MSc and PhD degrees in "Physiology and Pharmacology" begin September 2012

Feb 8

The Department of Physiology and Pharmacology graduate student training programs recently underwent accreditation review, and we are happy to report that they received the top rating and have been renewed for the next 8-year period. An important part of this review process involved evaluation of our proposal to consolidate our degrees to offer the first MSc and PhD degrees in “Physiology and Pharmacology” in Canada. We have now received approval from the university Senate so that students entering our graduate programs beginning September 2012 will receive their degrees in Physiology & Pharmacology, rather than in Physiology or in Pharmacology. In the coming months, we will be making changes to some of the academic requirements of our program so students can achieve competency in the fundamentals of both of these disciplines and enhanced interdisciplinary training.

Western professor explores possible "safe and effective" anti-cancer therapy

Feb 6

New findings discovered by an international research team, which includes Dr. Dean Betts, a professor in Schulich's Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, may lead to a safe and effective anti-cancer therapy.

A report published online today in the journal Cell Reports, co-authored by Betts and Dr. Lea Harrington of Montreal University's Institut de Recherche en Immunologie et en Cancérologie, provides important evidence that human cancer tumours rely on the maintenance of telomeres – or the protective ends of chromosomes – for growth only when the telomeres shrink in length. (read more)

Congratulations to our Faculty

Jan 30

Members of our department who were successful in the latest CIHR operating grant competition:

Dr. Lina Dagnino - "Focal adhesion proteins and epidermal integrity" [5-years]
Dr. Qingping Feng - "Cardiac Repair by the Epicardium" [3-years - pending]
Dr. Stephen Ferguson - "Regulation of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor Scaffolded Signaling Complexes" [5-years]
Dr. Stephen Ferguson - "CRFR-mediated sensitization of 5HT2A receptor signalling in anxiety and depression" [5-years]
Dr. Stan Leung - "Hippocampal theta oscillations - generation and synaptic plasticity" [5-years]
Dr. Cheryle Seguin - "Elucidating the Role of Connective Tissue Growth Factor in Intervertebral Disc Development, Health and Disease" [5-years]
Dr. Rennian Wang - "Analysis of c-Kit and insulin receptor signaling interactions in regulating pancreatic beta-cell function and islet vasculature" [5-years]
Dr. Lynne-Marie Postovit [Co-investigators Drs. Moshmi Bhattacharya and Muriel Brackstone] - "Role Of The Embryonic Morphogen Nodal In The Regulation Of Breast Cancer Invasion" [5-years]

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