This is the preliminary (or launch) version of the 2025-2026 VCU Bulletin. Courses that expose students to cutting-edge content and transformative learning may be added and notification of additional program approvals may be received prior to finalization. General education program content is also subject to change. The final edition and full PDF version will include these updates and will be available in August prior to the beginning of the fall semester.
John Grider, Ph.D.
Professor and interim chair
The Department of Physiology and Biophysics brings 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 as well as in chemical senses. Faculty recruitments are ongoing in two areas: structural biology, which aims to understand function in terms of 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.