Graduate School of Medical Sciences
A partnership with the Sloan Kettering Institute

Measuring Brain Responses to Speech Provides Evidence of Cognition in Patients with Severe Brain Injury

Brain activity

Measuring brain activity in response to hearing a brief narrative can identify patients with severe brain injury who have preserved high-level cognition despite showing limited or no consciousness at the bedside, according to a study by Weill Cornell Medicine researchers.

Knowing Exactly What Genes Are Saying – And Where

Genes

Scientists can now discover how the fine details of gene activity differ from one cell type to another in a tissue sample, thanks to a technique invented by Weill Cornell Medicine researchers.

The technique, described in a paper published Oct. 15 in Nature Biotechnology, will enable biologists to better understand the distinct molecular workings of different cell types in the body. It may also enable the improved understanding and treatment of diseases caused by abnormal gene activity.

Training Program Activities

Students appointed to the training grant will be required to attend and participate in courses/activities listed below.

Principles in Molecular Biophysics course
MBTP Research-in-Progress seminar series
MBTP pre-seminar journal clubs
MBTP invitation slots to host seminar speakers
Annual Topics in Biophysics symposium

Elligibility and Application

Interested students will apply to the MBTP at the end of the first year after selecting their PhD mentor, who
must be a MBTP faculty member. The admission process will include evaluation of the trainee-faculty match.

First year BSB/BCMB and PBSB Students will be exposed to MBTP faculty and their research programs via
the following mechanisms, which help recruit trainees and help ensure a good match with Program Faculty:
• All students in WCGS conduct three laboratory rotations during the first year. At the end of each rotation,

MBTP: Our Faculty

Alessio Accardi

Ion channels, transporters, and lipid scramblases are integral membrane proteins that play vital roles in enabling the movement of ions, nutrients, and lipids across biological membranes. We use a combination of biophysical, structural, and bioinformatic approaches to elucidate the structural and mechanistic underpinnings of ion and lipid transport. We focus on two membrane protein families, the CLC channels and transporters and the TMEM16 channels and scramblases.

https://www.accardilab.com/

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IMP Retreat 2018

Our retreat in October 2018 at Mohonk Mountain House has been described by many as our best yet. With clear blue skies and cool, crisp fall air, the weather was perfect for hiking up the mountain during free time (via either the carriage road or, for the brave, the rock scramble path). Given that the fall foliage was a little late this year, the view from the top was a bit greener than past years, but beautiful nonetheless.