Welcome to the Department of Cell Biology and Physiology
| Cell Biology stands as one of the
most important disciplines in medical research, influencing
all areas of basic and clinical investigation in the
biological and biomedical sciences. Having extensive
inventories of the genes and proteins from which cells
are built, along with a plethora of new and imaginative
experimental techniques, the next decade holds immense
opportunity for biomedical research at the cellular
and molecular level. The prominence and importance
of cell biology research will continue to increase
with the completion of additional hominoid genomes,
the advances in stem cell biology and the provocative
use of model organisms. The next horizon will include
understanding how proteins and sets of proteins (e.g.,
macromolecular complexes) are assembled and integrated
to produce function. This will usher in a major growth
period for cell and developmental biology research,
resulting in a bonanza in therapeutics. Cell Biology
and Physiology are experimentally linked. Together
they form a kind of intellectual “syncytium” with
boundaries that are both porous and overlapping. Animal
models and new technologies including functional genomics,
high-throughput technology and imaging science have
broadened and strengthened cell biology and physiology.
Physiology serves as the platform where the discoveries
of cell biology research are integrated and quantified
to the greater understanding of the organism and its
regulation.
The research interests of our faculty encompass a broad range of subjects within cell biology and physiology. The focus is on fundamental research in signal transduction, motility and the assembly and disassembly of macromolecular complexes that form the basis for cell cycle control, dynamic cell motility, angiogenesis, membrane trafficking, prions and the structure and function of ion channels. Our faculty use model organisms as well as human stem cells and a variety of techniques such as deep etch electron and confocal microscopy to carry out their research. Cellular imaging is a particular strength of the department*. For more specific information about the research interests of our faculty follow the “Faculty” link. *Our microscopy facilities offer access to microscopes and/or microscopy services to the entire research community. Please see our resources link for more information. |
