Thursday, May 15, 2025 9:30am
Medical Education Research Facility
Matthew Juber is a PhD candidate in the Biomedical Science (Molecular Medicine) Interdisciplinary Graduate Program. His research has been with Dr. Matt Potthoff's laboratory.If you are unable to attend in person, please consider showing support via Zoom. https://uiowa.zoom.us/j/96219241107

Big Ten Neuroscience Seminar

Monday, May 19, 2025 11:00am to 12:00pm
Virtual
The 2024-2025 Big Ten Neuroscience Seminar Series is organized by our colleagues at Penn State University and will feature virtual seminars from a different Big Ten neuro program on the 4th Monday of each month (November, December, May dates are adjusted for holidays.) The links will be shared in the Neuroscience this week email. Contact iowa-neuroscience-institute@uiowa.edu if you do not receive this email and would like to attend a seminar.
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