Department of Developmental & Molecular Biology

The mission of the Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology (DMB) is to investigate the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms of development, aging, regeneration, and disease. DMB currently includes 24 research groups and more than 100 students, postdoctoral fellows, technicians, and faculty members, bringing in more than $12M in annual grant funding including several pre- and post-doctoral fellowships per year.

The department’s breadth is one of its greatest strengths. DMB investigators use diverse model systems - including human cells, mice, Drosophila, and zebrafish - to study hematologic, neurologic, cardiovascular, renal, virologic, metabolic, oncologic, and age-related diseases. These scientific areas foster lively interactions and form the foundation on which DMB stands.

DMB has a rich history of long-standing collaborations among groups, greatly enriching the academic environment. Faculty hold cross appointments in basic and clinical departments and serve as members and leaders across college-wide centers and institutes, including the Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research, the Institute for Geroscience, the Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, the Diabetes Center, the Liver Center, the Rose F. Kennedy Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, the Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, and affiliated Cancer Dormancy and Blood Cancer Institutes.

Since 1965, the department has grown under the leadership of Drs. Jerard Hurwitz, E. Richard Stanley, Liang Zhu, and Teresa V. Bowman. Dr. Bowman, the current chair, continues to elevate, connect, and empower trainees, staff, and faculty to propel cutting-edge research and educational innovation.

DMB activities include weekly work-in-progress seminars, weekly faculty chalk talks, trainee-initiated DreaMBig sessions, biennial retreats, and a vibrant external faculty seminar series that expands scientific exposure and networking for faculty and trainees.