Overview

Mission

The Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neurobiology (PPN) at the University of Cincinnati has a dual mission of research and education, each being fundamentally served by the other.  According to our vision, educating future scientists and health care professionals requires a dedicated effort to expose students to modern scientific approaches, and academic research depends on the training of high-quality future scientists.

Research

One of our primary missions is basic science, pre-clinical, and translational research.  Our research teams apply state-of-the art techniques to illuminate both normal and pathological physiology, as well as basic and applied pharmacology.  Our research has special emphases in cardiovascular biology, chronobiology, computational biology, metabolic biology, membrane transport, and neurobiology.

Education

We are committed to educating future scientists, physicians, and healthcare professionals.  The Pharmacology and Physiology PhD graduate program is dedicated to training the next generation of scientists, innovators, and leaders.  Our PhD alumni have advanced to successful careers in academia, industry, pharmaceutical and governmental organizations. The PPN Department also supports two MS programs. The Special Master's Program in Physiology (SMP) is designed for students seeking to bolster their credentials to medical school.  It accepts approximately 35 students each year who participate in a rigorous curriculum, taking courses alongside 1st-year UC medical students.  This curriculum is designed to demonstrate their preparedness for medical school, while boasting a greater than 90% success rate of graduates accepted to medical school. The Masters Program in Molecular, Cellular and Biochemical Pharmacology (or “Applied Pharmacology & Drug Toxicology Program”) trains students in preclinical drug development, including the special regulatory and safety assessments required for FDA approval.  Graduates of the Pharmacology MS program are prepared for successful careers in research and laboratory management roles in the field of pharmacology, particularly pre-clinical drug discovery and development, or in fields in which pharmacology knowledge and skills are of significant value. The program also prepares students for advanced academic (e.g., PhD) or professional (e.g., MD, DVM) training in the life sciences. Finally, faculty members in the PPN department contribute substantially to the University's Undergraduate Program in Medical Sciences and the ASPET Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships.