• Our PhD students strive to develop novel and unique laboratory expertise needed to shape the future of medicine.

  • Postdoctoral researchers pursue advanced training to gain new laboratory and career skills needed to revolutionize the medical sciences.

  • Formulating and testing a hypothesis requires diligent attention and work, but the resulting discoveries are often rewarding.

  • Expertise in microscopic imaging is one of the foundations for understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that lead to disease.

  • Molecular mechanisms that control the junctions between endothelial cells are studied to better understand blood-tissue exchange

  • Graduate student and postdoctoral scholar awardees with their mentors at Experimental Biology 2013 in Boston






Sarah Yuan, MD, PhD
MD, FAAN
Professor & Chair

Welcome from the Chair

Welcome to the Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology. Our group is composed of scientists, educators and trainees with diverse backgrounds in pharmacology, physiology, neuroscience, and molecular/cellular biology. We strive to fulfill the education mission of USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and the School of Biomedical Sciences by designing and conducting high quality interdisciplinary courses at the graduate (Ph.D, M.S.) and professional (M.D., D.P.T, and Pharm.D.) degree levels. We provide extraordinary learning experience for our students with the goal of preparing them for the ever-challenging environment in medicine as well as the transformation in biomedical research.

The goal of our research programs is to translate studies that decipher mechanisms of diseases or discover novel diagnostic/therapeutic targets into improved health care. Our current interests and expertise include:

  • Neurophysiology and Pharmacology
  • Respiratory Physiology and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
  • Computational Modeling and Systems Biology
  • Cardiovascular Regulation in Health and Disease
  • Renal Pathophysiology and Hypertension
  • Microcirculation, Lymphatic Biology, Cell and Matrix Molecular Biology
  • Metabolic Disorders, Obesity, and Diabetic Complications
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases, Alzheimer's disease, Angelman Syndrome
  • Traumatic Injury and Tissue Repair and Regeneration

Please visit the above pull-down sites for detailed research and education programs that are currently ongoing in our department. Have fun surfing!

Sarah Yuan, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor & Chair
Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Physiology