Department of Physiology and Biophysics
Welcome!
Welcome to the Department of Physiology and Biophysics at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. We bring a long tradition to the study of physiology that spans the entire spectrum from molecules to man. Strong research programs exist in Molecular Biophysics, Cardiovascular and Gastrointestinal Physiology, Neuroscience as well as in Chemical Senses.
Focus areas include: Structural Biology, which aims to understand function in terms of molecular structure, and Systems Physiology, which aims to elucidate fundamental ways of communication within and between physiological systems. Biophysical approaches serve as the common language used at all levels of scientific inquiry.
The Department offers a strong collegial atmosphere where faculty, students, postdoctoral fellows and administrators work together to promote and share in the discovery of fundamental principles governing life processes.
- Carlos Escalante was chair of the session of the American Crystallographic Association entitled “Complementarity among structural methods” (2021)
- Gea-Ny Tseng: Co-organized a FASEB Research Science Conference “Ion Channel Regulation” (2021)
-
Dr. Monserrat Samso: Co-chaired an international meeting "Calcium signaling and excitation-contraction in cardiac, skeletal and smooth muscle" organized by the Journal of General Physiology (2021)
-
Dr. Linda Constanzo: Presented a webinar to over 600 medical students and Faculty at the University of Malaya on “Learning Physiology Well: Best Practices” (2021)
-
Dr. Javier Gonzalez-Maeso and Dr. Mario De La Fuente: Presented their studies at the a conference entitled “Decriminalizing Nature” by the Virginia General Assembly for VA state senators and delegates (2021)
-
Dr. Javier Gonzalez-Maeso: Presented at the 60th Annual Meeting of American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (Puerto Rico, 2021), 10th International Meeting on Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors (Italy, 2021)
-
Dr. John R. Grider: Appointed Interim Chair of the Department of Physiology and Biophysics (2021)
- Physiology Alumni Mentors Open Doors For Aspiring Neurosurgeon (Richard Costanzo) (2021)
- Dr. Scott Ramsey: Appointed as Director, Premedical Certificate Program. (2021)
-
Dr. Montserrat Samso: Structural mechanism of two gain-of-function cardiac and skeletal RyR mutations at an equivalent site by cryo-EM
- Drs. Javier Gonzalez-Maeso, Qinglian Liu, and Liya Qiao: Promoted to Professor (2020).
- Dr. Javier Gonzalez-Maeso & Dr. Mario De La Fuente Revenga: Could psychedelic drugs be a new treatment option for people with depression? (VCU News 2019)
- Dr. Carlos R. Escalante: Promoted to Associate Professor with Tenure (2019).
- Dr. Richrd Costanzo: In Scientific American: Building a Brain Implant for Smell, April, 2019, and on VCU SOM Facebook page.
NEW EXTRAMURAL NIH GRANTS
-
Carlos Escalante received a new renewal of his NIH Grant entitled “Structural and Mechanistic Insights into AAV Rep Mediated Site-Specific Integration and Packaging” (R01GM124204-05)
-
Liya Qiao received a new NIH grant entitled “Sensory Cross-Activation in Bowel Dysfunction” (R01DK121131-01)
NIH STUDY SECTIONS
-
Carlos Escalante is a member of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease section for “Emergency Awards: Antiviral Drug Discovery (AViDD) Centers for Pathogens of Pandemic Concern (Ad hoc 2022).
-
Qinglian Liu is a member of NIH Division of Basic and Integrative Biological Sciences Cell Biology IRG: Cell Structure and Function-1 Study Section. (Regular member 2022)
-
Montserrat Samso is a member of NIH Division of Basic and Integrative Biological Sciences Cell Biology IRG: Receptor Biology and Signal Transduction Study Section (Regular Member 2022)
-
John Grider is a member of National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases DDK-C IRG: Digestive Diseases and Nutrition Study Section (Regular Member 2022; ad hoc 2021)
-
Carlos Escalante was a member of NIH Division of Basic and Integrative Biological Sciences Chemistry and Macromolecular Biophysics IRG Macromolecular Structure and C Study Section (Ad hoc 2021)
-
Montserrat Samso was a member of NIH Division of Basic and Integrative Biological Sciences Cell Biology IRG: Cell Signaling and Regulations Systems (CSRS) Study Section (Regular Member 2021)
-
Liya Qiao was member of the NCCIH (NIH) Blueprint for Neuroscience Research: Functional Neural Circuits of Interoception Study Section (Ad hoc 2021); the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; Digestive and Nutrient Physiology and Diseases Study Section (Ad hoc 2021); and a Subject matter expert for the NIH Director’s Early Independence DP5 Award Study Section (Ad hoc 2021)
FELLOWSHIPS
Dr. Kavita Iyers, Cryo EM and pharmacological study of hyperphosphorylated cardiac RYR (AHA, postdoc)
Justin Saunders, Gut dysbiosis and 5-HT2A dysregulation in a preclinical schizophrenia model (F30 predoc)
S. Teja Devarakonda, Relaxin signaling in post myocardial infarction associated adverse remodeling (AHA, predoc)
In Memoriam
Long standing faculty member Dr. Alexandre Fabiato has passed away (2021)
PhD Graduate, former Dean, and former CEO of Health System, Dr. Hermes Kontos has passed away (2021)
There are no events currently scheduled.