Physiology and Integrative Medical Biology

"What I especially like about Yale is the community. There are so many interesting people here that are fascinating to interact with. The diversity in disciplines and backgrounds is the perfect environment for discussing new ideas and getting new perspectives. The faculty research interests are broad throughout the BBS, allowing me to explore different areas of research I would not have had the opportunity to experience at other universities."
Maya Kaelberer
Physiology and Integrative Medical Biology Track

The Future of Medical Biology

The future of medical biology is to understand not only human genes and the proteins they encode, but also how these proteins and associated processes are integrated to produce the specific functions displayed by the wide array of cells, tissues and organs. This integrative biological approach ranges from single molecules to the whole body. Information from the human genome has also accelerated the pace of identifying specific genetic mutations and polymorphisms associated with disease.

Our Program

The Physiology and Integrative Medical Biology Track is designed to provide an educational environment in systems and integrative physiology, built upon the now burgeoning information in genetics, cell biology, and molecular physiology. The Track is a home for interdisciplinary approaches to the understanding of both normal biology and the biology of disease states, with the ultimate objective to understand how human genes, and the proteins they encode, are integrated to produce the specific functions of our cells, tissues, and organs. The integrative approach, greatly accelerated in recent years by information from the human genome, encompasses functional processes all the way from single molecules to whole body performance.

Faculty

Faculty of the Track consist of scientists with wide-ranging research interests, particularly in systems physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, small animal physiology, biophysics, and biomedical engineering. Most of these faculty are practiced in the use of functional genomics and proteomics and are directing efforts toward translation of research into whole-animal and human biology. Students are encouraged to take advantage, as well, of expertise resident in the whole faculty of the BBS program.