July 2, 2025
From working with wild squirrels to discovering unknown G protein-coupled receptor kinases, Ellen Weiss’s research opened new doors for understanding the human eye and retinal degenerative diseases. In 1990, when Ellen Weiss picked up the phone as a postdoc in Gary Johnson’s lab at the National Jewish Center in Denver, Colorado, she had no clue …
June 25, 2025
Peter Mohler’s accomplishments demonstrate that cell biology and physiology graduate students can become national research and academic leaders. Peter Mohler earned his doctorate in cell and molecular physiology, the predecessor of the cell biology and physiology department and curriculum at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2000. For his graduate work, he …
June 11, 2025
Congratulations to Sarah Cohen on winning the 2025 Hettleman Prize! The prestigious prize is awarded to just five promising University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill early-career faculty members who exemplify groundbreaking and innovative research along with future career promise. The late Phillip Hettleman, a member of the Carolina class of 1921, and his wife …
June 4, 2025
As part of a continued collaboration, four Wake Technical Community College students will complete research intensive summer internships under the mentorship of UNC Cell Biology and Physiology principal investigators. The Department of Cell Biology and Physiology (CBP) welcomed four Wake Technical Community College students on May 19th as part of a continued collaboration to share …
May 16, 2025
In this CBP In the Loop: Spring 2025 newsletter, explore top CBP research stories, faculty and trainee research awards and honors, graduating student profiles, CBP’s new 9-month biomedical master’s program, and CBP faculty and trainee collaboration and outreach efforts. Download a PDF of the full newsletter here: CBP In the loop_Newsletter_Spring 2025 Preview the newsletter in …
April 17, 2025
Trimming neuronal axons involves a distinct pathway and a rare pathogen-sensing immune protein that could have implications for Alzheimer’s disease. Neurons have the remarkable ability to kill parts of themselves without dying in a phenomenon known as axon pruning. During axon pruning, neurons trim unnecessary axons, long, threadlike projections from nerve cells that transmit electrical …
February 25, 2025
O’Brien will map the kidney nerve network from acute injury to chronic disease for the first time in a high-risk/high reward project. Sympathetic and sensory neurons innervate the kidney, with sympathetic neurons playing key roles in regulating blood flow and fluid balance and sensory neurons sending critical information about physiological changes within the kidney to …
February 24, 2025
Understanding the influence of blood vessels on liver recovery may be the first step in developing better treatments for liver injury and solving the problem of why some drugs fail in the pharmaceutical market. The human liver naturally cleanses the body of most toxins, but this comes at a biological cost. Medication, dietary supplements, and …
February 4, 2025
The UNC Provost’s Office awarded Heather McCauley a Junior Faculty Development Award to create a new humanized mouse model that more closely replicates complex epithelial and immune cell dynamics in the gut. Lining the intestines are rare hormone-producing cells called enteroendocrine cells that sense nutrients, gut microbes, and metabolites in the food we eat. These …
December 31, 2024
2024 was a productive year for researchers in the Department of Cell Biology and Physiology. In this In the Loop: Year in Review newsletter, explore their scientific discoveries, uncover upcoming opportunities for collaboration and learning, and gain insights into the faculty and students that power the department’s culture and scientific breakthroughs. Download a PDF of …