Dear colleagues, friends, trainees: The Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons is a vibrant, growing department that seeks to provide the most exciting environment for cutting edge science. Our faculty are leaders in the exploration of the mind, the heart, blood vessels, the kidney, spinal chord, pain sensation and many other areas. At our annual departmental retreat over 100 trainees present their work and discuss science and their career plans with the faculty in an informal setting followed by an evening of relaxation and dancing. Our faculty include a Nobel Laureate (Eric Kandel), a Lasker Awardee (James Rothman), and four members of the National Academy of Sciences, Eric Kandel, James Rothman, Arthur Karlin and Andrew R. Marks. The Department also includes four members of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, Eric Kandel, James Rothman, Sam Silverstein, Andrew R. Marks; and five members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, James Rothman, Eric Kandel, Sam Silverstein, Qais Al-Awqati, and Andrew R. Marks. There are three major areas of focus in the Department: developmental neurobiology & neuroscience (Jane Dodd, Vice Chair of the Department, Eric Kandel, Amy MacDermott, Peter Scheiffele, Joseph Gogos, Ning Qian, James Schwartz, Michel Ferin, Claude Ghez, Brian McCabe, Larry Abbott and Ken Miller); membrane biology (James Rothman, Jonathan Javitch, Arthur Karlin, Qais Al-Awqati, Martin Blank, Martin Low, Jorge Fischbarg, Ming Zhou); cardiovascular biology (Andrew Marks, Ira Tabas, Sam Silverstein, David Schacter, Jahar Bhattacharya, John Loike and Alan Tall). A new area of focus in the department is computational/systems biology and Larry Abbott and Ken Miller have been recruited to develop this important area in the department. Summaries of the faculty research and selected publications can be found under "Faculty Profiles". The faculty provide a rich environment for training and applications for the graduate program are invited from outstanding students (see "Graduate Education", and contact John Loike, who is in charge of graduate student recruitment in the Department - jdl5@columbia.edu), and postdoctoral fellows (see "Positions Available" and contact individual faculty). In addition several searches are ongoing for new faculty (see "Positions Available"). We are particularly interested and enthusiastic about seeking diversity amongst our trainees and faculty. Faculty in the Department are most proud of recent successes in our ongoing efforts to learn about and eventually overcome diseases that afflict millions of patients. These accomplishments are summarized on our web site (see "Press Releases") and include advances in understanding the molecular basis of schizophrenia, development of the nervous system that is relevant to treatment of spinal chord injury, and new treatments for heart disease including coronary artery stent restenosis, heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias. The Department has many opportunities to provide critical support for the ongoing research efforts in these and other areas. Interested donors should contact me directly: Andrew R. Marks, M.D. Professor and Chair, Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons P&S 11-427 630 West 168th Street New York, NY 10032 tel. 212 305-0270 fax 212 305-3690 arm42@columbia.edu