Graduate Research

Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine ranks in the Top 25 among the nation's research medical schools (2018 US News and World Report) and is the largest biomedical research institution in Ohio. With over $281M in annual NIH research support (2017), researchers conduct cutting-edge biomedical research that leads to improvement in clinical care and the development of new knowledge in the biomedical sciences.

Interdisciplinary research themes add excitement to the work we do, with strategic programs and centers in:

  • Cancer Biology: Experts on colon, prostate, breast and blood cancers continue discovery on basic mechanisms of disease. The Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, one of 40 nationwide, serves cancer research and clinical needs
  • Cardiovascular Health and Disease: The underpinnings of vascular biology, inflammation and nitrous oxide lead to new understanding heart disease. The Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center is developing new stem cell technologies to treat disease
  • Infection and Inflammation: Leaders in international studies on AIDS, tuberculosis and emerging viral and prion diseases dissect the mechanism of infection and control. The Center for Global Health, Tuberculosis Research Unit and Center for Aids Research lead efforts in infectious disease research and clinical trials
  • Metabolism and Disease: The "mighty mouse" that eats more, stays fit, and lives longer came from on-going research on PEPCK-C in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue. The development of heat-stable insulin required novel structural biology approaches and offers promise for diabetics. The Cleveland Center for Structural Biology links scientists studying molecular structure
  • Neurosciences: Molecular light switches reveal functions of neural circuits, the study of retinal disease and visual science and novel approaches to degeneration help us understand neural repair

Emerging programs in bioinformatics, population health and personalized medicine are also engaging our thought leaders. The Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative earned National Institutes of Health support to facilitate and transform scientific study relating to human health.

The School of Medicine hosts many Core Facilities that provide cutting-edge research equipment and expertise. These include cores in proteomics, mass spectroscopy, animal behavior, flow cytometry, stem cells, transgenic animals, imaging as well as design and fabrication. By providing expertise and support for investigators, these facilities promote state-of-the-art research on campus.

Our research facilities platform includes modern laboratories in the School of Medicine (Robbins, Wood, East Wing), Wolstein Research Building, Biomedical Research Building, as well as shared space in University Hospitals of Cleveland, Metrohealth Medical Center, The Louis Stokes Veterans Affairs of Cleveland, and The Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute.

Research training opportunities abound at the School of Medicine in basic, translational, clinical and population-based research. We are proud to earn over two dozen NIH funded training grants to support our graduate and postdoctoral trainees. Hundreds of trainees engage in research programs, earn degrees, present their work and network across programs.