About Physiology

Established in 1962, the Department of Physiology at Monash University has been internationally recognised for its strength in research and teaching. In 2002 we taught over 1500 undergraduate students, almost 30 Honours students in the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Biomedical Science degrees and had more than 50 higher degree (Masters, PhD) students. We are committed to the intellectual growth of our undergraduate and postgraduate students and provide excellent teaching and research facilities.

Our research covers a wide range of integrative, cellular and molecular physiology, with particular strengths in neurosciences, cardiovascular and renal physiology, fetal and neonatal physiology, muscle and exercise, endocrinology and stress, development, and smooth muscle physiology. Our research programs attracted over $4 million in research support in 2002.

Two Heads of Department have served as Chairs of the Research Committee of the National Health & Medical Research Council and the Department has produced six Fellows of the Australian Academy of Sciences.

What is Physiology?

From earliest times, people have sought to understand the nature of life. We instinctively want to know how our bodies work, how we are born, how we grow and develop, the nature of illness, what happens when we die. Physiology describes the nature of life. It provides the framework for studying and exploring the bases of life. Physiologists view life from the simplest to the most complex levels of organisation - from the subcellular, to the whole person. Physiologists make an important contribution to areas such as heart disease, reproduction and ageing and global population control.