The Department of Cell Biology at Peking University is a dynamic and rapidly advancing department. Originating from the Department of Cell Biology at Beijing Medical University, it was formally established in 2000 following the historic merger of Beijing Medical University and Peking University, and further strengthened in 2001 with the incorporation of the Peking University Stem Cell Research Center. Since then, the Department has developed into a leading national center for cell biology research and education. The discipline of "Cell Biology" was approved as a master’s degree program in 1990, a doctoral program in 1996, and recognized as a national key discipline in 2001, underscoring its pivotal role in shaping the field in China.

Research in the Department spans a broad spectrum of cell, developmental, regenerative, and cancer biology. Major focus areas include chemical reprogramming and cell fate regulation, generation of functional cells and tissues for therapeutic purposes, development of cellular models for studying embryogenesis and disease, gene editing and chromosome engineering, adult stem cells and tissue regeneration, immune cell regulation and immunotherapy, and mechanisms underlying cancer progression. The Department has made numerous landmark contributions in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. Notably, pioneering work from the Deng group in the Department established powerful chemical approaches for reprogramming cell identity, enabling the derivation of diverse stem cell types and functional cells. Their breakthrough studies demonstrated the clinical feasibility of chemical reprogramming to achieve functional cures, exemplified by type I diabetes, thereby opening transformative avenues for regenerative therapies.

The Department is equally committed to training the next generation of scientific leaders. Faculty members deliver rigorous graduate and postgraduate courses in Cell Biology, Stem Cell Biology, Cancer Biology, and advanced life science technologies, preparing students for impactful careers in academia and industry. The integration of cutting-edge research with comprehensive education ensures that the Department remains at the forefront of advancing fundamental discoveries and translating them into strategies to combat degenerative diseases, aging-related disorders, cancers, and beyond.