Welcome to the Department of Cell Biology!		The Department has a full program of seminars and colloquia, a weekly In-House seminar series at which students and postdoctoral fellows present their recent research, and an Annual Retreat. There are extensive collaborations with members of other basic science and clinical Departments, the Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy (IGSP) and the schools of Biology and Bioengineering. The Department takes seriously its responsibility for medical and graduate education. Under the leadership of Drs. Chris NIcchitta, Tom McIntosh, and Mimi Jakoi, medical students learn basic cell and molecular biology, histology, microanatomy and physiology in the context of current and potential clinical applications. Faculty for the Department participate in many graduate courses listed under Biology, Cell Biology, Genetics and Biochemistry. Graduate students enter Cell Biology through other Departments and interdisciplinary programs, primarily Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB), Developmental Biology (DBP), and the University Program in Genetics and Genomics (UPGG). Students who elect to stay in Cell Biology after their research rotations join our graduate program under the directorship of Dr. Blanche Capel. The Duke University Postdoctoral Association (DUPA) provides information and advice for fellows at all stages of their careers. Duke Medical Center provides a superb environment for collaborations, in particular between basic scientists and clinicians. The Research Triangle area offers many opportunities for wider interactions, for example with scientists in the nearby University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the biotech industry, the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences and elsewhere. Finally, the Duke and UNC Chapel Hill campuses and surrounding areas offer a rich choice of artistic, cultural and recreational options.
Cell Biology is one of the eight basic science Departments of Duke Medical Center. The goal of the Department is to excel in basic biomedical research at the cellular, molecular, structural, and organismal level. Another major component of our mission is to prepare medical and graduate students for successful careers in clinical, academic and non-academic settings. Members of the Department are committed to working together to generate a supportive, enthusiastic and diverse environment that fosters innovative and creative ideas.	Cell Biology at Duke is engaged in a major expansion and we expect to add several new faculty over the next few years. The expansion also involves the renovation of laboratories and facilities. One of the achievements of the first phase of renovations was to establish an Imaging Center in the Nanaline Duke Building under the directorship of Dr. Tim Oliver. Among other things, this facility provides opportunities for time-lapse confocal imaging of live cells and embryos. Three faculty have their laboratories in the newly opened Genome Science Research Building II which contains state of the art animal facilities and experimental procedure rooms.