Scanning electron micrograph of dividing HeLa cell. Image courtesy of Andrew Wilde.
Cell biology is the study of the structure and function of cells, fundamental units of life that become organized into tissues and organisms. While all cells carry out some common biochemical reactions, cells also become specialized to perform unique reactions and functions. How these different biochemical reactions are integrated during development and in response to different physiological stimuli and how they become disrupted in different diseases is a central focus of the Department.
To dissect fundamental cell biological problems in health and disease, faculty in the Department apply state of the art approaches including functional genomics, proteomics, structural biology, high-resolution imaging and the development of new biosensors.
Through these approaches Departmental faculty address the fundamental cell biological problems of macromolecule synthesis, protein folding and function, transport of proteins, RNA and small molecules within and across membranes, signal transduction, cytoskeletal dynamics and organelle biogenesis and to determine how these pathways operate during development, bacterial infection, the immune response, cancer, diabetes and neurological disorders.
Faculty in the Department conducting research in this area:
Molecular mechanisms underlying intracellular signalling activated by the Wnt and Hedgehog families of secreted growth factors
Angers LabLeslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy
144 College Street, Room 901
Toronto, ON
Dr. Stephane Angers
416-978-4939 stephane.angers@utoronto.ca
Morphogen signalling pathways and the regulation of complex biological responses
Attisano Lab160 College Street, room 1008
Dr. Liliana Attisano
416-946-3129 liliana.attisano@utoronto.ca
DNA Replication, DNA Damage and Genome Instability
Grant W. Brown LaboratoryDonnelly Centre, Room 1206
160 College Street
Dr. Grant W. Brown
416-946-5733 grant.brown@utoronto.ca
The Regulation of Signal Transduction by Phase Separated Biomolecular Condensates
Molecular Medicine
Hospital for Sick Children
Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning (PGCRL)
Room 20-9710
686 Bay Street
Dr. Jonathon Ditlev
416-813-7654, ext. 309150 jonathon.ditlev@sickkids.ca
The Evolution of Microbial Disease
Ensminger Group661 University Avenue - MaRS West Tower
Room 1637
Dr. Alexander W. Ensminger
416-978-6522 alex.ensminger@utoronto.ca
Structural Studies of Disordered Proteins
Forman-Kay labMolecular Medicine
Hospital for Sick Children
Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning (PGCRL)
Room 20-9713
686 Bay Street
Dr. Julie D. Forman-Kay
416-813-5358 forman@sickkids.ca
SickKids Research Institute
Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning
686 Bay Street
Room 18.9709
Dr. Spencer A. Freeman
416-813-7654, ext. 309267 spencer.freeman@sickkids.ca
Membrane Biology, Ion Transport, and the Innate Immune Response
Grinstein Lab555 University Ave.
Dr. Sergio Grinstein
416-813-5727 sergio.grinstein@sickkids.ca
MaRS West Discovery Tower, Suite 1600
661 University Ave
Toronto, ON
Dr. Lea Harrington
lea.harrington@utoronto.ca
Cellular Protein Homeostasis Research Group
Houry Lab661 University Avenue, MaRS Centre
West Tower, Room 1612
Dr. Walid A. Houry
416-946-7141 walid.houry@utoronto.ca
Blood Coagulation in Health and Disease
Kahr labThe Hospital for Sick Children
PGCRL, Rm 19.9714
686 Bay Street
Dr. Walter H.A. Kahr
416-813-7977 walter.kahr@sickkids.ca
The cytoskeleton as a cell fate-determining device
Kapus LabKeenan Centre for Biomedical Research
209 Victoria Street, Room 621
Dr. Andras Kapus
416-847-1751 KapusA@smh.ca
Mechanisms of Organelle Maintenance
Kim LabThe Hospital for Sick Children
Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning
686 Bay Street, Rm. 19.9708
Dr. Peter K. Kim
416-813-5983 pkim@sickkids.ca
Cellular and biochemical basis of insulin action and insulin resistance: focus on glucose transport
Amira Klip LabThe Hospital for Sick Children
686 Bay Street Room 19.9-709
Dr. Amira Klip
416-813-6392 amira@sickkids.ca
Mechanisms of endothelial permeability
Lee LabSt. Michael's Hospital
LKS, Room 613
Dr. Warren L. Lee
416-864-6060-77656 warren.lee@unityhealth.to
Membrane-less Organelles and Neurodegeneration
Lee LabMaRS, West Tower, Suite 1521
661 University Ave.
Dr. Hyun Kate Lee
416-946-3813 hyunokate.lee-at-utoronto.ca
Investigating the pathophysiology of atypical hemolytic-uremic syndrome caused by DGKE deficiency
Lemaire LabCell Biology Department
Peter Gilgan Centre For Research and Learning
SickKids Research Institute
686 Bay Street, room 19.9704
Dr. Mathieu Lemaire
416-813-7654 ext. 309419 mathieu.lemaire@sickkids.ca
Biological functions of glycosphingolipids
Lingwood LabRm 21-9707
Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning
The Hospital for Sick Children
686 Bay Street
Dr. Clifford A. Lingwood
416 813 5998 cling@sickkids.ca
Mitochondrial Quality Control Pathways and Human Neurodegenerative Disease
McQuibban Mitophagy LaboratoryUniversity of Toronto
Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry
MaRS Centre, West Tower
661 University Ave., Suite 1500, Rm 1536
Dr. G. Angus McQuibban
416-978-6820 angus.mcquibban@utoronto.ca
Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer
The Ohh LabMaRS Centre, West Tower
661 University Avenue, Suite 1512
Dr. Michael Ohh
416-946-7922 michael.ohh@utoronto.ca
Nuclear Export and Localization of mRNA
Palazzo LabMaRS, West Tower, Suite 1500
661 University Ave.
Dr. Alexander F. Palazzo
416-978-7234 alex.palazzo@utoronto.ca
Platelet function and dysfunction
Rand Lab; Hemostasis and Thrombosis Research LabDivision of Haematology/Oncology
Hospital for Sick Children
555 University Avenue
Dr. Margaret L. Rand
416-813-7764 margaret.rand@sickkids.ca
Structure and Function of Membrane Proteins
Reithmeier LabMedical Sciences Building, Room 5368
Dr. Reinhart Reithmeier
416-978-7739 r.reithmeier@utoronto.ca
Biochemistry and function of the Nedd4 family of ubiquitin ligases
Rotin's labPGCRL, 19-9715,
686 Bay Street
Dr. Daniela Rotin
416-813-5098 drotin@sickkids.ca
4D Genomics in Development
Sawh LabMaRS, West Tower Rm 1632
661 University Ave
Dr. Ahilya N. Sawh
ahilya.sawh@utoronto.ca
Sunnybrook Research Institute
2075 Bayview Avenue, Room M7 617
Dr. Robert Screaton
416-480-6100 X 5743 robert.screaton@sri.utoronto.ca
Control of gene expression in the cytoplasm
Smibert labMaRS West Tower, 15th floor
661 University Ave
Dr. Craig A. Smibert
416-946-5538 c.smibert@utoronto.ca
Membrane and Cytoskeleton Interaction
Trimble LabSickKids Research Institute
PGCRL Rm 199716
686 Bay Street
Dr. William S. Trimble
416-813-6889 wtrimble@sickkids.ca
Protein Misfolding and Neurodegenerative Diseases
Watts LabTanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Krembil Discovery Tower
60 Leonard Ave., Rm. 6KD412
Dr. Joel C. Watts
416-507-6891 joel.watts@utoronto.ca
Cell Division in Tumor Formation and Oogenesis
Wilde Lab661 University Ave
MaRS West Tower
Rm 1516
Dr. Andrew Wilde
416 946 7714 andrew.wilde@utoronto.ca
DNA Scissors, DNA Repair and Genome Stability
Wyatt LabMaRS Center, West Tower, Room 1521A
661 University Avenue
Dr. Haley Wyatt
416-978-4808 haley.wyatt@utoronto.ca