Missions of the Department of Molecular Physiology

and Biological Physics

Research

It is the goal of our Department to contribute to the advancement of knowledge and understanding in Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics.  Our research aims to elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms of basic biological phenomena and to understand the pathological alterations of these processes that result in disease.

Education

The Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics Department is responsible for the Physiology portions of the integrated medical school curriculum, which is a major course in the first year curriculum for the 140 students in each medical class admitted to the University of Virginia School of Medicine.   The Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics Department is also committed to the education of graduate students in the Biomedical Sciences. Several graduate courses are offered in the Department and Departmental faculty members participate in a wide range of interdisciplinary graduate courses.  Graduate students receive research training and perform their dissertation research under the supervision of Department faculty.  Most graduate students who are trained in laboratories in the Department receive their PhD degrees in Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics or in Biophysics.  Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics faculty members also serve as primary research mentors for students in the Medical Scientist Training Program , who earn both PhD and MD degrees.  Laboratories of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics Faculty members also host numerous Accelerated PhD for MD Candidates and provide them with the advanced research training that facilitates their establishing their own independent research careers. Our Department is the home of the Cardiovascular Research Training Grant , which supports pre- and postdoctoral trainees.