The Department of Anatomy is

John Harting Department Chair

The Department of Anatomy is now entering one of the most exciting periods in its distinguished history. Traditionally the department's teaching efforts were focused on the core of anatomical courses taught to medical students and, in keeping with its name, the department's research had historically emphasized studies of anatomical structure. However, in recent years hiring of talented new faculty, development of graduate courses beyond the medical curriculum and an upgrading of core facilities have transformed the department into a modern center for research in cellular, molecular, neural and developmental biology. Joint appointments of faculty and participation in interdisciplinary graduate programs in the neurosciences, genetics and cell and molecular biology have created campus links between the Anatomy Department and the Primate Center, the Waisman Center, and the departments of Genetics, Zoology and Neurology to name but a few. These links within and beyond the Medical School have been strengthened by the department's participation in campus wide interdisciplinary research groups such as Biophotonics and Stem Cell Biology. Distinguished Anatomy faculty such as John White and James Thomson respectively have already led these groups to international prominence. By combining its traditional strengths with participation in new areas of research the department has become a center for world class basic research programs such as those in zebrafish genetics, axon guidance in the nervous system, development of invertebrate appendages and vertebrate limbs and the anatomy and physiology of the mammalian brain to cite only a few examples. This research makes use of cutting edge techniques ranging from dynamic high resolution imaging of cytoplasmic structures inside living cells to manipulation of genes regulating development of cells and organs to single cell recording in the brains of behaving animals. The Anatomy department is also strongly committed to continued hiring of faculty in areas involving translational and stem cell research which are relevant to the goal of curing disease. In future, planned new facilities, recruitment of talented faculty and development of innovative teaching and research programs will ensure the department's vitality as a center of modern biology.