Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology
Molecular and cellular biology are fundamental and interdisciplinary research areas that seek to explain the organizing principles of biology at molecular and spatial resolution. Our goal is to understand fundamental mechanisms underpinning function in multi-cellular organisms.
Our Research
In the Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, we address the challenge of unraveling complex biology by seeking to understand how intracellular and intercellular signals interact with regulatory circuitry to manage human health and disease.
Using the tools of cell biology, molecular biology—including spatial transcriptomics, biochemistry, genomics, proteomics, high-resolution imaging, computation, and chemical biology—we can study these basic problems empirically by the integrative power of inductive logic and systems analyses. We are inspired by the impacts that molecular and cellular biology research continue to have on the discernment of mechanisms and the improvements in outcomes of human quality of life. Together, we take advantage of the highly collaborative environment of our department and the broader institute to push the boundaries of methods, technologies and insights to break through the limits of today’s scientific horizon.
The department focuses on several key research areas, including:
- Regulation of gene expression, intracellular trafficking and protein folding
- Metabolism and systems biology of aging
- Leukocyte biology and genome stability maintenance
- Drug development and chemical biology
Our Team
Major Achievements
Scripps Research origins in treatment for major disease
Approved by the FDA, medicines such as Surfaxin (infant respiratory distress syndrome), Zeposia (multiple sclerosis) and Leustatin (hairy cell leukemia) are traced back to discoveries in Scripps Research labs.
Answering fundamental questions in biology
With a broad scope of expertise, spanning areas such as the regulation of gene expression, intracellular trafficking, protein folding, metabolism and genome stability, the department is a core component of the institute’s mission of translating basic science into medical advances.
Multiple sclerosis drug invented at Scripps Research slows long-term devastating disease progression
Professor Hugh Rosen co-invented ozanimod at Scripps Research. Ozanimod is now approved for the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis and Ulcerative Colitis.
