# Our Neighborhoods Within The City ## expand\_more The BBS program encompasses a network of research communities that include both basic science departments and interdepartmental programs at Harvard Medical School. We often compare these communities to neighborhoods within a larger city. Each one offers a tight-knit setting where faculty members and trainees with shared interests collaborate closely to advance research in their areas and engage in enriching training opportunities. Through this structure, BBS offers both the extensive range of research labs afforded by its scale and the sense of community typically found in smaller, specialized departmental programs. Below, you’ll find descriptions and links to learn more about these communities and the activities they organize to foster collaborative, stimulating, and supportive environments for conducting your thesis research. **Please note that joining one of these communities is not required for admission.** ## BBS Supporting Departments Open all sections Close all sections ### Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology (BCMP) expand\_more The focus of research in BCMP lies in the elucidation of molecular mechanisms in biology and disease, emphasizing molecular, structural, and chemical approaches to understanding form and function in biology. The molecular scale investigated in the department spans from low molecular weight bioactive compounds to proteins, viruses, and other macromolecular assemblies. BCMP in partnership with Cell Biology is home to the Concentration in [Molecular Mechanistic Biology](https://mmb.hms.harvard.edu/), which offers training activities to bring together students and faculty with an interest in dissecting basic mechanisms in biology and disease. *[Learn More](https://bcmp.hms.harvard.edu/)* ### Cell Biology expand\_more Based in the Department of Cell Biology at Harvard Medical School, the Cell Biology community explores fundamental processes underlying cell growth and division, including the cell cycle and proliferation, signaling, cytoskeletal biology, protein trafficking and turnover, membrane biology, as well as other core topics. The Cell Biology "neighborhood" links closely with Cancer Biology, BCMP, and Developmental and Regenerative Biology. [*Learn More*](https://cellbio.med.harvard.edu/) ### Genetics expand\_more Genetics faculty are unified in their focus on the genome as an organizing principle for understanding biological phenomena, including: human genetics, cancer biology, developmental biology, epigenetics, neurobiology, and other important areas. An additional strength is the development of genomic technology and synthetic biology applications. The Genetics Department serves as the home for the [Program in Genetics and Genomics](https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/pgg), which provides curriculum and activities fostering a broad and deep understanding of genetic and genomic research. [*Learn More*](https://genetics.hms.harvard.edu/) ### Microbiology and Immunobiology expand\_more The [Harvard Medical School Department of Microbiology](https://micro.hms.harvard.edu/) ("Micro") is home to research focused on advancing our understanding of the mechanisms underlying microbial growth, survival, replication, and pathogenesis and the host immune response. Investigators in the department are making discoveries revealing the essential cellular processes across different domains of life, while at the same time providing a foundation for the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases and other microbe-associated pathologies through antimicrobials, antivirals, and vaccines and therapeutic antibodies. The department provides courses, seminars and work-in-progress talks, and community building events throughout the year, and students from all interest areas are welcome to participate. Micro also serves as a home for the [Graduate Program in Bacteriology](https://bacteriology.hms.harvard.edu/), the Graduate [Program in Virology](https://virologyphd.hms.harvard.edu/), and the [Infectious Diseases Consortium](https://idc.hms.harvard.edu/), which are concentrations/programs that aim to create community, collaboration, and career development support for students working on diverse aspects of microbiology at Harvard. ### Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology (SCRB) expand\_more SCRB labs focus on combating tissue degeneration and disease. A broad array of topics are explored from the basic biology of stem cells and cellular development to screening chemical compounds as potential drugs. Areas of interest include: aging, cell differentiation, epigenetics, cell reprograming, and other topics related to stem cells and tissue repair. The SCRB neighborhood links tightly with DRB. [*Learn More*](https://hscrb.harvard.edu/) ## HILS-Wide Certificate Programs Open all sections Close all sections ### Leder Human Biology and Translational Medicine expand\_more The Leder Human Biology and Translational Medicine (LHB) Program provides PhD students with a working knowledge of the fundamentals of human biology and disease, through a series of courses designed to enrich their training in translational science. The program aims to demystify the culture and practice of medicine, facilitating future collaborations between clinicians and basic scientists. Students who successfully complete the LHB Program will receive a certificate in Human Biology and Translational Medicine with their PhD. [Learn More](https://lhbtm.squarespace.com/) ### Therapeutics Graduate Program (TGP) expand\_more The Therapeutics Program focuses on pharmacology, toxicology and drug discovery, emphasizing research in both HMS labs and in real-world internships. A goal is to train investigators in systems pharmacology and in strategies for developing novel therapeutics. Explored are mechanisms of drug action, reasons for clinical failures, and development of new compounds and applying them in preclinical and clinical studies to improve the treatment of disease. [*Learn More*](https://www.tgp.hms.harvard.edu/) ## HILS-Wide Enrichment Programs Open all sections Close all sections ### Developmental and Regenerative Biology (DRB) expand\_more DRB is an interdepartmental community that provides innovative training in developmental and regenerative biology, ranging from the role of development in evolution to the regulation of stem cell actions in the treatment of disease. Mentoring and other activities prepare students for scientific careers in academic, clinical, and industry settings. *[Learn More](https://drb.hms.harvard.edu/)* ### Graduate Program in Bacteriology (GPiB) expand\_more The Harvard Graduate Program in Bacteriology (GPiB) welcomes students into a 50-year tradition of microbiological research at Harvard Medical School and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The program is centered in the Department of Microbiology ([Micro](https://micro.hms.harvard.edu/)) at HMS and the Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases ([IID](https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/immunology-and-infectious-diseases/)) at HSPH. GPiB students are members of a collaborative and supportive scientific community of more than two dozen Harvard bacteriology labs studying the fundamental mechanisms of bacterial cell and molecular biology, bacterial pathogenesis, and the microbiome. Students from any the Harvard Integrated Life Sciences graduate programs who join a GPiB-affiliated lab are eligible to join the GPiB. *[Learn More](https://bacteriology.hms.harvard.edu/)* ### Infectious Disease Consortium (IDC) expand\_more The Harvard Infectious Diseases Consortium (IDC) is an affiliation of students, fellows, faculty, staff, and other members of the Harvard and Boston community who share an interest in understanding infectious diseases and their effects on people and societies. IDC is co-hosted by the HSPH Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases and the HMS Department of Microbiology. We aim to build community between infectious disease researchers at Harvard and to connect trainees to educational and career opportunities in infectious disease. *[Learn More](https://idc.hms.harvard.edu/)* ### Landry Cancer Biology Consortium expand\_more Cancer Biology in BBS is an interdepartmental community formed in collaboration with faculty at Harvard Medical School, the Dana Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, and at Harvard University. The program brings together students interested in pursuing cancer-related research and provides curriculum emphasizing topics relevant to cancer biology, including: signaling, basic cell biology, disease pathology, and translational research. Additional activities provide opportunities for students to extend their studies and community beyond the classroom and thesis laboratory. [*Learn More*](https://landrycancer.hms.harvard.edu/) ### Molecular Mechanistic Biology (MMB) expand\_more MMB is a dynamic, interdisciplinary community focused on understanding biochemical, biophysical, and cellular mechanisms at the molecular level. The community seeks to enhance peer learning and faculty mentoring through a series of student work-in-progress presentations. This provides an opportunity for students to extend their breadth of knowledge and community beyond their coursework and thesis laboratories. MMB also facilitates professional development of student members through travel awards and an annual MMB symposium. *[Learn More](https://mmb.hms.harvard.edu/)* ### Program in Genetics & Genomics (PGG) expand\_more Provides curriculum and activities fostering a broad and deep understanding of genetic and genomic research. Membership in the Program in Genetics and Genomics (PGG) is open to all Harvard HILS students. There is no formal application process for admittance. Any interested student should email the Program Director, Scott Kennedy, [kennedy\[at\]genetics.med.harvard.edu](mailto:kennedy@genetics.med.harvard.edu). More information [here](https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/pgg).