Physiology, Development and Neuroscience: University of Cambridge

The Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience was established on 1 January 2006 following the merger of the Departments of Anatomy and Physiology. They have an internationally distinguished reputation for their research which they are seeking to enhance further through major initiatives such as the creation of a new biomedical research unit.

One of their main priorities is to provide a supportive, vigorous and stimulating research environment for their graduate students and postdoctoral research fellows. Funded studentships are advertised each year (MRC and BBSRC doctoral training account studentships). They also encourage applications from qualified students who are eligible for funding from Cambridge Trusts, as well as those who have independent sources of funds.

Key research areas

Their basic research areas are Cellular and Systems Physiology, Developmental and Reproductive Biology and Neuroscience. In addition, They have active research programmes in Form and Function.

Cellular and Systems Physiology

This theme can be broadly divided into three main research areas.

• Calcium handling in cells.
  This grouping builds upon the MRC calcium co-operative held by the Department, and its core interest is in intracellular signalling mechanisms. It has strong representation from those working on blood-related cells and those working on calcium handling within excitable cells.
• Excitable and sensory cellular physiology.
  They have another group working on excitable and sensory physiology at the cellular level. Many of them could be classified as traditional electrophysiologists, since they investigate membrane-based mechanisms that give rise to fundamental forms of signal processing.
• Circulatory physiology.
  Moving upwards from the cellular physiologists to those with a more systems based focus, they have a grouping based on circulatory physiology.

Development

Within the department they are investigating many aspects of development, including how cells are genetically and epigenetically programmed to become different, how cells talk to one another, how cells respond to signals to migrate or to send out long processes, how cells assemble and rearrange to make tissues and how cells mature and differentiate as their functions change with age. Some particular areas of interest are highlighted below.

• Development of the nervous system.
  They are investigating how different types of neural populations are programmed to produce the correct number of cells in the right place and how their axons navigate over long distances and then make synaptic connections with specific target cells.
• Stem cells.
  Populations of cells, such as germ cells and neural stem cells, have the capacity to self-renew and are potentially an important therapeutic tool for the future. Several groups are endeavouring to understand the self-renewal properties of stem cells and what regulates their differentiation into different cell types.
• Mammalian development and the interactions between the developing animal and its mother.
  They are studying the role of genomic imprinting and environmental signals in programming intrauterine development with particular emphasis on the interaction between genes, cells, tissues and organs in the control of physiological systems.

Neuroscience

Cambridge has a strong tradition in neuroscience at all levels ranging from the molecular to computational to cognitive. The Department houses a broad range of research groups, using a diverse range of technologies including molecular biology, cell biology, in vivo and in vitro electrophysiology, neuroanatomy and analysis of behaviour. For descriptive purposes their neuroscience research can be divided into three 'levels', cellular and molecular, systems and behavioural, but these interact extensively with each other.

• At cellular and molecular level groups working on synaptic transmission, local network properties and plasticity in local neural circuits, aspects of molecular signalling and sensory transduction and developmental neurobiologists working on problems associated with building the brain.
• At neural systems level groupings focus on the processing of information in sensory systems, motor systems, and neuroendocrine systems.
• At behavioural level cognitive and motivational mechanisms are the principal focus.

Form and Function

The members of the Form and Function group are engaged in research on how tissues and organs are shaped during development and how the resultant architecture contributes to their specialised function. An exceptionally wide spectrum of approaches is being used in the research of this group, extending from molecular to ecological.
Thus, their interests include:

• Molecular mechanisms underlying control of cell shape, movement and cell-cell interactions and the interface between cells and extracellular structures.
• Reorganisation and assembly of cells into functional organs.
• Biomechanics of movement, at cellular and macroscopic levels.
• Functional consequences of tissue shape: middle ear, gastrointestinal tract, cardiopulmonary system and nervous system.

Research collaborations

They have links with other institutions and departments including the Wellcome Trust/CRUK Gurdon Institute of Cancer and Developmental Biology, the Department of Biochemistry, the Clinical School, the MRC Centre for Brain Repair, the Sanger Centre and the Babraham Institute.

Further information:

• www.pdn.cam.ac.uk
• see Graduate School website: www.bio.cam.ac.uk/gradschool