Training Program

Apply to the Muscle Cell Biology Pathophysiology and Therapeutic (MCBPT) Training Program

  • Potential Students: Students interested in earning MS or Ph.D. degrees should submit online applications to the UCLA MS Program in Integrative Biology and Physiology or the UCLA Graduate Ph.D. Program in Bioscience. Indicate your interest in the “Muscle Cell Biology, Pathophysiology, and Therapeutics Training Program” in the personal statement of your application and alert Dr. Crosbie-Watson by email (add email address) once your application has been submitted. Faculty with muscle focused research programs are represented in many Home Areas within the Graduate Program in Bioscience. Students interested in discussing graduate school in muscle cell biology are invited to email Dr. Crosbie-Watson.
  • Graduate and Postdoctoral Students: The UCLA Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy at UCLA requests new applications for the Muscle Cell Biology, Pathophysiology, and Therapeutics Training Program. Predoctoral and Postdoctoral Positions available. The training program is open to any UCLA predoctoral (Ph.D. graduate students in 2nd year or beyond) or postdoctoral fellow who meets eligibility requirements and whose research interest focuses on muscle cell biology and disease. Please contact Dr. Stan Nelson if interested.

Apply to the Neuromuscular Medicine Fellowship Program

  • Clinical Trainees: Clinical trainees interested in the Neuromuscular Medicine Fellowship should contact Dr. Stan Nelson or Dr. Melissa Spencer, Neuromuscular Program Director.

Undergraduate Courses

The training faculty participate in an intensive course entitled PS156 (face-to-face) “Molecular Mechanisms and Therapies for Muscular Dystrophy” and PS121 (online), “Disease Mechanisms and Therapies.” The course is modeled upon extensive evidence-based pedagogy in STEM education and includes many innovations. Students are presented with a biological problem focused on an aspect of DMD, LGMD, and CMD. Students discover potential treatments and therapies to restore normal muscle function. This teaching format requires that students investigate basic molecular mechanisms of skeletal and cardiac muscle physiology. 

Log into PS121 Disease Mechanisms and Therapies

Features of the course include:

  • -Online upper division elective
  • -5 Units
  • -Live online discussions
  • -All readings available free online
  • Ideal for careers in health care, medicine, and research
  • -Chancellor's Distinguished Teaching Award

UCLA Enrollment  UC Wide Enrollment 

For more information, please email Dr. Rachel Crosbie-Watson at rcrosbie@physci.ucla.edu.

Additional muscle focused courses include:

  • M254D “Pluripotent Stem Cells”
  • M254B “Genetic Basis and Mechanisms of Neuromuscular Disorders”
  • M285 “Functional Neuroimaging: Techniques and Applications”
  • PS155 “Development and Structure of the Musculoskeletal System”

Activities

The CDMD sponsors many training activities to immerse students and fellows in the most recent advancements in muscle cell biology research.

  • Lab and Clinical Workshops
  • Working Group Meeting
  • Muscle Cell Biology Journal Club
  • CDMD Scientific Retreat
  • Seminar