cellbio.emory.eduDepartment of Cell Biology - Emory University School of Medicine | Emory School of Medicine

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Bassell, PhD, Charles Howard Candler Professor of Cell Biology and Department Chair 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 Michael Deans, PhD, who will join us in January 2025 as an Associate Professor of Cell Biology. Dr. Deans was previously an Associate Professor in Otolaryngology at the University of Utah. His new lab, located on the 5th floor of WBRB, will investigate developmental mechanisms guiding planar cell polarity, cellular morphogenesis and innervation essential for auditory and vestibular function. New Faculty Member We are pleased to welcome Sulagna Das, PhD, who joined 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 4 th floor WBRB, will investigate the dynamics and regulation of RNAs in neuronal health and diseases using high-resolution imaging technologies. ​ Jiang Lab Congratulations to Jie Jiang, PhD, for his promotion to Associate Professor of Cell Biology effective September 1, 2024. Bassell Lab Ms. Betty Bekele, PhD candidate in the Bassell Lab and Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation (MDF) Research Fellow , was featured in MDF Research Fellow Feature , April 2024. Betty Bekele’s scientific journey began in Ethiopia, and her pursuit of a STEM career flourished when she received a full scholarship to Wesleyan University, graduating with a BS degree in Neuroscience. Inspired by research experiences at Wesleyan and as a post-bac at Yale, Betty is now doing thesis research in Gary Bassell’s lab as part of the Emory Graduate Neuroscience Program . Through her MDF fellowship Betty is investigating mechanisms of excess GABAergic inhibition in a new mouse model of DM1. Emanuel Lab Alan Emanuel, PhD, Assistant Professor of Cell Biology, received the Emory-Udall Parkinson’s Disease Center Pilot Grant titled, Tactile Processing in Mouse Models of Parkinson’s Disease”. The Emory Udall Center administers a pilot grant program to encourage Parkinson’s disease research at Emory which includes up to three grants annually for meritorious high-impact projects that generate preliminary data for larger grant applications. The Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory School of Medicine, The Jean and Paul Amos Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Program and Emory College provide financial support for this pilot program. Rowan Lab Matthew Rowan, PhD, Assistant Professor in Cell Biology, published a paper, Native-state proteomics of Parvalbumin interneurons identifies unique molecular signatures and vulnerabilities to early Alzheimer’s pathology ,” in Nature Communications, April 2024. Congratulations, Dr. Rowan! Garraway Lab Kyeongran (Rachel) Jang, graduate student in the Garraway Lab, published a paper, " A review of dorsal root ganglia and primary sensory neuron plasticity mediating inflammatory and chronic neuropathic pain ," in Neurobiology of Pain, January...