The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB) is an integral part of the School of Medicine and the Graduate School at KU Medical Center. Lectures and laboratory experiences are offered for students pursuing M.S., Ph.D., and M.D./Ph.D. degrees. Postdoctoral research scientists and visiting faculty members also contribute to the departmental activities.
Department News
May 2025
- The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is pleased to welcome Dr. Prakash Kharel as its newest Assistant Professor. Dr. Kharel earned his PhD in Biochemistry from Kent State University in Ohio and held a post-doctoral position at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. The focus of his research is to elucidate the role of RNA secondary structures—particularly non-canonical structures known as G-quadruplexes (G4s)—in cellular biology and disease pathogenesis, with a focus on neurodegenerative disease.
- Dr. Bret Freudenthal will be promoted to Professor on July 1, 2025.
- Dr. Joe Fontes was recognized as one of the Founding Members for the Association of Biochemistry Educators.
April 2025
- Spencer Thompson (Freudenthal Lab) won the Newmark Award, which is given to a senior KU student for excellence in biochemistry research.
- Kaitlin DeHart (Freudenthal Lab) took first place in her Oral section at the Student Research Forum.
- Peyton Oden (Freudenthal Lab) earned the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Kimmel award for her Student Research Forum presentation.
March 2025
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Shwetha Sreenivasan (Swint-Kruse lab) and Spencer Thompson (Freudenthal lab) were finalists for the Newmark Award in Biochemistry and presented their research at KU-Lawrence Molecular Biosciences on March 31.
January 2025
- Drs. Joe Fontes, Chad Slawson, and Stephen Parnell won Outstanding lecturer awards for their work with medical students and were honored at the Grand Affair.
- Peyton Oden (Freudenthal lab) was awarded a 2025 Biomedical Research Training Program (BRTP) Fellowship.
- Amanda Heard (Hagan Lab) was awarded a 2025 Biomedical Research Training Program (BRTP) Fellowship.