Courses

This section provides a listing and description of courses offered by the department.

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Quick Link to Physiology Course Material Online

COURSE LISTING


PHGY 209 Fall    MAMMALIAN  PHYSIOLOGY  1 – 3 Credits
 
Prerequisite: Collegial Biology or Anatomy, Chemistry, and Physics
Pre or Co-requisites: BIOL 200, 201 or BIOC 212
other students in the Faculty of Science with permission of course coordinator                       

Course Coordinators:

Dr. M. Vollrath
McIntyre Medical Building
Room 1234
Tel: 514-398-2410
melissa.vollrath [at] mcgill.ca

Dr. A. Wechsler
McIntyre Medical Building
Room 1135
Tel: 514-398-4341
ann.wechsler [at] mcgill.ca

Dr. A. Shrier    
Bellini Building
Room 165
Tel: 514-398-2272
alvin.shrier [at] mcgill.ca

Course Description: Physiology body fluids, blood, body defense mechanisms, peripheral, central  and autonomic nervous system.  Not open to students who have taken or are taking NSC 200.


PHGY 210 Winter    MAMMALIAN PHYSIOLOGY 2 – 3 Credits 

Prerequisite: Collegial Biology or Anatomy, Chemistry, and Physics
Pre or Co-requisites: BIOL 200, 201 or BIOC 212
other students in the Faculty of Science with permission of course coordinator

Course Coordinator:

Dr. M. Vollrath
McIntyre Medical Building 
Room 1234
Tel: 514-398-2410      
melissa.vollrath [at] mcgill.ca

Course Description:  Physiology of  cardiovascular, respiratory digestive, endocrine, and renal systems.  Students must be prepared to attend evening (19:00-20:00) class tests.


PHGY 212 Fall     INTRODUCTORY PHYSIOLOGY LAB 1 – 1 Credit
 

Co-requisite: PHGY 209 and PHGY 210 

Course Coordinators:

Dr. M. Vollrath
McIntyre Medical Building
Room 1234
Tel: 514-398-2410
melissa.vollrath [at] mcgill.ca

Dr. A. Wechsler
McIntyre Medical Building
Room 1135  
Tel: 514-398-4341
ann.wechsler [at] mcgill.ca

Course Description: Exercises illustrating fundamental principles in human physiology: blood, neurophysiology
Quick link to the Virtual Laboratory


PHGY 213 Winter     INTRODUCTORY PHYSIOLOGY LAB 2 – 1 Credit
 

Pre-requisite: PHGY 212
Co-requisite: PHGY-209 and PHGY-210 

Course Coordinator:

Dr. M. Guevara
McIntyre Medical Building
Room 1018
Tel: 514-398-6024
michael.guevara [at] mcgill.ca

Course Description: Exercises illustrating fundamental principles in human physiology: cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrinology
Quick link to the Virtual Laboratory


PHGY 311 Fall    CHANNELS, SYNAPSES & HORMONES – 3 Credits 

Prerequisite: PHGY 209 or Permission of Course Coordinator

Course Coordinator:

Dr. E. Cooper
McIntyre Medical Building
Room 1127   
Tel: (514) 398-4334
ellis.cooper [at] mcgill.ca

Course Description: In-depth presentation of experimental results and hypotheses on cellular communication in the nervous system and the endocrine system.


PHGY 312 Winter    RESPIRATORY, RENAL & CARDIOVASCULAR PHYSIOLOGY – 3 Credits 

Prerequisite: PHGY 209, PHGY 210  
 
Course Coordinator:

Dr. J. Hanrahan
McIntyre Medical Building
Room 1013  
Tel: (514) 398-8320
john.hanrahan [at] mcgill.ca

Course Description: In-depth presentation of experimental results and hypothese underlying our current understanding of topics in renal, respiratory and cardiovascular functions explored beyond the introductory level.

3 hours of lectures per week; 1-3 hours optional lab/demonstration/tutorial arranged for a maximum of 3 afternoons per term


PHGY 313 Winter  BLOOD, GASTROINTESTINAL, & IMMUNE SYSTEMS PHYSIOLOGY – 3 Credits 

Prerequisite: PHGY 209, PHGY 210, PHGY 311
Or permission from Course Coordinators
  
Course Coordinator:

Dr. J. Mandl
Bellini Building
Room  335
Tel: (514) 398-3149
judith.mandl [at] mcgill.ca

Course Description: In-depth presentation of experimental results and hypotheses underlying our current understanding of the physiology topics in immunology, blood and fluids, and gastrointestinal physiology.

3 hours of lectures per week; 1-3 hours optional lab/demonstration/tutorial arranged for a maximum of 3 afternoons per term


PHGY 314  Fall  INTEGRATIVE  NEUROSCIENCE – 3 Credits 

Prerequisite: PHGY 209

Course Coordinator:

Dr. M. Chacron
McIntyre Medical Building
Room 1137  
Tel: (514) 398-7493
maurice.chacron [at] mcgill.ca

Course Description: In-depth presentation of experimental results and hypotheses underlying our current understanding of how single neurons and ensembles of neurons encode sensory information, generate movement, and control cognitive functions such as emotion, learning, and memory, during voluntary behaviors.br>


PHGY 351 Winter  RESEARCH  TECHNIQUES  IN  PHYSIOLOGY – 3 Credits 

Prerequisite: PHGY 209, PHGY 210, PHGY 311                                                     
Co-requisite: PHGY 312, PHGY 313

Course Coordinator:

Dr. Gergely Lukacs
McIntyre Medical Building
Room 1005
Tel: (514) 398-5582
gergely.lukacs [at] mcgill.ca

Course Description: The course provides an overview of common research methods in Physiology, including critical analysis and practical experience with some of the methods.  Topics include ethics of animal experimentation, instruments signal analysis, membrane biophysics, radioimmunoassay, ion sensitive dyes, immunocytochemistry, auto radiography, electron microscopy, and molecular biology.

Enrollment restricted to Physiology Honours students.


PHGY 359 D1 & D2 Fall & Winter TUTORIAL  IN  PHYSIOLOGY -  1 Credit each per term

Prerequisite: PHGY 209, PHGY 210                                 
Co-requisite:  PHGY 311, PHGY 312, and PHGY 313

Meeting: individually arranged

Course Coordinator:

Dr. Gergely Lukacs
McIntyre Medical Building
Room1005
Tel: (514) 398-5582
gergely.lukacs [at] mcgill.ca

Course Description: The course consists of regularly scheduled meetings between each student and a chosen staff member, to consider current problems in biomedical research and to develop background for research project to be carried out in U3.

Enrollment restricted to Physiology Honours students.


PHGY 396 Fall/Winter/Summer UNDERGRADUATE  RESEARCH PROJECT - 3 Credits

Course Coordinator:

Dr. Ursula Stochaj
McIntyre Medical Building
Room 1115
Tel: (514) 398-2949
ursula.stochaj [at] mcgill.ca

Enrolment may be limited

Restrictions: This course cannot be taken under the S/U option. Departmental permission required. Students cannot be supervised by the same instructor for two 396 Science courses. Open to students in programs offered by the Faculty of Science only. (Note: Enrolment may be limited. Students are advised to start the application process well before the start of the term and to plan for an alternative course in the case that no suitable project is available. Individual projects will be suggested each term which may have project-specific prerequisites. Some projects may be accessible to students in other disciplines. 

Course Description: Independent research project with a final written report.

Specific restrictions apply during the current COVID-19 pandemic: 

Physical distancing can be managed at the entrance/exit of the teaching space, and established in the teaching space at all times; proximity to other hubs/sites of activity in a building is considered: Students work in the lab of a specific supervisor who has agreed to supervise their research project. Therefore, the proposed space will be determined by each faculty member who will be supervising a student.  

Mandatory steps before departmental acceptance of the proposed PHGY396 project - Supervisors and students: Please describe how you will address points (1), (2) and (3) below:

This information has to be included in the 396 Research Project Approval Form, which is provided below.  

(1) Safety and security measures: 

The supervisor will ensure that the student is fully aware of general safety and security measures. This applies in particular to the specific steps implemented by McGill University to ensure the student is following all the rules and regulations related to COVID-19 before coming to the lab and when present on campus. This includes, but is not limited to, the student filling out the forms for a daily health check and completing the access log at the end of the research activities. 

(2) Supervisor is available to deliver the activity: 

The supervisor will include the student on the Research Resumption Plan and is responsible for scheduling the student’s activities in the laboratory according to McGill’s guidelines. 

(3) Impact of possible additional lockdowns in Montreal have been considered and planned for: 

In addition, prior to the departmental acceptance of a student supervisors will develop a contingency plan to prepare for a possible lockdown. This plan will be included in the PHGY396 application form and is mandatory for approval by the course coordinator. The plan will specify how, in case of a lockdown, the PHGY396 project will be completed and how the student’s performance will be evaluated.  

PDF icon 396 Research Project Approval Form

Available supervisors:

Dr. Claire Brown

Project summary:

PHGY 396: Calcium imaging in cell migration and Image Analysis

Cell migration is fundamental to cell biology and its dysregulation can result in various pathologies. Using advanced fluorescence light microscopy, our laboratory studies motility at different spatiotemporal levels including whole-cell movement, the dynamics of cell matrix adhesion complexes and the binding kinetics of proteins in adhesions. For cell migration to be efficiently coordinated with adhesion dynamics, intracellular second messenger molecules such as calcium (Ca2+) can play an important role. The goal of this project will be to determine how calcium signaling can regulate these processes involved in motility. The student’s role in this project will be to develop an image analysis and processing protocol to quantitatively analyze cellular calcium signals from fluorescent time-lapse images.


Dr. Nicolas Cermakian
Dr. Maurice Chacron
Dr. Thomas M. S. Chang
Dr. Jörg Fritz
Dr. Mladen Glavinovic
Dr. Terry Hébert
Dr. Anmar Khadra
Dr. Arjun Krishnaswamy
Dr. Suresh Krishna
Dr. Satya Prakash
Dr. Edward Ruthazer
Dr. Jesper Sjostrom
Dr. Ursula Stochaj

 

Project summary:

Killing cancer cells with new designer nanoparticles 

Cancer treatment puts an enormous burden on patients, their families and the health care system. This burden is heightened by complications that limit the success of current therapies. Therefore, novel strategies are mandatory to develop treatment that is efficient, safe and beneficial to many patients.

Functionalized nanoparticles provide unique tools to interfere with tumor growth and kill cancer cells. To use nanoparticles successfully for medical applications, it is mandatory to understand how they interact with living cells. This project is dedicated to the development and characterization of new nanoparticles that eliminate cancer cells. 

Students: please contact ursula.stochaj [at] mcgill.ca; include your most recent transcript in the e-mail.

Dr. Elena Torban
Dr. John White


PHGY 419  D1 & D2 Fall & Winter  IMMUNOLOGY RESEARCH PROJECT – 9 Credits

Fall & Winter Term: Individually arranged

Course Coordinator: 

Dr. M. Cohen
McIntyre Medical Building
Room 1136
Tel: (514) 398-4342
monroe.cohen [at] mcgill.ca

Course Description: Individual research projects in Immunology under the guidance of staff members in the three participating departments:  Physiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology & Immunology.  The students will meet to discuss their research projects in a seminar format during the winter term.  They will be evaluated on their laboratory and seminar performance. 7 hours lab, 2 hours seminar weekly.

Enrollment restricted to U3 Honours Immunology students.


PHGY 425 Fall  ANALYSING PHYSIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS – 3 Credits

Prerequisite: PHGY 311, PHGY 314, BIOL 200

Course Coordinator:

Dr. E. Cook
McIntyre Medical Building
Room 1225
Tel: (514)398-7691
erik.cook [at] mcgill.ca

Course Description: An introduction to quantitative analysis of physiological data, both to the mode of thinking and to a set of tools that allows accurate predictions of biological systems.  Examples will range from oscillating genetic networks to understanding higher brain function.  Modelling and data analysis through examples and exercises will be emphasized.


PHGY 451 Fall  ADVANCED  NEUROPHYSIOLOGY– 3 Credits 

Prerequisite: PHGY 311 or equivalent, BIOL 301
Restriction: Departmental approval required                                     

Course Coordinators:  

Dr. E. Cooper                                  
McIntyre Medical Building        
Room 1127
Tel:  398-4334
ellis.cooper [at] mcgill.ca

Dr. M. Cohen
McIntyre Medical Building
Room 1136
Tel: (514) 398-4342
monroe.cohen [at] mcgill.ca

Course Description: Topics of current interest in neurophysiology including the development of neurons and synapses, physiology of ionic transmission and neuronal interactions in CNS function.  Enrollment limited. Permission of Department required.
•  Quick link to online content for this course


PHGY 459 D1 & D2 Fall & Winter  PHYSIOLOGY  SEMINAR – 6 Credits 

Prerequisite: Permission of Instructor
 
Course Coordinators:

Dr. J. Hanrahan
McIntyre Medical Building
Room 1016A
Tel: (514) 398-8320
john.hanrahan [at] mcgill.ca

Dr. A. Shrier
Bellini Building
Room 165
Tel: (514) 398-2272
alvin.shrier [at] mcgill.ca

Course Description:  Discussion on topics in mammalian, cellular, and molecular physiology.  Students will be required to write an essay and make at least one oral presentation per term.  A final course essay is required. Required course for U3 Physiology Honours Students.


PHGY 461 D1 & D2 Fall & Winter    EXPERIMENTAL  PHYSIOLOGY - 9 Credits 

Prerequisite:  Permission of Instructor   
 
Seminar: Individually arranged

Course Coordinators:

Dr. M. Vollrath
McIntyre Medical Building
Room 1234
Tel: 514-398-2410
melissa.vollrath [at] mcgill.ca

Dr. J. Orlowski
Bellini Building
Room 166
Tel: (514) 398-8335
ann.wechsler [at] mcgill.ca

Dr. A. Wechsler
McIntyre Medical Building
Room 1135
Tel: (514) 398-4341
ann.wechsler [at] mcgill.ca

Course Description: Individual project work under the supervision of Departmental staff members.   Open to limited number of students.  Required course for U3 in Physiology Honours Program and the Joint Major Program in Physiology and Physics and Physiology and Math.      


PHGY 488 Fall  STEM CELL BIOLOGY- 3 Credits (Not Offered in 2019-2020)

Prerequisite: PHGY 313 or by Permission of Instructor

Course Coordinator:

Dr. A. Nijnik
Bellini Building
Room 368 
Tel: (514) 398-5567 
anastasia.nijnik [at] mcgill.ca

Course Description:  The course will teach the core concepts in stem cell biology.  The topics covered will include: embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, cancer stem cells, stem cell populations of many adult tissues, as well as applications of stem cell biology and ethical issues surrounding  stem cell use in research and medicine.  We will also discuss the basics of experimental methods and laboratory  techniques used in stem cell biology.  Students will be expected to read and critique research papers from scientific journals in the field of stem cell biology, to give oral presentations of scientific material and to participate in group discussions.


PHGY 502 Winter  EXERCISE  PHYSIOLOGY - 3 Credits 

Prerequisite: PHGY 311, PHGY 312, PHGY 313
 
Course Coordinator:

Dr. S. Rousseau
Meakins Christie R1-MUHC, Office E-M3.224 
Tel: (514) 934-1934 x76394 
simon.rousseau [at] mcgill.ca

Course Description: Behaviour of physiological processes in response to physical effort, in areas such as structural basis of muscle contraction, neural control of muscle, mechanics, and energetics of muscle contraction, fuel utilization, fatigue, physiological adjustments during exercise and influence of training.
 


PHGY 508 Fall    ADVANCED  RENAL PHYSIOLOGY - 3 Credits

Prerequisite: PHGY 312
 
Course Coordinators:  

Dr. A. Cybulsky
Lyman Duff Building
Room 232
Tel:(514) 398-8148
andrey.cybulsky [at] mcgill.ca

Dr. J. Hanrahan
McIntyre Medical Building
Room 1016A
Tel:(514) 398-8320
john.hanrahan [at] mcgill.ca

Course Description: Lectures and seminars will cover advanced concepts in selected areas of kidney physiology (glomerular and tubular function) as well as membrane and epithelial transport.  Students will be expected to critically discuss selected experimental papers.  Limited enrollment.  Open to advanced undergraduate and graduate students.


PHGY 513 Winter    CELLULAR  IMMUNOLOGY -  3 Credits 

Prerequisite:  MIMM 314 or permission of instructor

Course Coordinator:

Dr. D. Quail
Goodman Cancer Centre
Room  417
Tel: (514) 398-2659
daniela.quail [at] mcgill.ca

Course Description: This course deals with cellular interactions, regulation and effector mechanisms of the normal immune response in relation to diseases and pathogenic processes.  It is taught at an advance level. Course schedule


PHGY 515 Fall   Blood-Brain Barrier in Health and Disease – 3 Credits 

Prerequisite: PHGY 313 or PHGY 312 or Permission of Instructor  
 
Course Coordinator: 
Dr. M. Prager-Khoutorsky
McIntyre Medical Building
Room 1229
Tel: (514) 398-1818
ann.wechsler [at] mcgill.ca

Course Description: Study of cell and molecular physiology of hemostasis and its pathophysiology (bleeding and thrombosis).  Emphases on molecular mechanisms regulating clot formation fibrinolysis, and cell adhesion/aggregation.  Experimental approaches and specific clinical disorders will be analyzed.  Weekly discussions, and a major term paper.

 

PHGY 516 Winter  PHYSIOLOGY OF  BLOOD  - 3 Credits 

Prerequisite: PHGY 313

Course Coordinators:

Dr. V. Blank
Jewish General Hospital
Family Medicine
Tel: (514) 340-8260 ext. 4508
volker.blank [at] mcgill.ca

Course Description: Bone marrow hematopoiesis on regulation of stem cell proliferation and differentiation along hematopoietic pathways.  Formation and differentiation of red and white blood cells and some of the diseases associated with hemotopoiesis will be covered.  Emphasis will be given to the molecular mechanisms involved in the normal and pathological conditions.
 


 

PHGY 518 Fall   ARTIFICIAL  CELLS – 3 Credits 

Prerequisite: Permission of instructor

Course Coordinators:

Dr. T.M.S. Chang
McIntyre Medical Building
Room 1004
Tel: 398-3512
artcell.med [at] mcgill.ca

Course Description: Physiology, biotechnology, chemistry, and biomedical application of artificial cells, blood substitutes, immobilized enzymes, microorganisms and cells, hemoperfusion, artificial kidneys, and drug delivery systems.  PHGY-517 and PHGY-518 when taken together, will give a complete picture of this field.  However, the student can select one of the courses.
 


 

PHGY 520     ION CHANNELS – 3 Credits

Prerequisite: PHGY 311 Permission of Instructor
Restriction: Permission of Instructor and Priority to Graduate and Honours students.

Course Coordinator:
Dr. R. Sharif
Bellini Building
Room 171
Tel: (514) 934-5361
reza.sharif [at] mcgill.ca (reza.sharif@mcgill.ca)

Course Description:  In this course, students will be exposed to the biophysical principles governing ion channel functioning and how alterations in these functions can be associated with clinical pathologies. The course is divided in two sections. The first section (January-February) will be didactic and provide a comprehensive overview of the voltage-gated, ligand-gated and mechano-gated ion channel families. The second part (March-April) will target specific types of ion channels through student-driven discussions of scientific articles (every Tuesday) and lectures presented by experts in the field (every Thursday). 


PHGY 524     CHRONOBIOLOGY – 3 Credits

Prerequisite: PHGY 209 and PHGY 210 (or NSCI 200 and NSCI 201), and a relevant 300-level course (PHGY 311, or PHGY 314, or PSYC 318, or BIOC 311, or other, with permission of course coordinator).
Restriction: Permission of Instructor.  Course for senior undergraduate (U3) and graduate students

Course Coordinators:
Dr. N. Cermakian
Douglas Mental Health University Institute                
(514) 761-6131 ext. 4936
nicolas.cermakian [at] mcgill.ca                                                                                                                                                

Dr. F. Storch     
Douglas Mental Health University Institute
Perry Building , Room E-3214
Tel: (514) 761-6131 ext. 6152
nicolas.cermakian [at] mcgill.ca

Course Description: This course is an introduction to the field of chronobiology. The aim is to provide basic knowledge on different types of biological rhythms, with particular focus on circadian (daily) rhythms.


PHGY 531 Winter   TOPICS IN APPLIED IMMUNOLOGY – 3 Credits
 
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor  
 
Course Coordinator:
Dr. M. Stevenson
Lyman Duff Medical Bldg., Room 508
Tel: (514) 398-6429
mary.m.stevenson [at] mcgill.ca ()

Dr. N. Bernard
RI-MUHC, Geln Site, Room EM3.3238
Tel: (514) 934-1934 Ext.44584
nicole.bernard [at] mcgill.ca ()

Dr. S. Qureshi
RI-MUHC, Glen Site, Room EM2.2236
(514) 934-1934 Ext. 44626
salman.qureshi [at] mcgill.ca

Course Description: Seminar format course in which experts in immunologic mechanisms of resistance against a variety of infectious diseases including AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis, oversee student moderators in their presentation of recent scientific literature in the field.
 


PHGY 550  Fall  PHYSIOLOGY  OF  BONE – 3 Credits

Prerequisite: PHGY 311 and BIOL 202

Course Coordinator:   
Dr. M. Murshed
Strathcona Anatomy Building
monzur.murshed [at] mcgill.ca

Course Description: Students will develop a working knowledge of cartilage and bone.  Discussion topics will include: molecular and cellular environment of bone; heritable and acquired skeletal defects; research models used to study metabolic bone disease.

Preference given to Physiology graduate students.


PHGY 552  Winter   CELLULAR & MOLECULAR PHYSIOLOGY – 3 Credits 

Prerequisite:  PHGY 311 or Permission of Instructor

Course Coordinator:

Dr. J. Orlowski
Bellini Building
Room 166
Tel: (514) 398-8335
john.orlowski [at] mcgill.ca

Course Description: Discussions of recent significant advances in our understanding of the gene products involved in diverse cellular signaling pathways.  Topics will include cell-surface hormone receptors, nuclear steroid hormone receptors, and ion channels and transporters.  Students will present and critically evaluate experimental approaches, results and interpretations of selected research publications.

Preference will be given to Physiology Honours and graduate students; limited enrollment.

PHGY 556  Winter   TOPICS IN SYSTEMS NEUROSCIENCE – 3 Credits
 
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor

Course Coordinators:

Dr. D. Guitton
Montreal Neurological Institute
Tel: (514) 398-1954
daniel.guitton [at] mcgill.ca

Dr. E. Cook
McIntyre Medical Building
Room 1225
Tel: (514)398-7691
erik.cook [at] mcgill.ca

Course Description: Topics of current interest in systems neurophysiology and behavioural neuroscience including:  the neural representative of sensory information and motor integration, and the computational analysis of problems in motor control and perception. Students will be expected to present and critically discuss journal articles in class.  Not open to students who have taken PHGY-456; limited enrollment.


PHGY 560  Winter   Light Microscopy Life Sciences  – 3 Credits
 
Prerequisite: BIOL 301
Restriction: Permission of Instructor.

Course Coordinators:

Dr. C. Brown
Bellini Building
Room 137A
Tel: (514) 398-4400 x00795
claire.brown [at] mcgill.ca

Course Description: Introduction to optics, light microscopy imaging and data analysis for life scientists. The course starts with how light and matter interact and ends with a review of the latest technologies in the field. Topics include brightfield techniques such as phase contract and differential interference contrast microscopy, fluorescence, widefield microscopy, 3D imaging with laser scanning microscopy, resonant scanning and spinning disk confocal. Details of current light sources, detectors and image processing and analysis tools are discussed. New technologies such as super resolution microscopy and light sheet microscopy are also covered. Finally, techniques to measure protein interactions and dynamics in living samples are presented. Discussions to compare available technologies and several hands-on laboratory activities reinforce what is presented in the lectures. Students critically review and present a primary research article

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