Physiology

Physiology is the study of the functions of the body, or how the body works. Consequently, physiology is a scientific discipline of the widest scope and application and is the major scientific foundation of all careers related to human health and physical performance. A knowledge of physiology underpins all advances in biomedical research and discoveries in physiology impact on medicine, agriculture, industry and environmental science.

Current areas of research in the discipline of Physiology are listed below.

Cardiovascular Physiology

Arrhythmias

• Cardiac Electrophysiology and Biophysics A/Prof. David Saint
• Cardiac arrhythmia: Prof. Prash Sanders, Dr. Lorraine Mackenzie, Dr Scott Willoughby

Vascular system function

• Molecular Physiology of Vascular Smooth Muscle: Dr. David Wilson

Neurophysiology

Control of Human Movement

• Cortical Inhibition and Neuroplasticity in Fine Control of Human Jaw and Finger Movements: A/Prof. Mike Nordstrom
• Neurophysiology and human movement: Dr. Gabrielle Todd
  
• Cortical and Spinal Control of Movement with Exercise and Training, and the Effects of Ageing: Dr. John Semmler
• [Affiliate Laboratory] Motor Control and Motor Learning:  Dr  Susan Hillier  (University of South Australia)
• [Affiliate Laboratory] Human sensorimotor plasticity: Dr. Mike Ridding

Visual System Function

• Physiology of Visual Processing: A/Prof. David O'Carroll, Dr Steven Wiederman, Dr. Karin Nordström
• Neurobiology and Engineering of Vision:  A/Prof. David O'Carroll, Dr Russell Brinkworth, Dr Steven Wiederman

Neural control of gastrointestinal  tract

• Neural Control of Gastrointestinal Motility: Dr Elizabeth Beckett
• [Affiliate Laboratory] Nerve-Gut Laboratory: Dr Ashley Blackshaw, Dr Amanda Page, Dr Stuart Brierley (Hanson Institute)

Channels & signal transduction

• Aquaporin Channel Physiology and Drug Discovery Laboratory: Prof. Andrea Yool
• Molecular and Cellular Physiology of Ion Channel Function: Dr. Grigori Rychkov
• [Affiliate Laboratory] Membrane Physiology & Neuromuscular Disease: Prof Allan Bretag (University of South Australia)

Affliated Laboratories

In addition to the research areas listed above, the Discipline of Physiology has a large network of affiliated laboratories within hospitals and biomedical research institutes in the Adelaide region. Many of our affiliates offer research projects for Honours and Postgraduate students in the Physiology programs.

Nutrition and Exercise

• Nutritional Physiology, Exercise and Metabolic Fitness: Prof. Peter Howe, Dr. Jon Buckley, Dr Karen Murphey
• Mechanisms and Consequences of Sleep Disordered Breathing: Prof. Doug McEvoy, Dr Peter Catcheside (Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health www.adelaidesleephealth.org.au , Repatriation General Hospital)
• Developing Biomarkers for Disease Diagnosis: Dr Edward McMurchie (CSIRO)

Bone Health

• Endocrine Bone Laboratory: Prof. Howard Morris (Hanson Institute)
• Endocrine Biochemistry: Dr Peter O'Loughlin, Dr Paul Anderson (Institute for Medical & Veterinary Science)

Gastrointestinal Health

• Gut function and treatments for gastrointestinal disease: Dr Gordon Howarth (Agricultural and Animal Science, University of Adelaide
• Gastrointestinal health and disease: Dr Ross Butler (Centre for Paediatric and adolescent Gastroenterology, Womens and Childrens Hospital)
• Diet, exercise and cardiovascular risk: Prof. Peter Clifton (CSIRO Human Nutrition)
• Diagnostic Biomarkers & Therapeutic Targets in Colon Cancer:  Dr Jennifer Hardingham (Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Queen Elizabeth Hospital)
• Micronutrients and gastrointestinal physiology: Dr Cuong Tran (Womens & Childrens Hospital)
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