Physiology and Pharmacology Research Programme
Contact: Prof Graeme Nixon, Tel: +44 (0)1224 555854, Email: g.f.nixon@abdn.ac.uk
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
The discipline of pharmacology can be defined as the study of the action of medicinal drugs (both naturally occurring and synthetic) on a cell, organ, or whole body. Physiology is the study of the mechanisms involved in regulating organ systems. Both these disciplines are interdependent and include many different techniques, from experiments studying genes in single cells to the living human body. At the University of Aberdeen, the physiology and pharmacology research programme concentrates on several key areas important for human health and disease. Pharmacology research is directed towards: cannabinoid pharmacology to develop new drugs for treatment of pain, inflammation, obesity and osteoporosis; identifying new medicinal targets to prevent vascular disease; understanding how the toxicity of drugs affects organ systems. Physiological research is examining the mechanisms through which muscles increase in size, investigating mechanisms of exercise-induced asthma in athletes and uncovering how naturally occurring anti-oxidants prevent damage to genes.
Through our research, and in collaboration with other scientists (local, national and international), physiology and pharmacology research in the Institute of Medical Sciences continually strives to make important contributions to medical science and to develop novel therapeutics.