Department of Cell Biology
The Graduate Program in the Department of Cell Biology emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach to biological research. The department supports strong, well-funded research programs with major emphasis in cancer biology, developmental biology, neurobiology, and reproductive biology. Research projects generally utilize a powerful combination of cellular, molecular, biochemical, ultrastructural, physiological, and/or genetic techniques. The department has excellent facilities for state-of-the-art biomedical research, including facilities for the production of transgenic mice, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and instrumentation for computer-aided morphometry. The laboratories for each of the thirty-six faculty members in the Department of Cell Biology offer stimulating opportunities in specific research problems, and an excellent air of cooperativeness and interaction between laboratories enhances the research environment.
Research interests in the department include:
- Growth factors and oncogenes in neoplasia
- Signal transduction
- Cell-cycle control
- Cell and tissue-specific control of gene expression
- Molecular control of embryonic development
- Fertilization and implantation
- Sexual differentiation
- Organization and development of the nervous system
- Molecular neurobiology of synaptogenesis
Didactic credits involve a minimal number of required courses, with the remaining credits derived from interdepartmental courses of particular interest to the student. Practical experience with grant writing is included as part of the training requirements. Weekly Journal Club and Research Club presentations by students, faculty, and post-doctoral fellows enhance departmental interactions. Emphasis is placed on high quality research training, and thesis research generally results in several publications in quality journals.
TRAINING GRANT
A training grant entitled "Multidisciplinary Basic Research Training in Cancer" is administered by the Department of Cell Biology. The training emphasis is on the cell and molecular biology of cancer, with particular strength in the areas of growth factor action and signal transduction, oncogene mechanism of action, and regulation of expression of specific genes related to cancer.
Medical School Graduate Studies Informatics
bmedprog@ctrvax.vanderbilt.edu