Therefore, our research is relevant directly to common medical conditions such as heart attack, high blood pressure, epilepsy, diabetes, stroke, Alzheimer s disease and muscle injury, among others. One of the great highlights of the Department is the appointment of Professor Bert Sakmann as Visiting Professor in Physiology. Prof Sakmann was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1991 for inventing the patch-clamping technique used extensively in the Department. Professor Sakmann is a regular visitor and active research collaborator in the Department. A strong theme in the Department is that of Physiological Genomics.
Physiological genomics is one of the most important disciplines of the post-genomic era.
Through a unique combination of molecular and physiological approaches, physiological genomics interprets in living tissues the codes of newly discovered genes and mutation. Physiological genomics is the step beyond genomics and preteomics that can be used to identify the causes and therapeutic targets in the broad range of human disease. Diversity, collaboration, and excellence are key themes, with a strong emphasis on professional research training from the undergraduate years. A departmental commitment to the new physiology is reflected in the research integration of basic molecular genetics, cellular, tissue and whole organism physiology, with human physiology in clinical and epidemiological settings. Housed in six floors of the north wing of the medical sciences building, the Departmental research infrastructure includes a modern computer network with support staff, a world-standard animal breeding and experimental facility shared with the Department of Pharmacology and research and development workshops.