Life itself.*
For centuries, scientists have been exploring this very idea, limiting themselves to the scope of one discipline. As each new conclusion revealed more questions, scientists realized that the reductionist approach was becoming more and more limiting.

Today, researchers employ the systems approach to unravel their questions. Biologists, chemists, mathematicians, psychologists and a multitude of others are joining forces, liberating the confines of their traditional disciplines.

From these efforts, new perspectives, new theories of reason and new questions related to life and its complexities have surfaced, and scientific breakthroughs are occurring at a rapid rate in the field now known as life sciences.

But the challenge of life sciences research is not solely limited to progress in the laboratory. It has entered the public forum through the convergence of communication technology and media coverage. Now, more than ever, ethics compete with advances in research, fostering a new layer of scrutiny once restricted to the laboratory setting.

At Virginia Commonwealth University, we embrace this challenge. Our standing as a public, Carnegie doctoral/ research university-extensive institution positions us to be a national leader in the life sciences revolution. Drawing on the resources of our Monroe Park Campus and MCV Campus, VCU Life Sciences integrates the academic and clinical expertise of its faculty — broadening the scope of life sciences research conducted at VCU.

View the VCU Life Sciences video.

* Derived from "Life Itself," Robert Rosen, (1991) Columbia University Press.