Centers | Department of Cell Biology

These world-class research centers have their home in the Department of Cell Biology

The Center for Biologic Imaging (CBI) is one of the largest optical imaging centers in the country. The mission of the Center for Biologic Imaging is to provide integrated elite level access and training on infrastructure used for research, education, technology development and collaboration in Microscopy ,Biophotonics and Imaging. The Center is deeply committed to providing open and transparent access to the most cutting edge optical imaging equipment to all biomedical research faculty, though with priority where access is intended to lead to funded collaborations or where funded collaborations pre-exist and joint outputs such as co-authored publications, IP filings and grant applications will result. In addition, where practical, research infrastructure will be available for use by external researchers and industry users subject to the availability of instrument time and support staff.

Center for Integrative Organ Systems (cenIOS)

The field of regenerative biology is at an important crossroads, and a focus on multi-organ system studies will take center stage in biomedical research, providing the underpinning for translating regenerative medicine discoveries in therapies in the clinic. Many model systems (e.g., organoids/zebrafish/mouse) can be utilized in these studies and will allow the investigators to understand similarities and difference of how organs respond in many models of injury. In addition, since there are induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models for virtually every organ in the human body, this will allow a “whole system” field to emerge. iPSCs derived from disease subjects allows for interrogation of many human diseases and for unprecedented opportunities to conduct systematic drug screens that can be tailored to individual patients and unique populations. Studying multiple organ systems with a focus on the same fundamental questions will be the strength of the Center for Integrative Organ Systems (cenIOS), and such a collaborative effort will play a central role in the coming decade of personalized translational medicine.