It is with great sadness that we inform you that our friend and colleague, Ira S. Cohen, MD, PhD, and a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics, passed away suddenly at his home on Saturday, June 15.

After receiving his MD and PhD in Physiology & Biophysics with Dr. William van der Kloot from New York University, Ira conducted postdoctoral research on the electrophysiology of the heart in the laboratory of Dennis Noble at Oxford University. Ira began his career at Stony Brook University 48 years ago, embarking on a path that led to seminal contributions to our understanding of pacemakers and ion channels in the heart. In 2016, Nature Biotechnology recognized him as one of the top 20 translational scientists in the world, and he was inducted into the National Academy of Inventors a year later. Ira continuously embraced new technologies and employed them in creative ways to solve important biomedical questions.

Some of the many highlights of Ira's groundbreaking research include: pivotal contributions to our understanding of the major repolarizing current in the heart, IKs; identification of the KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 potassium channel subunits as molecular correlates of the M-Channel; pioneering the design of cell-based vectors that can be implanted in the heart to serve as biological pacemakers; mechanistic understanding of ion channel diseases, including drug-induced Long QT Syndrome; and using mesenchymal stem cells as a delivery system for siRNAs to demonstrate for the first time that small oligonucleotides could pass through gap junction channels.

What set Ira apart from other basic scientists who have also made significant contributions to understanding cardiovascular disease was his remarkable ability to effectively translate mechanistic observations from basic studies to therapeutic applications. In addition to being an exceptionally talented scientist, Ira was a wonderful human being who positively impacted the lives of all who knew him. He will be greatly missed, and our thoughts are with Ira’s family and loved ones during this difficult time.

Welcome

The Department of Physiology and Biophysics, in the Health Sciences Center, offers a program of study leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy as well as a program of study offering a Master's Degree in Physiology and Biophysics. The department's principal areas of teaching and research specialization are:

1. hormonal regulation of cell function and metabolism, with special emphasis on intercellular and intracellular signaling mechanisms;
2. biophysical studies of membranes; and
3. cellular physiology and electrophysiology. Studies are conducted at the molecular, subcellular, cellular, organ, and intact animal levels.

Faculty members collaborate in both teaching and research with scientists in the Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Physics, Pharmacology, and Neurobiology departments, and students are encouraged to do likewise. In addition to advanced courses in biophysics and physical chemistry of biomembranes, and physiology and pharmacology of excitable membranes, the program involves tutorials, seminars, and independent research. During their first two years students generally rotate through three laboratories to gain research experience. After successful completion of the preliminary examinations, students choose their own independent area of research under the supervision of the faculty. The requirements are flexible and can be adapted to the individual's preference and needs. Close tutorial contact between the individual student and the faculty is regarded as the most important feature of the educational program. Additional information about department requirements and programs can be obtained by writing to the Graduate Program Administrator.