Subject, Scope and Student view point of MD Biophysics at AIIMS, New Delhi

Biophysics has no defined boundaries and its applications have been far-reaching with clinical proteomics in basic research to nuclear medicine in patient care. Currently, much of the research in biophysics is undertaken by scientists who are either physicists, chemists or biologists by training. Given this unique nature and wide array of applications in medicine it is important to integrate this subject for a holistic formulation of the medical curriculum as well as to train medical biophysicists.
Many preclinical subjects deal with phenomenon within the human body which are fairly constant. In contrast, biophysics deals with physical principles governing the functions of body molecules and organelles as well as the instrumentation required to study the same. Rapid advances in technology during the past couple of decades have made biophysics more dynamic and have revolutionized the subject. This interface of medicine and engineering holds the key to unravelling some of the physiological and pathological phenomenon which will lead to new therapeutics and diagnostics.
It would also help the student to comprehend subjects such as structural biology, nanotechnology, clinical proteomics and drug designing, which are at the forefront of biophysical research in medicine. The prospects of patient care and medical research benefiting by the study of biophysics should not be overlooked. Interestingly, Dr G. N. Ramachandran, a mathematician and physicist sought ways to understand the structural features of collagen to unravel the pathogenesis of certain diseases. As an acronym, BIOPHYSICS stands for ‘Biological Integration Of Physics in Health Yielding to Significant Increase in Comprehension of medical Sciences’.

Reference:
THE NATIONAL MEDICAL JOURNAL OF INDIA VOL. 22, NO. 5, 2009