About us

Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics is a research division of the Biology Department of the Faculty of Science at Utrecht University. Our goal is to acquire novel fundamental insights into cell biological processes and to decipher the cellular basis for human diseases such as cancer and neurological disorders.

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.

For our research, we employ a wide array of techniques ranging from cell culture and mouse transgenesis to in vitro reconstitution and single molecule analysis.  All these experimental approaches strongly rely on the application and development of advanced microscopy techniques, such as high-resolution live cell imaging and super-resolution microscopy. The division supports two research facilities: Biology Imaging Center and Utrecht Nanobody Facility.

The division provides education and research training in Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics. We provide courses and offer training opportunities for Bachelor, Master and PhD students at different levels, including the core courses of the Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics.

The division includes several research groups and is led by Prof. Dr. Casper Hoogenraad, Prof. Dr. Anna Akhmanova and Prof. Dr. Lukas Kapitein.