Health & biomedicine

Researchers in the medical and health sciences lab

Research in health and biomedicine

Our research teams in health and biomedical sciences specialise in medical physiology, pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences, nursing, and metabolism and inflammation in health and disease.

Our nursing research recently received a rating of 5, or ‘well above world standard’ from the Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) initiative. In addition, our research in medical physiology was ranked 'above world standard' and our nursing research at ‘world standard.’

Research programs

Our research program includes studies in several key areas, including:

  • medical physiology
  • pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences
  • nursing
  • exercise and muscle metabolism
  • obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular health
  • immunology and cancer
  • complementary medicine
  • musculoskeletal health
  • infection and disease
  • mental health and substance misuse
  • pregnancy
  • acute and chronic illness in community and hospital care
  • health informatics
  • health sciences management

Our multidisciplinary approach incorporates expertise from the following institutes, centres and colleges:

Research partnerships

Multidisciplinary research on health and biomedical sciences is undertaken in partnership with government, industry, not-for-profit organisations and other universities in Australia and overseas. Our research partnerships include collaborations with:

  • Western Health
  • Australian Sports Commission
  • Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre
  • University of Texas (El Paso)
  • University of Malaya (Malaysia)

Honours & postgraduate research

Our guide to honours and postgraduate projects provides a wealth of information to those interested in finding out more about honours and postgraduate studies. It highlights the research projects available within the College of Health & Biomedicine.

Honours is a single year of study, in which you will be part of a research team and have your own research project. You will gain skills to put you ahead of other graduates in your area, and increase your employability.

Postgraduate research degrees require a high level of self-motivation and independence of thought and action. During the course of the degree, you will experience a shift from dependent to independent researcher. The Graduate Research Centre provides information about your future graduate research studies at VU.

Honours & postgraduate project enquiries

For honours studies, please contact Associate Professor Alan Hayes at alan.hayes@vu.edu.aub prior to contacting supervisors. 

For postgraduate studies, please contact the Graduate Research Centre at apply.research@vu.edu.au to check your eligibility prior to contacting supervisors.

Contact us

For more information about research undertaken by the College of Health & Biomedicine, please contact:

Associate Professor John Price, Director, Research & Research Training

Phone: +61 3 9919 2046

Email: john.price@vu.edu.au