Molecular & Integrative Physiology Research
man using pipette in the murphy lab

The Frontier of Physiology

Our department is home to nationally-recognized research programs in basic and translational aspects of physiology.

A United Front in Physiology Research

The U-M Medical School Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology is home to nationally-recognized research programs in basic and translational aspects of Physiology. Our department has a long tradition of research support from the federal government (including the National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, and the National Science Foundation), numerous foundations, and industry. Our faculty members play a very active role in directing the national research agenda related to the advancement in the science of physiology.

Our goals:

  • To conduct research that will improve the basic understanding how molecules, cells and organs integrate together in living organisms.
  • To determine how significant disorders such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, and infertility can be reversed or prevented.
  • To sustain an environment in which our faculty members can make high-impact contributions to their fields.
  • To recruit and train the next generation of investigators in physiology through programs for undergraduate, graduate student, medical student, and both basic and clinical post-doctoral scientists.
  • To extend national research service and leadership through activities with other educational institutions, professional organizations, and governmental groups.
Our Labs

See how we're advancing scientific knowledge of physiological processes, from molecular mechanisms to skeletal structures and beyond.

Explore our labs
Featured News & Stories See all news
News Release
NIH High-Risk, High-Reward program awards three U-M Medical School investigators
Three U-M investigators—Changyang Linghu, Longhua Guo and Sundeep Kalantry—have been acknowledged by the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) prestigious High-Risk, High-Reward Research program.
2024 hanseong science award winners
Department News
Jun Hee Lee received the 2024 Hanseong Science Award in Life Sciences
Congratulations to Jun Hee Lee for receiving the 2024 Hanseong Science Award in Life Sciences from the Hanseong Son Jae-Han Scholarship Foundation for his development of SeqScope. The award is essentially the mini-Nobel for Korean scientists with awards in Physics, Chemistry, and Life Sciences. The goal of the award and the foundation is to contribute to the growth of Korean science and hopefully help catalyze future Nobel prize winners from South Korea.
New Medical School Distinguished University Professors Roger D. Cone, Ph.D., and Mark A. Fessler, Ph.D.
Medical School News
Two faculty with Medical School ties named distinguished university professors
The Board of Regents approved the appointments July 18 for Professor of Molecular and Integrative Physiology Roger D. Cone, Ph.D., and Professor of Radiology and Biomedical Engineering Jeffrey A. Fessler, Ph.D., to one of U-M’s most prestigious honors: the Distinguished University Professorship (DUP).
rat in blue with yellow bright brain with blue abstract background
Health Lab
Diabetes and weight loss drugs could be enhanced, shows study in mice
A network of proteins found in the central nervous system could be harnessed to increase the effectiveness, and reduce the side effects, of diabetes and weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro, according to research from the University of Michigan Life Sciences Institute. 
Gary Zhang, far right
Department News
Gary Zhang received the annual Endowment for Basic Sciences 2024 Research Staff Award
On July 16, 2024, the EBS Chairs recognized Gary Zhang, from Lei Yin and Tony Tong lab, for the annual Endowment for Basic Sciences 2024 Research Staff Award.
Tim Houchin Award winners
Department News
Tim Houchin received the Endowment for Basic Sciences 2024 Teaching Award
On July 16, 2024, the EBS Chairs recognized Tim Houchin as the Endowment for Basic Sciences 2024 Teaching Award Recipient.