Biomedical Science FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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. The Reimagining Graduate Education Working Group is developing a proposal for graduate programs within the FoMD, including program administration, and will be shared for input as planning progresses.

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 proposal has been informed by extensive consultation, including working groups, surveys, focus groups, town halls and external review and individual department meetings.

The proposal will be brought to Faculty Council in Sept 2026, and engagement will continue throughout the fall as the Faculty gathers feedback, refines implementation plans and shares updates with our community.