The Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology at New York Medical College (NYMC) strives to conduct state-of-the art basic and translational research in numerous areas, including cancer, cardiovascular, protein homeostasis, and neuroscience. The Department is also responsible for a wide range of educational programs spanning cell and molecular biology, biochemistry, anatomy, physiology, and neuroscience.
The Divisions of Neuroscience and Anatomy within the Department focus on the advancement of these disciplines by establishing collaborations, enhancing funding, initiating translational research with clinical departments, and identifying technology and staffing needs.
Faculty, students, staff, and fellows participate in departmental events, including seminars and journal clubs, as well as symposia and special events such as the annual Drs. Gabor and Harriette Kaley Lecture. These activities are highly valued as they spark new ideas by exposing faculty and students to topics outside their primary areas of focus.
Research
The Department faculty are committed to advancing knowledge in cardiovascular and pulmonary biology, cancer, protein homeostasis, and neuroscience. There is a strong emphasis on metabolic regulation and molecular signaling, epigenetics, transcriptional control, RNA structure, condensate function, and therapeutic innovation. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, faculty aim to translate fundamental discoveries into novel therapies for disease prevention and treatment.
Key areas of investigation include regulation of cardiac remodeling and repair, epigenetic mechanisms driving pulmonary arterial hypertension, control of microvascular function, and modulation of stem cell fate and development. Systems biology, multi-omics approaches, computational analysis, and advanced imaging techniques, as well as electrophysiological recording, epilepsy models, and animal behavioral testing systems, are employed to study aging, breast, prostate, and oral cancer, including metastatic progression.
The Division of Neuroscience faculty focus on research with exciting promise for understanding brain function and the potential to repair and rehabilitate brain disorders. Studies involve fundamental properties of neurons, synaptic transmission, and neuron-glial interactions; the visual and auditory systems, regulating arousal, motivation, stress, learning, and memory; mechanisms underlying spinal cord and traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, seizures, post-traumatic stress disorders, sleep disorders, addiction, and neuronal modulation of diabetes. Translational studies are also investigating novel diagnostics and therapies for epilepsy, psychiatric disorders, intraventricular hemorrhage, and nerve damage.
Educational Missions and Academic Programs
The Department faculty educates students in cell and molecular biology, biochemistry, histology, anatomy, physiology, and neuroscience in NYMC’s School of Medicine, School of Health Sciences and Practice, and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, as well as the Touro College of Dental Medicine, through lectures, small groups, clinical correlations, and self-directed learning aided by facilitators. The Department also oversees Ph.D. and M.S. programs in cell biology, biochemistry and molecular biology, and physiology. These programs emphasize in-depth opportunities to critically evaluate current literature and to engage in original cutting-edge research.
The Division of Anatomy faculty provides opportunities to understand the structure of the human body through dissection of cadavers with correlative use of CT and MRI imaging, as well as other virtual teaching modalities. Cadavers provide unique opportunities for students to discover individual variations, which can be important in understanding certain physiological defects. In fact, students and faculty have published studies on their observations. Embryology is also covered to give insight into how defects in the development of organs can impact disease processes. In addition to courses for medical, dental, physical therapy, and speech pathology students, the Department also offers specialized courses for residents and fellows in several clinical departments.
Cell and Molecular Physiology Ph.D. and M.S. Degrees Offered
Cell and Molecular Physiology Leadership and Staff
Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology
Basic Science Building
Phone: (914) 594-4027
Fax: (914) 594-4653
Joseph D. Etlinger, Ph.D.
Chairman and Professor
(914) 594-4028
joseph_etlinger@nymc.edu
Marcello Rota, Ph.D.
Vice Chair and Associate Professor
(914) 594-4442
marcello_rota@nymc.edu
Christopher S. Leonard, Ph.D.
Director of Neuroscience and Professor
(914) 594-3123
chris_leonard@nymc.edu
Daniel Peters, M.D., FACS
Director of Anatomy and Associate Professor
(914) 594-4045
daniel_peters@nymc.edu
Elizabeth Berry, Ph.D. ’23
Program Director (M.S. & Ph.D.) of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Assistant Professor
(914) 594-4038
elizabeth_berry@nymc.edu
Victor A. Fried, Ph.D.
Program Director (M.S. & Ph.D.) of Cell Biology and Professor
(914) 594-4005
victor_fried@nymc.edu
Carl I. Thompson, Ph.D.
Program Director (M.S. & Ph.D.) of Physiology and Professor
(914) 594-4106
carl_thompson@nymc.edu
Laura Rendine
Department Administrator
(914) 594-4027
laura_rendine@nymc.edu
Department Faculty
Upcoming Cell and Molecular Physiology Events
Feb 10Tuesday, February 10, 2026, 2 - 3pm ETMechanisms of Wallerian Degeneration in Spinal Cord Injury
Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology
Feb 24Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 2 - 3pm ETDepartment of Cell and Molecular Physiology Research Talk Series
Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology
