What is Medical Biophysics?
Medical Biophysics (MBP) is an interdisciplinary graduate department in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto.
The Department formed out of the Ontario Cancer Institute (OCI), which was originally composed of two research divisions: one in physics to develop methods for delivering radiation treatments to patients and understand its interaction with tissue, and another in biology to study the biological basis of cancer. These two research divisions coming together formed the basis for our Department’s name: research into biology and physics to understand the molecular basis and treatment of cancer - ‘Medical Biophysics’.
Since our inception, MBP research has become increasingly interdisciplinary, cutting across the conventional boundaries of biology, physics, medicine, chemistry, engineering, computer science and mathematics. The department continues to address problems of medicine with a focus on the detection, prevention and treatment of cancer, but significant focus in cardiovascular disease and neuroscience are also offered.
Our scientists work primarily in Research Institutes including:
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
- Sunnybrook Research Institute
- Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute
- Rotman/Baycrest Research Institute
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute
- Ontario Institute for Cancer Research
- Techna Institute
The MSc program is a common entry point, but the emphasis is on the PhD program. Graduate studies in the department focuses on both basic and translational research, and our graduates hold leading positions in fields ranging from Academia, Pharma & Biotechnology to Government, Education and Professional practice (Medicine, Law and Business).
Comprehensive Research Themes include: Biomedical Imaging, Cancer Diagnosis & Therapy, Cancer Mechanisms & Models, Cardiovascular Sciences, Data Science & Computational Biology, Deep Learning and Artificial Intelligence, Image-Guided Therapy & Device Development, Neuroscience, Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine and Structural Biology.
Medical Biophysics in Numbers
220 graduate students
120 faculty members
$100 million per year in external funding
1,000 publications per year