Program Overview

Division of BioMedical Sciences

The Division of BioMedical Sciences is part of the Faculty of Medicine at Memorial University.

Programs of Study

The Division offers several programs of study, including:

• Bioscience of Health and Disease
• Cardiovascular and Renal Sciences
• Human Genetics and Genomics
• Immunology and Infectious Diseases
• Neurosciences
• Undergraduate Courses
• Graduate Courses

Cardiovascular and Renal Sciences

The graduate program in Cardiovascular and Renal Sciences enables students to pursue research and academic studies in selected topics towards the MSc or PhD degree. The program's strengths lie in hypertension and stroke-related research, and the neural control of the vasculature, heart, and blood pressure.

Program Requirements

Students wishing to enter the graduate program must arrange a supervisor who will sponsor their entry and arrange financial support with the School of Graduate Studies. Students are required to take a minimum of two full graduate courses for the MSc degree and three full courses for the PhD degree. One course, Medicine 6140, is mandatory for both the MSc and PhD programs.

Comprehensive Examination

Students admitted or transferring into the PhD program must pass a comprehensive examination by the end of the seventh semester. The examination consists of written and oral components and follows the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies.

Program Activities

Students are expected to participate in program activities, including the Cardiovascular and Renal Journal Club/Seminar Series. This series features special topic presentations, research idea presentations, and technique workshops.

Courses

The program offers several courses, including:

Medicine 6140 (Basic Cardiovascular and Renal Physiology)

This course covers cardiovascular, renal physiology, pathology, and pharmacology topics. It consists of lectures, laboratory sessions, and tutorial sessions, and is a prerequisite for all graduate students in the program.

Medicine 6141 (Cardiovascular/Renal Techniques)

This course demonstrates common preparations and techniques used to study the cardiovascular and renal system, including isolated renal and mesenteric vascular perfusion techniques and electrophysiological techniques.

Medicine 6142 (Special Topics in Cardiovascular/Renal Physiology)

This course involves a comprehensive literature research or directed study on a cardiovascular/renal topic of interest. Students meet with their supervisor bi-weekly to discuss progress and present a seminar to the faculty.

Medicine 6143 (Cardiovascular Anatomy)

This course examines the principles of organization of the cardiovascular system, comparing the system in humans and common experimental animals. It includes tutorials, lectures, and laboratory exercises.

Medicine 6144 (Cardiovascular/Renal Pathophysiology)

This course discusses selected topics in cardiovascular/renal pathology, including alterations in structure, function, and pharmacology related to hypertension, stroke, heart disease, diabetes, and renal failure.

Awards

Several awards are available to graduate students in the program, including:

• University Fellowships
• Cardiovascular and Renal Graduate Student Award
• Colman Graduate Student Award
• Burness Graduate Student Award

Participating Faculty

The program's participating faculty members have research interests in various areas, including:

• Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular physiology, pharmacology, and signaling alterations
• Skeletal muscle microvascular blood flow regulation and mass transport
• Autonomic control of cardiovascular function
• Cardiovascular pharmacology and cardiac energy metabolism
• Muscle micro-physiology and application to cardiac diseases
• Cardiovascular pharmacology and heart failure
• Cerebral blood flow regulation and vascular regulatory mechanisms