The Department of Basic Medical Sciences (BMS) offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees.
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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Dean’s Fellow for Graduate Programs | Associate Professor, Basic Medical Sciences
Dr. Marxa L. Figueiredo is an associate professor of basic medical sciences at Purdue University, where she leads a research program focused on the interplay between the skeletal and immune systems. Her lab develops innovative therapies for bone metastatic cancers and inflammatory conditions including arthritis, leveraging multifunctional cytokines, minibinders, and small molecules that target bone and inflammatory cells to promote regeneration and immune modulation.
Her team is advancing gene and stem cell delivery platforms, including sonoporation-based gene therapy and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells as therapeutic vehicles. These approaches are designed to enhance tissue repair and immune balance in both preclinical cancer and arthritis models.
Dr. Figueiredo has a strong commitment to education and mentorship. She has directed Veterinary Histology courses and mentored MS, PhD, and DVM students through multiple research programs. Her work has been supported by internal and external funding sources, including the FDA, NIFA, CTSI, and NIH, and holds promise for improving health outcomes in both companion animals and humans.
