Introduction

The Department of Physiology, an integral part of the basic medical sciences division at the University of Health Sciences, with a strong interdisciplinary approach, focuses on developing and delivering quality postgraduate programs. The Department provides an excellent environment for postgraduate studies, attempts to integrate molecular, cellular and systems approaches to physiological sciences. It also promote research interaction with public agencies and industry through outreach and scientific leadership; organize symposia, seminars and special lectures in relevant disciplines at national and international levels.

The Department offers PhD program and an MPhil program leading to PhD degree. The teaching in the department is committed to bring changes to the traditional teaching practices and takes full advantage of advanced audio-visual systems both in lectures and Lab exercises which include Power lab experiments. In additions to the regular teaching, the students regularly attend tutorials, journal club meetings and informal discussion on the topics that need further explorations. Every student is supposed to present latest papers/studies, published in international journals, and related to his/her thesis. Also, every student of the M.Phil. (primary) presents his/her hypothesis on which he/she is going to write their synopsis and when ready, at least, two presentations are given by the respective student which are discussed very extensively and new point arising out of these discussion are incorporated which increases the acceptability and scientific merit of the synopsis to be submitted to Advanced Studies and Research Board of the University. Similarly, the students of the final year keep on reporting on the results obtained during their research work and these are also discussed and ideas for explanation and discussion evolving during these discussions help the candidate a lot in presentation of the final thesis of the students. In order to give exposure to teaching and lab conduction, the final year students are involved in running the labs along with the faculty. This practice helps the students to hone and polish their skills in teaching and demonstrations.

The postgraduate program at UHS aspires to higher education and research training in selected areas of Physiology and Cell Biology. Specializations areas are:

• Molecular and Cell Physiology
• Metabolic Biochemistry/Physiology
• Systemic Physiology
• Endocrinology
• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• Environmental Physiology

Working Facilities

The Department has three well established Labs and centers namely Main Physiology Lab, Resource Lab for Molecular & Cell Biology and Centre of Research in Endocrinology and Reproductive Sciences. Currently, the laboratories are well-equipped with modern research facilities for DNA studies, proteomics, immunoassay, radioimmunoassay, DNA sequencing analysis, Karyotyping, and blood and tissue chemistry. Instruments like Immunofluorescence and inverted research microscopes, HPLC, bone profiler, Horizontal and Vertical electrophoresis, and biosafety laminar flow cabinets are continuously used for various research experiments.

The Department also possesses a good-sized departmental library.