Attached to this Description Program of Study The Center for Neuropharmacology and Neuroscience at Albany Medical College is part of a theme-based graduate degree program emphasizing research in biomedical sciences. The course of study begins with a five-month core curriculum that provides a strong background in biochemistry, molecular biology, and cell biology.
Students then pursue more specialized course work in neuropharmacology and neuroscience.
First-year students participate in three lab rotations before choosing a mentor and developing a thesis project. Students gain experience in communicating scientific writing and presentation in the program's journal club and seminar program and ethics training courses. These facilitate the students' ability to understand and critique literature and to acquire presentation skills. Original and creative research is considered as important as didactic training. Specialized areas include molecular and cellular neuroscience, neuronal and glial development, the dynamics of neurotransmitter systems, substance abuse, drug development, schizophrenia, and cerebral ischemia.