Cell Regulation

Attention: New Curriculum

New 1-Year Didactic Curriculum Begins Fall 2012
Dissertation Research Begins in Second Year

The UT Southwestern Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences is introducing an improved 1-year didactic curriculum for the students entering in the fall of 2012. With the goal of a solid and broad foundation and knowledgeable concentrated focus in a specific field, the system has been designed to place students in laboratories, fully engaged in dissertation research, by the beginning of the second year. More details will be available at a later time.


The Graduate Program in Cell Regulation provides a wide range of training opportunities for students interested in the study of signal transduction mechanisms that facilitate intracellular and intercellular communication.

Students in the program explore the regulatory mechanisms by which cells interpret and respond to signals generated by nutrients, hormones, neurotransmitters, physical stimuli and specialized cell to cell contact systems. Current research within the Cell Regulation Program focuses on:

  • The structures and functions of important molecules such as receptors, second messengers, adhesion proteins and cytoskeletal elements
  • Cellular organelles including the nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, peroxisome, lysosome and plasma membrane
  • Sorting and processing of secretory and membrane-associated proteins
  • Identification of novel signaling pathways, their functions, and how they integrate with other signaling pathways

The Cell Regulation Program has a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary research, including an emphasis on pharmacological sciences. Participation in advanced courses, journal clubs and works-in-progress seminars, as well as intensive training in the development and performance of independent research projects, contributes to each student’s success.

Students interested in joining the Cell Regulation PhD program apply here to the interdisciplinary umbrella program within the Division of Basic Science. First year students complete a core curriculum that includes a core course, three or four laboratory rotations, and training in the responsible conduct of research. Students who perform satisfactorily in the first semester Core Course are qualified to enter the Cell Regulation Graduate Program.  The program also administers a specialty curriculum in pharmacological sciences that is open to students from all of the basic science graduate programs.