About the Department of Physiology and Cell Biology

The Department of Physiology and Cell Biology consists of 21 Faculty and over 55 research and administrative staff. There are 17 Adjunct Faculty and 10 Emeritus Faculty. The core Department is centered in the Bozler Wing of Hamilton Hall. In addition, Dr. Sandor Gyorke is assigned research laboratories and offices in the Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, Dr. Arthur Strauch is in Biomedical Research Tower, and Dr. George Billman is in Wiseman Hall.

The mission of the Department of Physiology and Cell Biology within the College of Medicine and Public Health and The Ohio State University has three fundamental components.

• First is to educate undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in the physiological and cell biological sciences and skills basic to the practice of medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, and other allied health professions. Graduate education, which is incorporated in this function, prepares students for careers in physiological and cell biological research, research management, and teaching.
• Second is to conduct basic and applied research that extends the frontiers of physiological and cell biological science at all levels of biological organization from molecules to the whole organism with relevance for the solution of health problems in humans and animals.
• Third is to provide service and expertise to The Ohio State University, the State of Ohio, and national/international biomedical organizations.

The Faculty are responsible for Physiology Courses 311/312 - Principles of Human Physiology and 601/602 - Organ System Physiology. Besides the OSU College of Medicine and Public Health, course work is provided for the Colleges of Dentistry, Pharmacy, Optometry, and Allied Medical Professions.

Faculty interests cover many areas of physiology from whole-organ systems to single-cell functions. Current research projects include studies in neurophysiology, ion transport in epithelial cells, temperature regulation, control of respiration, the cardiovascular system, energetics of muscle contraction, spinal cord injury, endocrinology and neuroendocrinology, autonomic control of gastrointestinal functions, biomechanics, and environmental physiology.

Faculty laboratories within the Department of Physiology and Cell Biology are equipped with modern instrumentation for the measurement of a variety of physiological phenomena. The Department has computer facilities available for the acquisition and analysis of generated data.

Dr. Sandor Gyorke directs the Multiphoton/Confocal Microscopy Core Facility in the Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute. The Microscopy Core Facility provides leading-edge laser technology to visualize minute details of subcellular organization of living cells and tissue. The lab utilizes fluorescent microscopes fully equipped for optimized magnification (100x objectives), time-lapse video microscopy and multiple channel visualization of fluorescent cellular antigens and other cellular markers.

The OSU College of Medicine and Public Health also has facilities and equipment for research in all areas of the basic medical sciences. A vivarium and animal surgical facilities are available and are supervised by veterinarians.

Students may participate in research programs conducted by Faculty in the Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, the Aging Research Center, the Neuroscience Research Center, the Reye's Syndrome Research Center, the Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute.