Mission Statement
Our mission is to advance fundamental research at the molecular, cellular and organismal level, while also providing the critical basic science teaching and mentorship that is essential to the development of outstanding physicians and scientists.
Research Overview
Cells are the fundamental unit of life. The function of individual proteins and discrete cellular processes must be integrated at the level of the cell, and disease mechanisms are manifested at the level of the cell. Thus, the Department of Cell Biology is positioned as a hub to connect research across scales of biological complexity and between basic and translational research efforts at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
In 2012 the Department will move into new space on North Campus providing an opportunity to expand in areas that position us for new discoveries and for the integration of existing knowledge at the cellular level. Understanding the complexity of cellular processes and their inter-relationships will require interdisciplinary, collaborative research both within the department and across campus. Our efforts are supported by cutting-edge instrumentation and expertise in light and electron microscopy.
Over the next few years we will expand into new areas that create and leverage opportunities for synergy. The internationally recognized research efforts of our current faculty in the following areas provide a strong foundation for growth:
- Apoptosis
- Cancer cell biology
- Cytoskeleton and motility
- Cell-matrix and cell-cell interactions
- Cellular signaling networks
- Cilia assembly and function
- Host-viral interactions
- Organelle dynamics and membrane trafficking
- Nucleo-cytoplasmic transport
- Telomere function and aging