Fall Semester (IDSP 106, 110, 118, 120, 121, 204 A & B, 226, 227, 235 A & B, 240, 300)

IDSP/MSMS 121: Cellular Function and Dysfunction is an integrated graduate-level course focused on the cellular and molecular mechanisms that govern normal cellular physiology and how disruption of these processes contributes to disease. The course explores fundamental principles of multicellular organization, tissue architecture, specialized cellular systems, cellular adaptation and stress responses, and the mechanisms linking cellular dysfunction to inflammation, fibrosis, metabolic disease, aging, and cancer.

The course integrates foundational cell biology with translational and disease-oriented concepts to provide students with an advanced understanding of how cellular processes influence tissue homeostasis and pathology. Topics include mechanical integration of cells within tissues, cytoskeletal force generation, secretory biology, epithelial transport systems, stem cell biology, proteostasis, cell death pathways, immune signaling, metabolic dysfunction, and cellular aging. In addition to traditional lectures, IDSP students participate in integration activities designed to connect concepts across disciplines and apply cellular biology principles to clinically relevant disease processes.