Cardiovascular Physiology - 20 credit hours

University Catalog Information

The Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences Cardiovascular Physiology concentration provides an individualized program of upper-level courses and scientific research in the laboratory of a faculty member within the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease (CVMD) Signature Research Program. The mission of the CVMD Signature program is to support and enhance the research activity of investigators at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center who are pursuing important, clinically relevant research questions focusing on Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease. The training program is currently supported by an NHLBI-funded Cardiovascular training grant and is designed to ensure broad training in physiology with major research interests in vascular biology, hypertension, sleep apnea, pulmonary hypertension, hypoxia, diabetes, aging, heart disease, chronic kidney disease, and stroke.

Required Coursework

To earn a Concentration in Cardiovascular Physiology graduate students are required to take the following:

Following successful completion of the Qualifying Exam and remaining in Good Academic Standing (as defined by the BSGP), graduate training will mainly focus on laboratory research supervised by the student's mentor, and supplemented with the following advanced courses:

Course substitutions may be made with the prior approval of your Committee on Studies (COS).

Vascular Physiology Research

The Vascular Physiology Group (VPG) was founded by Dr. Benjimen R. Walker. Researchers in this group include faculty members from the Department of Cell Biology and Physiology. All investigators in the group have a track record of national-level extramural support and there is a great deal of collaboration between laboratories. The VPG has a journal club/seminar series and holds weekly joint lab meetings during which ideas are exchanged, data are presented, and planned grant applications are discussed. The VPG holds a NHLBI-funded Cardiovascular Training Grant, and maintains an excellent record of training both graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. As a group, we have the unique ability to approach our investigation from multiple levels including conscious animal hemodynamic analysis, isolated perfused organ, isolated-pressurized small arteries, electrophysiology, molecular imaging, and molecular biology. The primary research focus for faculty members of the Vascular Physiology Group is summarized below with links to faculty web pages.

Laura Gonzalez Bosc, PhD

Nikki Jernigan, PhD

Nancy Kanagy, PhD

Jay Naik, PhD

Tom Resta, PhD