Biophysics

Biophysics courses have been offered at our university since 1945, initially under the name of Medical Physics, then, starting from 1960, as Biophysics. Over the years, Biophysics lectures have been delivered by the following instructors: Assoc. Prof. Ernest Schorscher – the founder (1945–1963), Prof. dr. doc. Ion Cotăescu (1963–1966), Lecturer Radu Silveanu (1966–1967), Lecturer Floare Rottenberg (1967–1990), Prof. Iosif Nagy (1974–2005), Prof. Zeno Simon (1977–1998), Prof. Gheorghe-Ioan Mihalaş (1983–2003), Prof. Adrian Neagu (1998–present), Assoc. Prof. Monica Neagu (1992–present), Lecturer Oana Munteanu (1999–present) and Lecturer Iuliana Creţescu (2014–present).

The Biophysics Discipline administers two teaching laboratories, one research laboratory (The „Iosif Nagy” Laboratory of Body Composition Assessment), three office rooms, and one reactive preparation room.

The Medical Biophysics course aims to clarify physics concepts needed to understand physicochemical processes from the human body, as well as the working principles of certain medical instruments.

The lectures aim to explain physical mechanisms involved in the function of the human body, hence facilitating the understanding of physiology, pathophysiology, and certain clinical disciplines. It also aims to present the physical principles of a number of medical techniques employed in diagnostics and therapy.The lectures are presented interactively, using PowerPoint slides, which offer an up-to-date visual support, being based on textbooks of international circulation and on recent articles published in prestigious scientific journals. New notions are introduced by case studies analyzed by also engaging the students. Numerical examples are worked out by the instructor, or a voluntary student, on a whiteboard. The lectures, printed in PDF format, are posted in advance on the Moodle platform of the e-learning center of our university (moodle.umft.ro). For in-depth understanding, a printed textbook is available, and weekly office hours are being offered by the instructors. The Medical Biophysics examination consists in multiple choice questions that evaluate the level of understanding of the basic concepts presented at lectures and the students’ abilities to apply these concepts in a practical context. The examination and the grading scheme are in accord with the methodology of examination adopted by the senate of the Victor Babeş University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timişoara. The examination subjects are randomly picked by students from a pool of questions.

Laboratory works aim to consolidate the theoretical concepts presented at lectures, to build practical skills needed to measure precisely using the laboratory equipment, to analyze experimental results using the theory of measurement errors, and to represent them graphically. During laboratory works, students are grouped in small teams of 2-4 students. The laboratory activity includes three introductory classes, eight laboratory works performed by the teams, two frontal laboratory works done by the whole group of students, one problem solving session meant to apply the theoretical concepts discussed during the lectures, and a rehearsal. Information on the laboratory activity and final test is found also in the laboratory manual. The practical examination is composed of a test of practical skills, which verifies the student’s abilities to operate the laboratory apparatus and interpret the obtained data, as well as a written test of multiple choice questions, which verifies the theoretical knowledge related to the laboratory works.

Our current staff is involved in teaching activities as follows: Prof. Adrian Neagu: Biophysics (Dental Medicine Romanian and English sections), Medical Biophysics (General Medicine English section), Biophysics and Methods of Body Composition Assessment (Nutrition and Dietetics) and Biophysics (Balneophysiokinetotherapy and Rehabilitation), Assoc. Prof. Monica Neagu: Medical Biophysics (General Medicine Romanian section), Lecturer Oana Munteanu: Biophysics (General Medicine Assistance and Dental Technician programs), Lecturer Iuliana Creţescu: Biophysics (General Medicine Assistance), Assist. Prof. Raluca Horhat: Medical Biophysics (General Medicine French section) and Assist. Prof. Vasile Pupӑzan-Schileru: Biophysics (Dental Medicine Assistance and Prophylaxis).

            The scientific research interests of the Biophysics Discipline’s staff are focused on the following domains:

• Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting;
• Computational methods applied in tissue engineering;
• Body composition assessment via anthropometric and physical methods (3D digital anthropometry, ultrasonography, densitometry, and bioelectrical impedance analysis);
• The influence of low intensity microwaves on living organisms;
• The influence of the aqueous medium on protein structure and activity.