Department of Cell & Developmental Biology
Learn. Discover. Make the unknown known.

We rigorously pursue answers to the fundamental questions of biological and biomedical sciences. 

 Faculty and students in lab coats examining a specimen under a microscope in a research laboratory.
Investigating and Understanding the Fundamentals of Life

Since 1854, the Department of Cell & Developmental Biology has been dedicated to guiding the next generation of leaders to pursue rigorous fundamental questions in biological and biomedical sciences with an eye on the future.

Our faculty, students and trainees pursue discovery-driven research in the disciplines of cell biology, developmental biology, genetics, neuroscience, organogenesis, stem cell biology, and tissue repair and regeneration.
Contact Us
Department of Cell & Developmental Biology
3062 Biomedical Sciences Research Bldg.
109 Zina Pitcher Place
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2200

Email: [email protected]

CDB Internal site
ABOUT US

Explore the evolution of our Department over more than a century.
EDUCATION

We offer programs for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, as well as post-baccalaureate and post-doctoral trainees.
PEOPLE

Meet the remarkable faculty, staff, postdoc fellows, and students of CDB.

DEI

Our department is committed to DEI and finding innovative approaches to helping diversity thrive in our community.

Cell & Development Biology department in action

Watch the Cell and Development Biology department in action on campus in this short video.
cell & developmental biology faculty group shot

CDB Primary Faculty

 graphic: Department of cell & developmental biology ranks 6th in National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding.

CDB ranks 6th in National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding.
Welcome from the Chair

In CDB, we value an eclectic mix of junior, mid-career and senior faculty, of model systems and cutting-edge technologies, and of trainees at the undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate levels. By synergizing, we investigate, discover, and understand the biology that will shape the textbooks of tomorrow.

Department Chair, Cell & Developmental Biology
faculty profile pierre coulombe
Upcoming Events View all CDB Upcoming Events
Giving Blue Day
Please join CDB on March 19, 2025, for the annual Giving Blueday. All CDB support will go directly to the Developing Future Biologists organization.
Developmental Biology image
Burton L. Baker Memorial Lecture Series
The 2025 Burton L. Baker Memorial Lecture Series will feature Paola Arlotta, Ph.D., presenting "Understanding how our brain is made: a tale of embryos and organoids."
Understanding the brain bioart
2025 Seminar Series with Dr. Watanabe
Join the 2025 CDB Seminar with Shigeki Watanabe, Ph.D., Associate Professor of the Department of Cell Biology and Department of Neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University presenting "Ultrastructural plasticity of neurons."
Dissertation Defense: Lily Hahn
Please join us for Lily Hahn's Dissertation Defense, "Cargo adaptors use a handhold mechanism to engage with myosin V for organelle transport," on Thursday, April 3, 2025, from 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM at Medical Science 2, 3699 S Lecture Hall, in-person and virtual.
Dissertation Seminar: Haeyoung Park
Please join us for Haeyong Park's Dissertation Defense, "Distinct and Overlapping Roles of Glis in Olfactory Epithelium Development," on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at 12:00 PM at Medical Science 2, 3699 S Lecture Hall, in-person or virtually.
2025 CDB Celebration
The 2025 CDB Celebration will feature an alumni presentation and awards ceremony from 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM in BSRB Kahn Auditorium with a reception to follow in the BSRB ABC Conference Rooms.
Celebration fireworks image
Featured News & Stories See all news
Department News
Congratulations Karen Wang!
Karen (Spriggs Lab) successfully defended her thesis, "Deciphering Host-Pathogen Interactions Governing Merkel Cell Polyomavirus (MCPyV) Lifecycle and Disease Pathogenesis,” on March 13, 2025.
Department News
Congratulations Ziyi Meng!
Ziyi (Lin Lab) successfully defended his thesis, "Dissecting the Mechanisms Shaping Liver Macrophages in Metabolic Liver Disease,” on March 10, 2025.
Department News
Congratulations Cyrina Ostgaard!
Cyrina (Lee lab) successfully defended her thesis, “Regulation of the Competency to Generate Intermediate Neural Progenitors," on March 6, 2025.
Department News
New Publication by Pierre Coulombe!
The Journal of Experimental Medicine published "A “second hit” impacts disease severity in a dominantly inherited genetic skin disorder" by Pierre Coulombe.
Department News
Congratulations to Michael Hortsch!
Dr. Michael Hortsch is the recipient of the Elizabeth Crosby Award for 2025.
 Ribosome volumes from mapped to corresponding cellular positions in source tomogram
Department News
New Publication by the Mosalaganti Lab in collaboration with Davis lab at MIT!
Nature Communications Biology published "Rapid structural analysis of bacterial ribosomes in situ" by Tyler Brant and Shyamal Mosalaganti in collaboration with Davis lab at MIT.
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