Basic Medical Sciences
The Department of Basic Medical Sciences (BMS) offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees.
Integrative Studies for Animal and Human Health
Discovery activities range from studies of molecular and cellular processes to studies of the whole animal, in areas of cell and tissue growth, differentiation, regeneration, and numerous aspects of cancer biology. BMS faculty currently have active research programs in the areas of cancer biology; musculoskeletal biomechanics and skeletal adaptation; neural development, mechanisms of injury and regeneration; tissue dynamic spectroscopy; cellular and molecular screening; and high throughput analysis of cell function. Our directory of faculty research interests describes in more detail the exciting research that is conducted in BMS.
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Featured Faculty
Ranjie Xu, PhD
Assistant Professor
Dr. Ranjie Xu is an Assistant Professor at Purdue University specializing in neuroscience, stem cell biology, and molecular biology. His research focuses on developing human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-based models to uncover the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying neurodevelopment and neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease and autism spectrum disorders, with particular emphasis on neuroimmune interactions, neurovascular interactions, and tau pathology. Dr. Xu has developed advanced hPSC-based models, ranging from 2D neural cultures and 3D brain organoids to human-mouse (neural/microglial) chimeric brain models, to investigate disease mechanisms and accelerate drug discovery. In addition, his laboratory is developing innovative hPSC-based cell therapies for these neurological disorders. His work has been published in leading journals such as Cell Stem Cell, Molecular Psychiatry, Nature Communications, and Stem Cell Reports. He earned his PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Science and Technology of China and completed postdoctoral training at Rutgers University. His research has been supported by the NIA, NINDS, Indiana CTSI, PIIN, and the Showalter Trust, among others.
