"Physiology isn’t just a part of biology—it’s the foundation of how life works. We can secure its future by emphasising its importance at every level." - Dr Michele Sweeney
You might wonder why we’re even asking such a provocative question like, "Is physiology dead?"
It isn’t a claim about the field's irrelevance but rather a reflection on its current challenges and prospects. Physiology is the science of life, and its contributions to medicine, research, and education are undeniable. If we want to overcome the challenges, we must address the systemic issues threatening its visibility and prominence, which takes effort from educators, researchers, and funding bodies across the globe.
In our recent webinar, “Is Physiology Dead?” we brought together an expert panel to discuss the opportunities ahead for physiology educators. What was clear is that physiology faces several challenges unique to the subject. This blog highlights those challenges and offers solutions to help you overcome them.
1. Expanding research funding for physiology
Unsurprisingly, our educators noted the shifting focus of research funding as the first challenge.
Increasingly, funding bodies are steering their investments toward areas like molecular biology, genetics, and other fields that zero in on individual parts of biological systems. Rather than seeing this as a setback, we should view it as an opportunity to highlight the value of integrative, systems-level research by bridging molecular discoveries with whole-body applications - something crucial for pushing education and research forward.
Dr. Gordon Cooper from Sheffield University reminds us, "There’s still a demand for whole-body physiology to validate findings at the molecular level, but fewer researchers are trained or funded to do this work." There’s no doubt that the demand for researchers who can bridge systems and molecular biology is on the rise. To meet this need, it’s essential to reposition physiology within the larger research landscape. Securing ongoing investment in the field will help connect cellular mechanisms to systemic health, paving the way for more significant scientific breakthroughs.
Tip: Advocate for systems-level physiology research.
Emphasise its importance in major European funding programs like Horizon Europe, ERC, and national agencies. Additionally, guiding students and early-career researchers toward niche funding opportunities (e.g., Wellcome Trust) and encouraging industry partnerships can strengthen support for integrative studies. Engaging with policymakers to highlight the value of systems physiology can also help secure more targeted funding.
2. Elevating physiology in pre-university education
A fundamental issue starts before students even enter higher education. Physiology is mainly absent from secondary school curricula. In the UK, for example, A-level biology focuses heavily on molecular biology, biochemistry, and genetics, with little emphasis on systems-level physiology, creating a pipeline problem where students enter university unaware of what physiology is.
One of the most promising ways to advance physiology is by making it more visible and accessible to students before they enter university. With students’ natural curiosity about biology, we can show them the importance of physiology early on, inspiring them to pursue the field at higher levels of education. Dr. Michelle Sweeney of Newcastle University highlights, "Students often love anatomy but don’t realise they are engaging with physiology.”
Tip: Organise outreach events with partners such as In2Science. Some examples of outreach activities include:
- Display interactive exhibits at local science fairs or university open days. Demonstrations like measuring heart rate, muscle reflex tests, or simple spirometry exercises can engage participants and explain how physiology affects their everyday.
- Collaborate with local schools to deliver after-school workshops and summer schools.
- Host public talks or webinars on topics like the physiology of ageing, sleep, or stress to reach a broader audience.
3. Emphasising physiology’s integrative power
Physiology’s greatest strength lies in its integrative approach, connecting individual systems within the body to form a holistic understanding of health. While interdisciplinary collaboration with fields like pharmacology, sports science, and molecular biology is valuable, this creates an opportunity to highlight the unique role of physiology in bringing together different areas of science.
Dr. Liam Bagley states, “We need to bring the big picture back into focus”. Now is the time for physiology educators and researchers to reestablish physiology as a core discipline that ties together different areas of biological science. By promoting cross-disciplinary collaborations and highlighting the wide-ranging impact of physiological principles, we can keep physiology at the heart of both education and research.
Tip: Champion physiology as an integrative subject.
Include interdisciplinary projects as part of your course. For example, you could partner with a researcher specialising in molecular immunology and encourage project students to measure physiological and molecular responses to stress. research uses
Embracing the need for change
While the challenges facing physiology are very real, they present a remarkable opportunity for revitalising and reinvigorating the field. Educators, researchers and funding bodies must work to safeguard physiology’s future. By advocating for its inclusion in pre-university education, promoting interdisciplinary learning, and securing adequate funding for systems-level research, we can create a strong foundation for future generations of physiologists.
To watch the full webinar, click here.
ADInstruments is dedicated to helping educators modernise physiology education with solutions that engage students with real data, inside and outside the lab.
