NOTE: THE PROGRAM CHANGE DESCRIBED BELOW DOES NOT APPLY TO ANY STUDENT ENROLLED BEFORE AUGUST 1, 2009.

 Summary.  In August 2009, the name of the Graduate Program in Physiology will be changed to the Graduate Program in Developmental and Reproductive Biology (DRB) with a consequent shift in the focus of the program.  The major reason for this change was to provide students with the opportunity to participate more fully in the state-of-the-art research program that has developed during the last nine years at the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) in the newly formed Institute for Biogenesis Research (IBR).  Many significant discoveries relating to developmental and reproductive biology have been made from scientists in this institute.  The new DRB program will continue to offer students a wide variety of course work that will allow them to choose many different career options after completing their degrees.  But it will add greater opportunities for those interested in research.  Both the graduate program and the IBR are housed in the Department of Anatomy, Biochemistry, & Physiology.

Focus of the Program.   The major focus of the program will be developmental and reproductive biology in mammals, but instructive evolutionary comparisons with other phyla will be explored.  

Course work.  Students will be required to take a newly developed DRB 601, Reproductive and Developmental Biology, which has the overall focus of the program, above.   They will also be required to take the university’s strongest Cell and Molecular Biology course CMB 620 and 621, and a faculty seminar course DRB 613 and DRB 614 (currently still listed as Phys 613/614).  Electives are offered that reflect the wide variety of the department that houses the program in human anatomy and physiology. 

Research.  At least 9 well funded laboratories by distinguished scientists offer research opportunities in areas that include fertilization, developmental embryology, stem cells, and congenital deformities. 

Requirements.  Please see Requirements.

Inquiries.  Please see http://www2.jabsom.hawaii.edu/Grad_Physiol for further details.  This site is currently being modified, but does contain information on the graduate faculty.  You may also contact W. Steven Ward, Ph.D. (wward@hawaii.edu).