Five basic science departments that occupy eight floors in Botterell Hall have been amalgamated into a single Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences (DBMS).

“This amalgamation should make us more flexible and able to respond to external demands,” says Michael Adams, interim head of the DBMS. “People are banding together to build a responsive, collaborative department—we have lots of cool minds doing exciting things.”

Merging the departments of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Physiology encourages a better use of resources and helps to create stronger research groups. More communication between the merged departments will help develop strong working relationships and shared research goals.

The new DBMS centralizes the extended resources of its 60 researchers and creates stronger core services.

The challenge has been to move the amalgamation forward while minimizing the impact on the department’s research profile and teaching commitments. A workable academic structure that will ensure the continued deliverance of high quality, competitive research and teaching is currently in development.