From cardiovascular disease to endocrine signaling, and from cellular transport to invasive species, the Department of Physiology's research on living organisms is at the forefront of novel discoveries to protect human health. Its research and teaching takes an integrated approach, with methods ranging from modern molecular genetics and biochemistry (nanotechnology and proteomics) to cutting-edge in vitro (isolated cell and organ function), and normal and pathologic in function in vivo (genetically modified animal models of human diseases). Its faculty and students use diverse experimental systems, including cultured cells, mouse, rat, rabbit, dog and fruit fly, as well as translational studies with human subjects. Departmental coursework and available thesis topics cover neural, pulmonary, cardiovascular, muscular, renal and reproductive biology, seeking to use a molecular mechanism-based systems biology approach to understand health and disease in the human body. They offer broad training that prepares our students and postdocs for careers in academia, medicine or industry.