Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist Sue Bodine, Ph.D., has begun a one-year term as president of the American Physiology Society.
She was elected earlier and was installed as the society’s 99th president April 26 at its annual conference in Minneapolis. With nearly 10,000 members, the APS is the world’s largest association of physiologists.
“Physiology is the foundational study of how the body works,” Bodine said. “In essence, it is the bedrock of medicine, because it shows us how all of the body’s parts function and interact. Physiology helps us understand everything from how diseases occur to how athletes can improve performance and prevent injuries.”
Formed in 1887, the APS publishes 16 scientific journals. It serves as a hub for researchers of numerous disciplines, and it advocates for government policies and funding for scientific research.
That latter aspect is what most excites Bodine about her new leadership role. She recently participated in a congressional briefing about the importance of physiology research, which is funded primarily through grants from the National Institutes of Health.
“We recently launched a campaign called ‘The Science Life Depends On’ to highlight physiology as the foundation of health and medical advancement,” Bodine said. “The goal is to raise awareness among the public and policymakers.”
Bodine is a neuromuscular physiologist who studies how muscles respond to positive and negative factors like exercise or the lack thereof. Her lab looks for methods to slow muscle loss to help people maintain strength and independence as they age.
She is among several OMRF scientists tasked in recent years with leading national scientific research groups. For example, Holly Van Remmen, Ph.D., and Benjamin Miller, Ph.D., were elected president of the American Aging Association in 2022 and 2024, respectively, and Vice President of Research Courtney Griffin, Ph.D., was elected president of the North American Vascular Biology Organization in 2021.
“Dr. Bodine’s election to this important position reflects her outstanding reputation within the national physiology community,” Griffin said. “This is an exciting opportunity to showcase the exceptional scientific talent and leadership we have at OMRF.”
