Biomedical Science FAQs

A new Department of Biomedical Sciences would strengthen and support long-term excellence in biomedical sciences education and research for the future.

The proposal is based on extensive consultation, including an internal working group, as well as an external review. Feedback from consultation is incorporated throughout the process. This proposal was developed in response to projected changes in faculty numbers, growing student demand and opportunities to advance innovative educational programs and world-leading research. It is intended to create a strong departmental foundation that supports long-term excellence while positioning the Faculty to take advantage of future growth opportunities.

The proposed department would bring together biomedical scientists within a single academic unit, creating new opportunities to strengthen education, research and collaboration.

Potential benefits include:

• A sustainable core of biomedical scientists to support education and research
• Biomedical scientists in clinical departments, where relevant and through adjunct appointments, would enable collaborations and contributions in education and research
• Enhanced opportunities for collaboration, mentorship and interdisciplinary discovery
• Strategic recruitment and faculty development opportunities
• Greater flexibility to develop innovative educational programs and respond to emerging opportunities

The proposed Department of Biomedical Sciences would bring together the Faculty's five biomedical science departments:

• Biochemistry
• Cell Biology
• Medical Microbiology and Immunology
• Pharmacology
• Physiology

The proposed discipline model, or some similar structure, is intended to bring together faculty members with shared expertise, research interests and educational activities while maintaining the flexibility to evolve over time.

Disciplines are not a formal structure in the University and therefore can be developed and refined by the department as research priorities, educational needs and faculty expertise evolve. This approach preserves academic identity while supporting collaboration and allowing the department to adapt to future opportunities.

The proposed structure would bring the five existing biomedical science departments together within one Department of Biomedical Sciences.

Academic authority, budget allocation and recruitment strategy would consolidate at the department level. The proposed model would also provide access to a wider complement of support staff and create greater flexibility to coordinate resources across the department.

Specific governance, leadership, administrative and operational structures are still being developed and would be refined through the implementation process.

The academic identity of Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Pharmacology and Physiology would be maintained within the proposed department.

Existing undergraduate degree programs would not change, and no changes are proposed to existing physical laboratory spaces or offices. No job losses are planned as a result of implementation.

Research excellence and growth are central considerations in the proposal.

The new structure with a unified Department of Biomedical Sciences is intended to strengthen connections between researchers, support collaboration across disciplines, enhance mentorship opportunities and align more closely with the Faculty's research institutes. It will also strengthen ties between biomedical and clinical departments through adjunct appointments of biomedical scientists from clinical departments. The proposal also emphasizes opportunities for strategic faculty recruitment and future growth in biomedical research.

The Department of Biomedical Sciences would oversee biomedical undergraduate programming and coordinate teaching responsibilities across the department. The existing undergraduate courses contributing to the BSc (Faculty of Science) would not change. Additional opportunities for growing existing courses and developing new courses will be explored.

Biomedical scientists in clinical departments, where relevant, will be engaged through adjunct appointments in the Department of Biomedical Sciences.

The goal is to strengthen connections between biomedical and clinical faculty while creating additional opportunities for collaboration in undergraduate teaching, graduate education and research.

No changes to existing laboratories or offices are proposed.

The biomedical science review identified opportunities to create common spaces that bring together researchers with shared interests and encourage collaboration, while maintaining existing research environments.

Graduate education remains a key priority within the proposed structure. Program delivery and graduate supervision will continue as usual through the transition.

The University of Alberta is planning for significant enrollment growth over the coming years. The proposal seeks to position biomedical sciences to respond proactively to that growth while maintaining educational quality and supporting research excellence.

The Department of Biomedical Sciences would support workforce planning, strategic recruitment and new educational programming to meet future enrolment demands. These efforts are intended to support the department's teaching and research mission while helping the Faculty plan for the impact of enrollment growth on teaching capacity.

The proposed structure creates opportunities to strengthen existing programs while exploring new educational offerings.

Potential future opportunities include new undergraduate pathways, micro-credentials, course-based master's programs and other innovative learning experiences that respond to student interests and workforce needs.

The proposed structure is intended to create a more resilient administrative and resource model by providing greater team coverage, cross-training and flexibility across the department.

Critical supports will continue through the transition. Specific administrative structures and how support will be organized within the proposed department are still being developed and will be part of implementation planning.

No job losses are planned as a result of implementation.

The proposed structure would change how some administrative and operational supports are organized. Specific details are still being developed and will be addressed through the implementation planning process.

A number of operational elements are still being developed, including the specific leadership and governance structure, committee structures, administrative support model, resource allocation principles and discipline model.

These details will be developed through implementation planning and continued engagement with faculty and staff.

The proposal is proceeding through the University's established governance process.

Faculty Council discussed the proposal on September 15, 2026. Faculty Council does not have decision-making or approval authority for department structures, so no Faculty Council vote was required.

The proposal will proceed through General Faculties Council and Board of Governors governance, with the current timeline including:

• October 5, 2026: General Faculties Council — discussion
• October 9, 2026: Board Learning, Research and Student Experience Committee — discussion
• November 16, 2026: General Faculties Council — recommendation to the Board of Governors
• November 27, 2026: Board Learning, Research and Student Experience Committee — recommendation to the Board of Governors
• December 11, 2026: Board of Governors — approval

The governance timeline will be updated if dates or stages change.

Implementation would be phased, with changes introduced over time rather than all at once.

The current approach begins with governance and design, including defining leadership structures, establishing working groups and planning administrative support transitions. This would be followed by a transition period to develop and pilot governance and operational processes before the new department becomes fully operational.

The model would continue to be reviewed and adjusted as implementation progresses.

Engagement will continue as the proposal progresses through governance and, if approved, into implementation.

Faculty and staff can raise questions and provide feedback through their Department Chairs and academic department managers. Additional opportunities for engagement will be shared as planning progresses, and the Biomedical Sciences webpage and FAQs will be updated as new information becomes available.