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  • The Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Arizona is home to leaders in many areas of biomedical research.

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Message from the Department Head

Mission: To advance basic and translational research and foster excellence in medical and graduate training, all dedicated to enhancing global wellness.

The Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (CMM) at the University of Arizona is committed to pushing the boundaries of biological knowledge through a comprehensive educational approach and interdisciplinary research. With a reputation for faculty-led research in complex disease pathogenesis, CMM's expertise encompasses cellular, molecular, and developmental biology, as well as anatomy and genetics. The department focuses on imaging, bioinformatics, ‘omics’, stem cells, and systems genetics, and is known for its collaborative, multidisciplinary research environment, ranking #9 in the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research 2023 rankings.

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Recent Publications

  • Evaluation of Swab-Seq as a scalable, sensitive assay for community surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
    Author(s): H.J. Kang; S. Allison; A. Spangenberg; T. Carr; R. Sprissler; M. Halonen; D.A. Cusanovich
    Date Published: 23 FEB 2022
    PMCID: PMC8866503  PMID: 35197492
  • Integrated multiomics reveals alterations in paucimannose and complex type N-glycans in cardiac tissue of COVID-19 patients.
    Author(s): S.Peruvemba Subramanian; M. Wojtkiewicz; F. Yu; C. Castro; E.N. Schuette; J. Rodriguez-Paar; J. Churko; P. Renavikar; D. Anderson; C. Mahr; R.L. Gundry
    Date Published: 2025 Feb 21
    PMID: 39988192
  • Minimal Component, Protein-Free, and Cost-effective Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Cardiomyocyte Differentiation.
    Author(s): J.B. Iwanski; O.S. Lawal; W.T. Kwon; I. Vazquez; J.M. Churko
    Date Published: 2025 Feb
    PMCID: PMC11834755  PMID: 39932462
  • Atrial Fibrillation Related Titin Truncation Is Associated With Atrial Myopathy in Patient-Derived Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Disease Models.
    Author(s): K. Huang; M. Ashraf; L. Rohani; Y. Luo; A. Sacayanan; H. Huang; A. Haegert; S. Volik; F. Sar; S. LeBihan; J. Liew; P.H. Backx; J.D. Roberts; G.F. Tibbits; J.M. Churko; S. Sanatani; C. Collins; L.R. Brunham; Z. Laksman
    Date Published: 2025 Feb
    PMID: 39851047
  • Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals sex differences in the subcellular composition and associated gene-regulatory network activity of human carotid plaques.
    Author(s): K. Sukhavasi; G. Mocci; L. Ma; C.J. Hodonsky; E.Diez Benevante; L. Muhl; J. Liu; S. Gustafsson; B. Buyandelger; S. Koplev; U. Lendahl; M. Vanlandewijck; P. Singha; T. Örd; M. Beter; I. Selvarajan; J.P. Laakkonen; M. Väli; H.M. den Ruijter; M. Civelek; K. Hao; A. Ruusalepp; C. Betsholtz; H. Järve; J.C. Kovacic; C.L. Miller; C. Romanoski; M.U. Kaikkonen; J.L.M. Björkegren
    Date Published: 2025 Apr
    PMCID: 9119695  PMID: 40211055

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Recent News

Looking at the Eye through a Genotype-Phenotype Lens
Jun 3 2025 - 2:00pm

Dr. Paul Gignac’s new paper in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals that PAX6 gene expression helps sensory organs compensate for eye loss in cave-dwelling salamanders, offering valuable insights into the regulartory networks of complex organ systems. Click to read more.
Welcome the First Cohort of UA AHA SURF Fellows!
Jun 2 2025 - 2:15pm

The UA American Heart Association Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship kicked off on June 2nd. We’re thrilled to welcome our new fellows and look forward to supporting their growth as scientists! L to R: Cole Bauer, Yash Rohilla, Adriana Frost, Elaine Kang, Bella Tran
Congratulations to the Class of 2025 CMM Master's Graduates!
May 21 2025 - 5:15pm

CMM would like to congratulate recent (and soon-to-be) graduates from our MS program, along with their faculty advisors. We are proud of your hard work, dedication, and accomplishments! Also, many thanks to the faculty mentors! Click for the list of graduates.


College of Medicine – Tucson team is creating its own brain models to help medical students better understand healthy anatomy.
Apr 29 2025 - 3:30pm

CMM researchers Paul Gignac, PhD, and Haley O'Brien, PhD, are part of a team that is creating 3D-printed models of human brains to help medical students better understand healthy vs unhealthy anatomy. Click to read more and view video.

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