History

History:

 The Department of Physiology and Pharmacology was formed in 2009 through the amalgamation of the Departments of Physiology & Biophysics, and Pharmacology &Therapeutics under the Headship of Dr. Gerald Zamponi. This new Department is the largest basic science department in the University of Calgary's Faculty of Medicine and one of the largest in N. America.   The major areas of strength in the Department are neuroscience, cardiovascular and smooth muscle biology, gastrointestinal research and immunology. 

 Department of Physiology and Biophysics:

Under the direction of Prof. K.E. Cooper, the Department recruited a number of physiologists representing diverse disciplines to help develop a new curriculum which was systems based and integrated the traditional scientific and medical disciplines. In 1978, Prof. Cooper moved to a senior administrative position as Associate Vice-President. He was replaced by Prof. Warren L. Veale as head of the Division of Medical Physiology. Between 1978 and 1988, Profs. Cooper and Veale both played important roles in the establishment of the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research.  Through the foundation, the Faculty of Medicine and the Department of Medical Physiology were able to undertake a program of expansion by recruiting both established and young, new scientific investigators. The Department of Medical Physiology was particularly successful during this period becoming one of the largest and most dynamic departments in Canada.

 In 1988, Dr. Veale became the Dean of Kinesiology at The University of Calgary and was replaced by Prof. J.S.Davison who had been recruited several years earlier as one of the first AHFMR Medical Scientists. While the initial growth period generated by the AHFMR had come to an end, the Department continued to maintain its size and stature as a pre-eminent department of physiology. In recognition of biophysics as a particular sub-discipline that was well represented within the Department, in 1996, the General Faculties Council of The University of Calgary approved the name change to the Department of Physiology and Biophysics.

 At the completion of Dr. Davison's term in 1998, he was succeeded as Department Head by Prof. Wayne Giles. Dr. Giles presided over another period of substantial expansion as the AHFMR endowment grew, with the recruitment of a number of junior faculty members.  In 2003, Prof. Giles left the University of Calgary to assume a position at the University of California, San Diego, and was succeeded as Department Head by Dr. David Proud.  During Dr. Proud's tenure, the Faculty of Medicine underwent a structural reorganization with the creation of large research institutes that replaced traditional research group structure.  In addition, a faculty of veterinary medicine was created, thus providing new partnership opportunities.  Under Dr. Proud's headship, the department underwent a slight reduction in size, but maintained its excellence in research and training.  In 2008 Dr. Gerald Zamponi took over the headship of the Department. 

 Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics:

 The discipline of Pharmacology and Therapeutics has been represented at the University of Calgary since the first acceptance of medical students in 1970. At that time, the department was referred to as a Division and was led by Dr. Keith McCannell who served as Head until 1975. Under Dr. MacCannell's guidance, the Department grew with an early focus on cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and neurosecretory pharmacology and four principle faculty members. Dr. Gary van Petten replaced Dr. MacCannell as Head in 1975, but was recruited to Edmonton in 1977 to be replaced by Dr. Sheldon Roth as interim head. This period of instability was ended in 1979 with the recruitment of Dr. Morley Hollenberg as Head, a position that he retained until 1989. The period of 1975-79 was marked by the recruitment of five new faculty members to broaden the base of research interests and teaching capabilities, including Drs. Sheldon Roth, George Wyse, Graham Moore, David Severson and George Drummond. This expansion was extended with AHFMR funding in the early 1980's leading to a rapid increase to 15 faculty members. The excellence in research that was fostered by the recruitment in these years spawned interest within other Universities to seek out Department members for their own recruitment initiatives. This "poaching" of leading members of the Department to significant departures and a reduction in size to 12 members by 1989.

 A period of rejuvenation was then initiated by the recruitment of Dr. Christopher Triggle as Head in 1990, after a one year interim headship by Dr. Sheldon Roth. The 1990's saw major recruitment in the areas of smooth muscle and cardiovascular pharmacology expanding the Department to 17 full-time, joint and adjunct members. Expertise within the Department at this time covered Clinical Pharmacology, Cancer Biology, Toxicology, Immunology and Neuropharmacology, as well as Endocrine, Gastrointestinal and Cardiovascular Pharmacology.  Teaching commitments included undergraduate science and medical students, graduate students and continuing medical education. Dr. Triggle led the Department until 1999, when Dr. Roth was again called upon to act as interim Head until the appointment of Dr. David Severson, first as Acting Head in 2001, and then as permanent Head in 2003. Dr. Severson's term was extended from 2008 until his retirement in 2010. Recruitment during between 2000-2006 was fostered by AHFMR-funded positions and new teaching program initiatives within the Bachelor of Health Sciences and Masters in Biotechnology Programs between 2000-2008.  However, this period was also marked by several departures and an overall reduction in numbers. Also, recruitment did not keep pace with the approaching retirement of senior Department members, such that by 2008, the number of full-time faculty members was projected to fall to a level incapable of sustaining a vibrant Department beyond 2011. A process of amalgamation with the Department of Physiology & Biophysics was therefore initiated by the Dean's Office.