Message From the Chair

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Welcome to the Department of Cell Biology in the College of Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City!

The Department is committed to its core missions of research, education, and service. Faculty members in the Department of Cell Biology employ a wide range of model systems, including yeast, roundworms, green algae, zebrafish, mice, and human tissues, to investigate the fundamental mechanisms that govern cellular function. We are interested in elucidating how cell biological processes are interconnected and how signaling pathways are coordinated and regulated within the cell, providing deeper insights into complex biological systems and diseases. Key areas of focus in the Department span a broad spectrum of cell biology, including cellular signaling, ciliary biology, and neuroscience.

A major research strength of the department is cellular signaling, examining how cells sense and respond to their environment through receptors, ion channels, and signaling pathways. This work spans diverse biological systems and integrates advanced methodologies to uncover how signaling networks control development, maintain homeostasis, and contribute to disease when disrupted.

The department is also a national leader in ciliary biology, hosting one of the largest groups of cilia researchers in the United States. Primary cilia serve as key sensory and signaling hubs in nearly all human cells, regulating essential pathways such as Hedgehog, Wnt, and GPCR signaling. Research in this area has established strong links between ciliary dysfunction and numerous human diseases, including metabolic disorders, kidney disease, neurological conditions, and cancer.

Neuroscience research represents another core pillar, encompassing studies from molecular and cellular mechanisms to systems-level function across the lifespan. Faculty investigate topics such as synapse biology, neurodevelopmental disorders, vision, and aging using cutting-edge approaches including electrophysiology, high-resolution imaging, and behavioral analysis.

The department is deeply committed to training the next generation of scientists, supporting PhD students and postdoctoral fellows across more than 40 laboratories at OUHSC and OMRF. Trainees engage in interdisciplinary, cutting-edge biomedical research and develop essential skills in scientific communication, grant writing, and public engagement. Many of our students are supported by individual NIH F31 fellowships, American Heart Association awards, and institutional T32 training grants. Flexible training pathways prepare graduates for careers in academia, industry, and beyond.

Finally, Cell Biology is the home of the Oklahoma Center for Biomedical Research Excellence in Sensory Biology that supports two essential core facilities: the Super-Resolution Imaging Core (SRIC) and the Cellular and Genetic Engineering Core (CGEC). The SRIC provides a wide range of state-of-the-art optical imaging instrumentation and image processing software to acquire and refine high resolution images of subcellular structures in a variety of fixed and living cellular systems. It also employs personnel and leadership with extensive experience in high-resolution imaging.

The Cellular and Genetic Engineering Core (CGEC) provides molecular cloning and viral vector production services to laboratories across campus. The Core is also capable of creating customized cells capable of BioID, NanoBRET, and NanoBIT for protein interaction studies. Moreover, the CGEC can create knock-out and knock-in cell lines using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. In addition, it enables the development of complex biological systems, including organoids and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), allowing researchers to model disease in physiologically relevant contexts.

Together, the department's integrated strengths in research innovation, comprehensive training, and cutting-edge infrastructure position it at the forefront of modern biomedical science, driving discoveries that improve our understanding of health and disease.