MCG researchers secure $5.7 million in new NIH grants
The grants are aimed at helping scientists better understand the mechanisms of two cardiovascular complications associated with HIV.
As part of the Vascular Biology PhD program, you’ll be guided by an international team of established, well-funded investigators. You will be trained using state-of-the-art equipment and novel techniques to better understand the mechanisms of disease and the development of new treatments.
Vascular biology students study the function of the cardiovascular system in health and disease, with research ranging from heart failure and kidney disease to acute lung injury and sickle cell disease.
By choosing to earn your doctorate in Vascular Biology from the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, you’ll be joining the only program in the nation to have a formal center dedicated to vascular biology research.
Vascular Biology is for you if you consider yourself
Learning
like no
other.
Want to learn more about the Vascular Biology program at Augusta University?
Request InfoWhat You'll Study
The multidisciplinary core curriculum provides a broad-based foundation of knowledge and cultivates critical thinking skills. Additional opportunities and upper-level courses build professional, educational, and leadership skills.
Students complete three-semesters of core courses that integrate basic science principles at all levels. The courses include a combination of lectures and interactive seminars that focus on contemporary research topics by reference to the biomedical research literature.
Curriculum | Admissions Criteria | Tuition and Fees | Application Deadlines
EXPLORE. EXCEL. EXPAND.
Augusta University's graduate programs are among the best in the nation – and the world – and our graduate students are our most valuable assets. To ensure that our students earn more than a degree, the Graduate School offers a range of opportunities so they can develop the leadership, communication and personal skills needed for a rewarding life and academic, research or professional career.
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About the Graduate SchoolExperience-based Education
Access to the world-class research technology available at Augusta University, including the Core Labs and shared research services, gives students the chance to make significant contributions to discovery and scholarship.
The Vascular Biology Research Seminar Series invites world-class researchers from across campus and across the nation to discuss the latest advancements in vascular research.
Augusta University is the primary healthcare-focused public research university in Georgia, and the program’s location on the Health Sciences Campus puts students at the heart of the university’s research enterprise.
The program has enjoyed 10 American Heart Association Fellowships and two NIH Predoctoral Fellowships in the last five years.
The Vascular Biology program at Augusta University is the only program in the nation to have a formal center dedicated to vascular biology research.
Students may qualify for financial support, including the NIH Predoctoral Training Grant in Integrative Cardiovascular Biology administered through the VBC and an American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship.
Internationally recognized faculty in cardiovascular and neuronal physiology conduct groundbreaking research in a collaborative and supportive research environment.
Your Future
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth for medical scientists is projected to rise much faster than average through 2031. In 2021, the median pay for a medical scientist was $95,310 per year.
Graduates of the program have gone on to careers at top level research institutions, the pharmaceutical industry, NASA and dental and medical schools.
Profiles
The Vascular Biology Center has an excellent history of graduate students obtaining funding through predoctoral fellowships. It is highly collaborative and offers many unique opportunities to effectively prepare you for postdoctoral success.
Candee Barris
The Vascular Biology Center is fantastic with hosting events and celebrations to bring students and faculty closer. I was initially intimidated by many of my peers; however, this quickly changed with the incredibly welcoming and supportive environment the faculty work hard to foster.
Jaser Doja
GPA: Overall GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale at the Baccalaureate level calculated on all undergraduate work.
Degree Requirement: Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university.
Transcripts: Official transcripts are required from all universities and colleges ever attended. Unofficial transcripts from US colleges and universities can be used in the admissions review process in lieu of official transcripts for this program.
Standardized Test Requirements: None are required for this program.
Letters of Recommendation: Recommendations from three individuals must be submitted through the application portal.
Resume: Applicants must submit a resume or curriculum vitae within the application portal.
Research Experience: Research experience is required for admission. Within the application, you will be prompted to provide both personal and research statements. Please consult the application for the full statement prompts.
International Students: Please review the verification process for international transcripts and the english proficiency requirement.
$4,801*
Estimated total
Full-time / In-State / Per Semester
$401
Tuition Per Hour
$675
Mandatory Fees
View Detailed Program Tuition
*Tuition & Fees listed here are for in-state students enrolling in the university for Fall 2024 semester.
Detailed Program Tuition Information
Early submission of all application materials is strongly advised.
All required application materials and documents must be received in order for an application to be considered complete and before an admission decision can be made. The program does not accept applications after the published application deadline, however the program will continue to accept application materials up to 2 weeks after the application deadline.
Learning Like No Other
Students will build leadership skills by regularly presenting their research data at national and international conferences.
Studying on Augusta University’s Health Sciences Campus puts students in the center of its biomedical research enterprise, with access to the Georgia Cancer Center, the Medical College of Georgia and the state’s only public academic medical center.
As a part of the Vascular Biology Center, you have access to the latest technologies and the support of established, well-funded investigators.
The grants are aimed at helping scientists better understand the mechanisms of two cardiovascular complications associated with HIV.
“This year we finally found something that was both an interesting image and an interesting research subject," says Bruno Cisterna, PhD.
“It shows that our work is competitive nationally and demonstrates our commitment to training the next generation of scientists," says Eric Belin de Chantemèle, PhD.
The program supports investigators at each career stage who propose innovative research that, due to its inherent risk, may struggle in the traditional NIH peer-review process.