Main Body
Science Overview
Science in the pursuit of health assumes many forms at Wadsworth Center, grant-supported research, outbreak investigations, and development of novel methods among them. As science evolves and technology advances, focal points will shift. Currently, four themes dominate:
- Genes and Genomes
The availability of the human genome sequence is the driving force of 21st century genetic research and molecular medicine. More...
- Molecular & Cellular Basis of Disease
Genes contained in the cell's DNA code for large molecules -- proteins and RNAs -- that do everything from regulating cell growth and division to maintaining cellular energy. More...
- Environmental Health Science
Scientific and technological advances of the last century allowed for the detection of minute quantities of contaminants in complex environmental samples, such as soil, water and air. More...
- Infectious Disease & Host Defense
Public health and basic research programs converge on infectious agents, with Wadsworth scientists seeking to improve detection of disease-causing organisms and understand their fundamental properties. More...
- Genes and Genomes
- The availability of the human genome sequence is the driving force of 21st century genetic research and molecular medicine. Investigators explore the roughly 25,000 human genes for clues as to how they orchestrate the development and function of a healthy person, and how mutations in the genetic code can lead to disease. They also examine non-coding regions, extragenic sequences that constitute a large portion of the human genome. Wadsworth scientists study how the interplay of genes, non-coding genetic sequences and the environment contributes to individual and public health.