The University of Toledo

Graduate Education

We are currently restructuring our Master's program and will not be enrolling students until the Fall 2014 semester.  Thank you for your patience. 

Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences (M.S.B.S.)

Track Name: Bone Biology and Orthopaedic Sciences

The Bone Biology and Orthopaedic Sciences track in the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Education Program at the University of Toledo College of Medicine provides broad basic science research training and clinical research background for the next generation of research scientists and clinicians to improve the quality of human life. The program offers Master of Science (M.S.) only or a combination with the Medical degree (MD/MS).

Research in Bone Biology and Orthopaedic Sciences at the University of Toledo College of Medicine covers a broad spectrum of topics including:

• Biomechanics
• Biomineralization
• Bone diseases
• Bone tissue engineering and regenerative medicine
• Hand and foot disorders
• Hip and knee replacements
• Spinal injuries and disorders
• Sports medicine
• Stem cell technologies
• Trauma/fixation

Internationally recognized faculty members in these areas are well-funded by extramural grant agencies including both federal and industrial. Modern research laboratories in the Bone Biology and Orthopaedic Sciences are well-equipped to apply state-of-the-art technologies in bone biology, bone tissue engineering, and biomechanics. Our unique program also will provide the opportunity to perform bone marrow stem cell research in the Bone Biology Laboratory and in the clinical settings.

Please e-mail questions, comments and suggestions to Bone Biology and Orthopaedic Sciences track director Dr. Nabil Ebraheim (nabil.ebraheim@utoledo.edu).

The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery offers graduate-level courses through the Masters of Science in Biomedical Sciences program at the University of Toledo. This is a 2 year program consisting of classes, seminars, and research.  The students work with Dr. Nabil Ebraheim, chairman of the department of Orthopaedic Surgery, and Dr. Vijay Goel, chairman of the Bioengineering department.  The students have a primary focus on research, either clinical or basic science, and spend the majority of their 2 years working independently on projects. In the second year, each student picks a research topic for his/her thesis, works on the thesis, and finally defends the thesis in front of a panel of faculty.

Our unique partnership with the Department of Bioengineering on the main campus of University of Toledo allows our researchers and physicians to have access to not only lab and research facilities, but also to the expertise of scientists in the biomechanics field.

A student in the Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences program will achieve the following learning outcomes:

• Students should gain an understanding of basic and complex principles of biomechanics
• Students should be able to identify and understand the causes and management for different bone diseases
• Students should master anatomy as it relates to orthopaedic injuries and conditions
• Students should gain an understanding of the basic principles of bone tissue engineering and regenerative medicine
• Students will learn the use of different stem cell technologies
• Students will learn and be able to identify different types of fixation used for orthopaedic trauma procedures
• Students will learn to properly identify sports medicine injuries and the effective management
• Students will learn to properly identify spinal injuries and disorders and the effective management
• Students will learn to properly identify hand and foot disorders and the effective management
• Students will learn about degenerative processes and when hip and knee replacements are needed

Currently offered credits include:

ORTH560	Physical Examination of the Musculoskeletal System
ORTH570	Orthopaedic X-ray Conference
ORTH580	Bone Physiology
ORTH585	Sports Medicine
ORTH590	Orthopaedic Biomechanics I
ORTH591	Orthopaedic Biomechanics II
ORTH592	Orthopaedic Biomechanics III
ORTH650	Orthopaedic Basic Science Seminar
ORTH655	Journal Paper Review in Orthopaedic Science
ORTH673	Research in Orthopaedic Science
ORTH691	Independent Study (Orthopaedic Trauma)
ORTH692	Independent Study (Spine)
ORTH693	Independent Study (Orthopaedic Biomechanics)
ORTH694	Independent Study (Orthopaedic Anatomy)
ORTH695	Independent Study (Orthopaedic Radiology)
ORTH696	Independent Study (Upper Extremity and Hand)

Course descriptions for the above are available in the  Student Handbook  section of the College of Graduate Studies site.

Alexander Ivanov, MD, a graduate of the MSBS - Orthopaedic Sciences program.   

• Which doctors do you work with?  I work with Dr. Ebraheim and Dr. Goel.  I perform research in both the Orthopaedic lab and Bioengineering lab.

• What do you do on a daily basis?  Currently, I have research hours, so I perform research throughout the day.  I also attend weekly X-Ray conferences in the Orthopaedic Department, and other seminars.  Last year, I took the required classes for the program.

• What is your thesis?  I am working on a Finite Elements Model of the Pelvis for my thesis.  This involves a multidisciplinary approach to the pelvis, including the anatomy and properties of bone tissue and ligaments.

• Do you work on any other research projects?  In addition to my thesis, I am working on another research project with Dr. Ebraheim.  It is a study of the botomechanism of Degenerative Lumbar Disc Disease.

Gregory Lause, BS, a second year student in the MSBS - Orthopaedic Sciences program

• Which doctors do you work with?  I work with Dr. Nabil Ebraheim, Dr. Beata Lecka-Czernik, Dr. Piotr Czernik and Dr. Jiayong Liu.  In my first year, I performed clinical retrospective research with Dr. Liu. My research topics have included sacral chordoma tumors, tibia pilon fractures and sacroiliac joint radiofrequency ablation. For my second year, I have been performing basic science research in the Bone Biology Lab under the direction of Dr. Beata Lecka-Czernik, Dr. Piotr Czernik and Dr. Ebraheim.  

• What do you do on a daily basis?  Currently, I am working on a study utilizing mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) obtained from patient bone or bone marrow aspirate. I perform research throughout the day, and work directly with Dr. Ebraheim in the Orthopaedic Clinic in addition to my research.  I also attend X-Ray conferences every Wednesday morning, and other weekly seminars and lectures. 

• What is your thesis?  I am working on a project to discover the gene biomarkers of bone formation (osteogenesis) in hMSCs.  This involves growing hMSCs from pieces of bone and bone marrow aspirates, culturing them in osteogenic media and basal media, and comparing alkaline phosphatase production between the cells at various time points. We will then determine if a correlation exists between the expression of alkaline phosphate and genes expressed through RNA isolation.

• Do you work on any other research projects?  In addition to my thesis, I am working with Dr. Ebraheim on several other projects to benefit the Orthopaedic Department.

 

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the Masters in Biomedical Sciences Program with Regular status, applicants must hold an earned baccalaureate (or equivalent) from an accredited college or university, and have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.  Typically, applicants will have an undergraduate major in Biology or a related discipline such as Biochemistry or Biophysics.  Students with other majors such as Chemistry or Physics are encouraged to apply, however, their coursework should include several semesters in biology.  In addition, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores of 1100 (combined Verbal and Quantitative scores) and 4.5 (Analytical Writing Test) are recommended or a minimum composite Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) of 22.  These requirements may be waived for special individual circumstances. For international applicants, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) also is required and scores above the 50th percentile are recommended.  For all applicants, laboratory research experience is highly recommended.  All students accepted unconditionally into Masters in Biomedical Sciences program will receive a full tuition scholarship. There are a very limited number of tuition scholarships available.

The application to the program is online.  For information concerning application to the graduate college, requirements or other programs, please visit the  College of Graduate Studies Web site.