Chair’s Welcome and Departmental Vision Statement
I am delighted to have this opportunity to work with an outstanding group of faculty, as we make new discoveries at the frontiers of cell biology, developmental biology and neurobiology. We conduct basic biomedical and translational research with an emphasis on the study of diverse aspects of cellular dynamics in health, disease and therapeutic intervention using modern methods in microscopy and imaging. Our research employs multidisciplinary approaches with genetically tractable animal models and human patient cells. We are committed to provide an exemplary level of research training, teaching and mentorship of future scientists and physicians. We continue to establish new partnerships and collaborations across several academic and clinical departments within Emory University, the School of Medicine and several research centers. I look forward to supporting the research and teaching mission of our faculty, and our vision to have a transformative impact on understanding basic science to advance human health.
News Highlights
New Faculty Member
We are pleased to welcome Sulagna Das, PhD, who will join us in January 2024 as an Assistant Professor of Cell Biology and Human Genetics. Dr. Das was previously a Research Assistant Professor in Cell Biology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY. Her new lab, located on 4th floor WBRB, will investigate the dynamics and regulation of RNAs in neuronal health and diseases using high-resolution imaging technologies.
Kun Lin Memorial Lecture 2024
Speaker: Josh Huang, Ph.D.
Duke School of Medicine Distinguished Professor in Neuroscience
Professor of Neurobiology, Biomedical Engineering, and Cell Biology, Duke University
Talk Title: "Genetic dissection of cortical neuron type trajectories: from developmental origin to behavioral function"
Faculty co-hosts:
Gary Bassell, PhD and Jie Jiang, PhD
*Student lunch will be hosted by the Department of Cell Biology (1-2:30pm) at Whitehead #400. RSVP by 3/15/2024 to Deirdre Russell
New Publication
Francisco Alvarez, PhD, Professor in Cell Biology, published a paper, “Modulation of central synapse remodeling after remote peripheral injuries by the CCL2-CCR2 axis and microglia,” in Cell Reports,
Travis Rotterman, PhD, Predoctoral grad student of Emory’s Neuroscience program and now Postdoctoral Researcher at the Georgia Institute of Technology, is first author.
The manuscript is co-authored by current students Zoë Haley-Johnson, Tana Pottorf, William McCallum and Shannon Zhang among others.
This research shows that peripheral nerve injury severity modulates microglia activation in the ventral horn of the spinal cord, which transforms spinal networks controlling motor function. Specifically, CCL2-expressing microglia are induced after more severe injuries, causing permanent removal of synapses carrying proprioceptive information necessary for fine movement coordination.
News Highlight
Dr. Timothy Sampson, Assistant Professor in Cell Biology, was highlighted in Knowable Magazine (January 2024) for his research that links gut bacteria to Parkinson’s Disease. The story discusses how growing evidence suggests a link between the debilitating neurological illness and the microbes that live in our intestines.
New Award
Congratulations to Dr. Devesh Pant, Instructor in Cell Biology, for receiving the Live Like Lou’s 2023 Career Development Award. This career development grant aims to bolster the careers of emerging scientists, facilitating the advancement of innovative ideas toward securing substantial funding for the critical study of Lou Gehrig’s disease or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
New Society Election
Dr. Gary Bassell, Charles Howard Candler Professor of Cell Biology and Department Chair, was elected president of the Association of Anatomy, Cell Biology, and Neurobiology Chairs (AACBNC).
The Association of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Neurobiology Chairpersons (AACBNC) is an organization of chairs, interim chairs, or permanent substitutes appointed by the Chair of departments of anatomy, cell biology and neurobiology, or equivalent organizational units, in schools of medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and osteopathic medicine or in universities granting Ph.D. degrees in these disciplines in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada shall be eligible for membership.