About

The research division of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics within the Department of Biology at the Faculty of Science of Utrecht University is part of the Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity. The division includes several research groups and is led by Prof. Dr. Anna Akhmanova and Prof. Dr. Lukas Kapitein.

Cells are the fundamental building blocks of all living organisms. Our aim is to acquire novel insights into the structure and function of cells and to decipher the cellular basis for human diseases such as cancer and neurological disorders. To achieve this goal, we combine the latest methods and technologies in molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics and microscopy.

We are interested in the mechanisms underlying cytoskeletal dynamics, membrane transport and signaling pathways that underlie cell proliferation and differentiation, neuronal development and synaptic plasticity. We investigate cellular processes at a broad range of levels, from single molecules and protein networks to cells, tissues, and whole organisms.

The main research topics within the division are cellular organization and dynamics, molecular neuroscience, biophysics, synaptic physiology, molecular oncology and molecular targeted therapies.