Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Peter Winsauer, PhD
Interim Head of the Department and L. Allen Barker Professor of Pharmacology

The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is responsible for the instruction of medical students in the basic concepts of biochemistry and molecular biology. The Medical Biochemistry course includes instruction in the areas of macromolecular structure and function, enzymology and enzyme kinetics, intermediary metabolism, and molecular biology. A central focus is placed upon the biochemical and molecular bases of normal health and human disease. Didactic instruction also occurs in the School of Graduate Studies at LSUHSC. Research activities are varied, but there are particular strengths in the areas of cellular signaling, structural biology, and cancer research. A substantial emphasis is placed on the training of graduate students.  In the case of MD/PhD students, this allows them to become excellent, effective clinical researchers who can discover improved, novel methods for the diagnosis and treatment of patients.