Emory University School of Medicine
Emory University School of Medicine
Department of Cell Biology

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Department of Cell Biology

Department of Cell Biology

Department History
Department of Cell Biology personnel, 2017

Chair’s Welcome and Departmental Vision Statement

Dr. Gary J. Bassell
Gary J. 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.




Commitment to Research Excellence and Engagement:

Emory University and the School of Medicine provide resources to individuals and groups to foster a culturally aware environment, promote wellness, and maintain legal compliance (3, 4, 5).

News Highlights

2025 SOM Educator Appreciation Day

In celebration of Educator Appreciation Day, the Recognitions Committee at Emory School of Medicine sent out a call for nominations for educators across the school who go above and beyond the call of duty as teachers and mentors. Emory educators were nominated by their peers and colleagues for their passion and skills to educate, encourage and support scholars and learners across the university.

Edward Pettus, PhD Assistant Professor of Cell Biology

For over 15 years, Dr. Edward Pettus has provided outstanding leadership in education as Course Director of Human Anatomy in the Physician Assistant Program of Emory University School of Medicine. In this capacity, Dr. Pettus gives over ten lectures per year and over 70 contact hours of laboratory instruction.

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Maureen Powers, PhD Professor Emeritus, Cell Biology

Dr. Maureen Powers served for ten years as Director of the Discovery Phase of Emory SOM Medical Curriculum. In this capacity, Dr. Powers played a pivotal role in leadership and mentorship to medical students engaged in scholarly research.

Maureen Powers, PhD

2025 Educator Appreciation Day

Timothy Sampson

Sampson Lab

Dr. Timothy Sampson,  Assistant Professor in Cell Biology, was featured in Nature for his research that links gut bacteria to Parkinson’s Disease.  The story discusses how growing evidence suggests a link between the debilitating neurological illness and the microbes that live in our intestines.

Nature article




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Faculty Promotions

Drs. Matthew Rowan and Timothy Sampson are being promoted to Associate Professor of Cell Biology, effective September 1, 2025.


New Grants

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Janani Parameswaran, PhD

Congratulations to Janani Parameswaran For Two New Grants

September 2025: Dr. Janani Parameswaran, Instructor in the Jiang Lab, has eceived the 2025 Next Generation Research Grant in Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) from American Brain Foundation (ABF) and 2025 Development Grant in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) from Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).

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Hadassah Mendez-Vasquez

Hadassah Mendez-Vazquez from the Faundez and ​ Werner Labs Receives Multiple Awards​

August 2025: Hadassah Mendez-Vazquez from the Faundez and ​Werner Labs Received Multiple Awards:

  • HHMI Gilliam Fellowship; she
is one of 30 out of 800 applicants​

  • ARCS Foundation Scholar Award​

  • NIH F31 Predoctoral Fellowship; Her NRSA score percentile
- 6th priority score 20


Dorothy Lerit, PhD

Congratulations to Dorothy Lerit for New NIH Grant

July 2025: Dorothy Lerit, PhD, Associate Professor of Cell Biology, received a new NIH R35 grant titled,"Mechanisms of RNA localization and centrosome regulation".


Gary J. Bassell, PhD
Gary Bassell, PhD

Congratulations to Gary Bassell and Team for Two New NIH R21 Grants

July 2025: Gary Bassell, PhD, Charles Howard Candler Professor of Cell Biology and Department Chair, was awarded the following two NIH R21 grants:

1) Title: Mechanisms of altered RNA transport dynamics by Kif1C mutations in heterospastic paraplegia 
MPI:  Aleksandra Janusz-Kaminska, PhD

2) Title: Membrane trafficking impairments in fragile x syndrome
Co-investigators: Liang Shi, PhD; Victor Faundez​ MD, PhD; Matt Rowan, PhD


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Left to right: Jie (Jay) Jiang, PhD and Gary Bassell, PhD

Congratulations to Jie Jiang and Gary Bassell for New NIH R01 Grant​​

July 2025: Jie (Jay) Jiang, PhD, Associate Professor and Gary Bassell, PhD, Professor and Chair of Cell Biology, received a new MPI NIH R01 grant titled, "Pathogenic mechanisms of KIF5A-associated ALS".​


Jill Ward, PhD
Jill Ward, PhD

Congratulations to Dr. Jill Ward for New Grant and ​New Committee Appointment​

June 2025: Jill Ward, Assistant Professor of Cell Biology, received new funding from Johns Hopkins University through the Merkin Peripheral Neuropathy and Nerve Regeneration Center. Her grant is titled, “Mechanisms and consequences of post-ganglionic sympathetic axon regeneration following injury”.​

Dr. Ward was also named to NIH Executive Committee for NeuroTrauma PREclinical CDE & Data Standards (NT-PRECEDS). The NT-PRECEDS Executive Committee plays a pivotal role in setting the standards that will shape how preclinical SCI research is conducted, reported, and translated. It enhances reproducibility, comparability, and the ultimate impact of research on clinical care.​

Hyojung Choo, PhD

Congratulations to Hyojung Choo for Receiving Jain Foundation​ Grant

June 2025: Hyojung Choo, PhD, Assistant Professor in Cell Biology, received a research grant from the Jain Foundation titled, "The pathological role of NLRP3 inflammasome activation in dysferlinopathy". 




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Emory URC Grant Recipients

Three faculty in Cell Biology have received an Emory University Research Committee (URC) grant for 2025: Francisco (Paco) Alvarez, PhD, Professor and Vice Chair; Jie (Jay) Jiang, PhD, Associate Professor;  and Marie-Claude Perreault, PhD, Associate Professor.