Professor Colleen Sweeney has been featured in the portrait installation that celebrates the UC Davis School of Medicine's extraordinary past and present faculty and leaders whose contributions have shaped our community.
Basic Sciences
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine
Dedicated to conducting world-class research in biochemistry and molecular medicine.
Basic Sciences
Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine
Professor and Chair
David J Segal, Ph.D.
Professor Segal received a Ph.D. from the University of Utah, where he studied the stimulation of homologous recombination by targeted double-strand breaks. As a post-doc at The Scripps Research Institute, he helped develop methods to engineer zinc finger DNA-binding proteins. After three years at University of Arizona, he joined the new UC Davis Genome Center in 2005. He served as co-Chair of the Integrative Genetics and Genomics graduate group for six years, and is now the Harold Albin Johnson Chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine.
His research focuses on the application of molecular therapy for neurodevelopmental disorders, including Angelman syndrome, ADNP syndrome, and numerous other rare and underserved genetic conditions. His lab uses antisense oligonucleotides and CRISPR-based tools with viral and non-viral delivery methods. He is a founding member of the Interventional Genetics Team at the UC Davis MIND Institute and the Chief Field Editor of Frontiers in Genome Editing.
Our Mission
- Conduct world-class research in biochemistry and molecular medicine.
- Excel in undergraduate, graduate and medical education.
- Serve the university through leadership in forums committed to graduate and professional school admissions and curriculum.
At the Davis Campus, the department maintains laboratories at Tupper Hall, the Genome Building and in the Department of Chemistry. At the Sacramento Campus, the department maintains laboratories at the Oak Park Research Building, Research I and III Buildings, and the MIND Institute.
Each of us has an obligation to the community and the UC Davis Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine strives to build and maintain a culture and climate based on mutual respect and caring. We recognize and cherish the richness contributed to our lives by our diversity. We further recognize the right of every individual to think, speak, express and debate any idea. We support and uphold the UC Davis Principles of Community.
Department News
-
-
Aiming Yu Elected as Councilor of the ASPET Council
Learn more about this newsView the Leadership ProfileCongratulations to Professor Aiming Yu, who has been elected as Councilor of the ASPET Council.
-
2025 Autism Without Borders Falanga Award
Flora Tassone receiving the 2025 Autism Without Borders Falanga Award Congratulations to the MIND Institute’s Flora Tassone, who received the 2025 Autism Senza Confine (Autism Without Borders) Falanga Award from the IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation!
Tassone is a professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine. She has been studying fragile X, autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions for decades and was instrumental in the discovery of fragile X-associated tremor-ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) at the MIND Institute 25 years ago.
Foundation members presented Tassone with the award recently at a ceremony in Pisa, Italy. This prestigious award is given to researchers who have distinguished themselves through outstanding research in autism and neurodevelopmental conditions.
-
School of Medicine's 55th Annual Commencement Ceremony
Learn more about this awardCongratulations to Professor Luis G. Carvajal-Carmona, for receiving the Hibbard Williams Award for Extraordinary Achievement.
Department News
See the latest news from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine
Visit the pageTraining and Resources at a Glance
Quick links to information for graduate level research programs, undergraduate and medical student research opportunities and useful resources for faculty, staff and students.
Federal Updates
Federal Updates from the University of California Office of the President (UCOP)
Read latest federal updatesFederal Research Funding Executive Actions
Research updates from the UC Davis Office of Research
Read latest updates