Department of Human and Animal Physiology

History

The Department of Human and Animal Physiology is one of the oldest departments of Kharkiv University. It was originally established as a laboratory within the Natural Science Division of the School of Mechanics and Mathematics, and became an independent department in 1921. The founders of this scientific field at the University were Professor Mykola F. Bilousov, an outstanding physiologist and histologist, and Volodymyr Ya. Danilevskyi, a physiologist, Academician of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Honored Scientist of Ukraine, and Distinguished Professor of Kharkiv University (a street in Kharkiv bears his name).

The first head of the department was M. F. Bilousov. From its early years, the department began developing into one of Ukraine’s leading scientific centers in the field of developmental physiology. From 1929 to 1953, it was headed by physiologist and gerontologist O. V. Nahornyi, Corresponding Member of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Doctor of Biological Sciences, and Honored Scientist of Ukraine. For more than 35 years (1953–1989), the department was led by Academician V. M. Nikitin, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor, Honored Scientist of Ukraine, Laureate of the State Prize of Ukraine and the O. O. Bohomolets Prize of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Together with O. V. Nahornyi, he founded the Kharkiv Scientific School of Developmental Physiology.

In 1989–1990, the department was headed by A. I. Novikova, a student of V. M. Nikitin. Since 1990, the department has been led by Professor V. A. Bondarenko, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Laureate of the A. V. Palladin Prize of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, and Soros Professor.

For Applicants

The department offers Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Biology (educational program “Human and Animal Physiology”) in both full-time and part-time study formats.
Research bases for diploma projects in Kharkiv include:

the Institute for Problems of Cryobiology and Cryomedicine of the NAS of Ukraine,
the Institute for Endocrine Pathology Problems of the Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine,
the Research Institute of Biology of Karazin University.

The best students, selected through competition, receive DAAD scholarships (Leonhard Euler Program) and complete their qualification research at universities in Germany.

Over its more than 85-year history, the department has trained a significant number of specialists who work in research institutions and medical establishments across Ukraine and many other countries — including Germany, Sweden, the USA, and Hungary. The most talented graduates have the opportunity to continue their studies in postgraduate programs. Both full-time and part-time PhD programs are available at the department.

Research

Since 1990, the department has focused on studying cell sensitivity mechanisms to external factors, particularly during ontogenesis. Simultaneously, the mechanisms of cell response to temperature and osmotic influences are being explored — research that is crucial for developing new methods of low-temperature preservation of biological objects.

The main research areas of the Department of Human and Animal Physiology include:

developmental physiology and gerontology,
cellular physiology,
immunophysiology,
psychophysiology,
development of modern educational technologies using computer modeling of physiological experiments.

Over the past five years, the department has published 68 scientific articles and 95 conference abstracts.

Department staff actively participate in the congresses of the Ukrainian Physiological, Biochemical, and Gerontological Societies, as well as in the International Symposium “Biological Mechanisms of Aging.” Graduate students and students regularly present their work at young scientists’ conferences.

During the last five years, 18 PhD theses have been defended (including five by foreign citizens). Currently, six postgraduate students are studying and conducting research at the department.

Educational Process

The department provides instruction in general and specialized courses, including:

For Biology students:

Human and Animal Physiology
Biophysics
Immunology
Physiology of School Age

For students of other faculties:

Normal Physiology and Pathological Physiology — Faculty of Fundamental Medicine
Human and Animal Physiology — Schools of Radiophysics (Biomedical specialization) and Physics (Biophysics specialization)
Physiology of the Central Nervous System — School of Psychology
Physiology of a Healthy Lifestyle, Body Defense Systems, Valeology of Stress and Adaptation — School of Philosophy

Specialized courses for Bachelor’s students (4th year):

Hematology
Electrophysiology
Endocrinology
Mechanisms of Homeostasis
Standardization of Experimental Conditions
Physiology of Vitamins
Physiology of Water-Salt Metabolism
Physiology of the Cardiorespiratory System
Physiology of Neurotransmitters
Physiology of the Central Nervous System

Practical training courses:

Methods for Studying Protein, Carbohydrate, and Nucleic Acid Metabolism
Basics of Animal Surgery
Methods of Cellular Physiology
Methods for Studying Lipid Metabolism

Specialized courses for Master’s students in Physiology:

Evolutionary Physiology
Immunophysiology
Pathological Anatomy and Physiology
Physiology of Higher Nervous Activity
Physiology of Ontogenesis
Physiological Mechanisms of Adaptation
Physiological and Biochemical Bases of Rational Nutrition
Physiological Foundations of Ergonomics
Functional Neurochemistry
Methodology of Teaching Physiology in Higher Education
Fundamentals of Scientific Research and Principles of Integrative Physiology
Occupational Safety in the Field

Specialized practicals:

Functional Diagnostics and Modeling of Physiological States
Methods for Studying Psychophysiological States

Over the past three years, the department’s staff have published nine textbooks and five teaching and methodological complexes.