research, teaching and community interaction, and thereby establish a world-class academic facility. The Department of Physiological Sciences undertakes investigative research to better understand the health challenges facing South Africa. We have several research groupings – headed up by excellent principal investigators - that tackle a variety of disease states. Here the rationale is to gain a d
eeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms that drive the onset of pathophysiologic states, with the ultimate aim of designing novel therapeutic interventions. Our laboratories are arguably the best equipped in our field within the South African context. For example, during the last few years we successfully established two Central Analytical Facility (CAF) units within our department, i.e. The animal housing facility is also located within our precinct and is successfully managed by highly qualified members of our department. We have recently been awarded an NRF Research Niche Area (RNA) for the investigation of skeletal muscle biology. Moreover, we are members of the MRC Interuniversity Heart Research Group that also includes researchers at the University of Cape Town and the Stellenbosch University’s medical campus. Our dynamic outlook means that we have successfully developed collaborative projects with several laboratories within South Africa and abroad. Together this comprehensive strategic approach ensures the generation of first-class research outputs and the nurturing and development of human resources (students and staff), thereby further strengthening our national and international image within the Physiology discipline.
