Institute for Biogenesis Research (IBR) at Manoa

Emeritus Professor Ryuzo Yanagimachi

        In August 2009, the name of the Graduate Program in Physiology was changed to the Graduate Program in Developmental and Reproductive Biology (DRB) with a consequent shift in the focus of the program. The major reason for this change was to provide students with the opportunity to participate more fully in the state-of-the-art research program that has developed during the last nine years at the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) in the newly formed Institute for Biogenesis Research (IBR). Many significant discoveries relating to developmental and reproductive biology have been made by scientists in this institute. The new DRB program will continue to offer students a wide variety of course work that will allow them to choose many different career options after completing their degrees. More importantly, it will add greater opportunities for those interested in research. Both the graduate program and the IBR are housed in the Department of Anatomy, Biochemistry and Physiology.

JABSOM Biosciences Building (BSB) at Kakaako

        The major focus of the program will be developmental and reproductive biology in mammals, but instructive evolutionary comparisons with other phyla will be explored.

        Students will be required to take DRB 601 (Fertilization and Early Development), which has the overall focus of the program. They will also be required to take the university's strongest Cell and Molecular Biology course CMB 621 or 622, and DRB 613 (Seminars in Developmental and Reproductive Biology) and DRB 614 (Developmental and Reproductive Biology Scientific Investigations). DRB Progarm faculty members also offer additional courses as recommendations, namely DRB650 (Stem Cell Biology), DRB666 (Applied Reproductive Biology), ANAT603/604 (Human Anatomy), and ANAT607 (Human Embryology), which should further expand students' knowledge and experience in the fields of Developmental and Reproductive Biology.

        Well-funded laboratories by distinguished scientists offer research opportunities in areas that include fertilization, developmental biology, stem cells, congenital deformities, and anatomical imaging.

At the completion of the Developmental and Reproductive Biology Graduate Program, the doctoral candidate will be able to:

1. Demonstrate sufficient breadth and depth of knowledge to effectively teach classes in biomedical sciences.

2. Demonstrate mastery of evaluating scientific publications, including: techniques for searching the literature; applying principles of measurement; and interpretation of the findings reported in scientific publications.

3. Prepare and present reports on their work at seminars or meetings of scientific societies.

4. Demonstrate the ability to formulate testable hypotheses, and design experiments to accurately test the hypothesis utilizing sound principles of scientific experimentation and research.

5. Generate new experimental data that addresses a specific hypothesis.

6. Publish at least one (M.S.) or two (Ph.D.) scientific manuscripts.