Department of Physiology

Physiology is the study of how organisms function, ranging from the cellular, and even sub-cellular, level up to the level of the organism as a whole. At King's this range is reflected in our research which covers topics such as work on understanding how different genes are turned on to enable a cell to perform different functions, the neuronal basis of pain, and the regulation of the body's response to microgravity experienced during space travel.

These research interests naturally inform our teaching, particularly at more advanced levels, and in the final year of the programme students have the opportunity to join research laboratories to undertake a project that contribute to their degrees. Our teaching emphasises the experimental basis for current ideas of physiological mechanisms.

Physiology is closely connected to pharmacology, and our joint honours degree reflects the affinity between these two subjects.

The Department of Physiology is one of the largest physiology teaching units in the country with over 25 senior academics involved with teaching undergraduates. The teaching carried out by the Department of Physiology is enhanced by the wide expertise of the academic staff and our good research record.

Our mode of teaching emphasises the experimental basis for the current ideas on the mechanisms of tissue function. We encourage students to pursue graduate study and to this end most physiology students undertake a research project in the final year of their degree which prepares them for further study. We believe our success results from the commitment of our staff to research and their availability to students, stimulating the students’ interests and motivation.