Dr. Fred Roisen, Chair of the Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology

Message from the Chair

     I am pleased to welcome you to the Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology. As you browse this website, we hope to introduce you to our faculty, students, and staff, research and educational programs, component laboratories and general infrastructure. Our philosophy is to encourage academic excellence within a framework of structure-function relationships at the molecular, cellular, and systemic levels. This focus is as vital to current scientific and medical frontiers as it was to the early formations of modern medicine.
     Congress officially declared 1990-1999 to be the “Decade of the Brain” in recognition of the exciting breakthroughs in understanding the neurobiology of the central nervous system. This excitement continues as we enter the new millennium. The plasticity of the nervous system is far greater than has been believed for decades, and the realization that neural stem cells exist in the adult nervous system is rapidly gaining acceptance. These cells, with their genetic and epigenetic regulatory mechanisms, represent a new area of research for potential therapeutic repair of neural dysfunction. This new frontier provides much opportunity for present and future investigation. Our departmental research focuses primarily on the development and plasticity of the nervous system. A secondary focus includes more traditional anatomical approaches to cellular mechanisms as well as forensic anatomy. Our diversity in research is mirrored by the capabilities of our core laboratories which include DNA sequencing, analytical microscopy, and a renowned fresh tissue dissection laboratory. Over the past few years, we have reorganized and upgraded our facilities to enhance research and educational programs. Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology extramural funding now exceeds $4,000,000 per year. Our doctoral graduates have moved to postgraduate and faculty positions at outstanding academic institutions.
     The Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology is committed also to excellence in teaching. We have a central role in the educational mission of the Health Science Campus with direct responsibility for approximately 1000 contact hours in the Medical and Dental curricula. These courses, together with our graduate courses, provide departmental graduates with unique opportunities to develop necessary skills for academic and research careers. We strive to present concepts that are at the cutting edge of technology while always maintaining our foundation in basic anatomical and neurobiological concepts.
     I hope our website interests you and I encourage you to contact members of the Department for additional information. For an application or information concerning our Graduate Programs, contact Dr. Charles Hubscher, at asnbapps@louisville.edu.
     I am proud of our accomplishments and excited about our future. A summary of the Department's most recent progress can be seen through our Seven Year Report. I shall be happy to answer your questions or to discuss our plans for the future. I can be reached by e-mail at fjrois01@gwise.louisville.edu or via U.S. mail at Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, 500 S. Preston St., University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292.