Message from the Director

Welcome to the Center for Membrane and Cell Physiology (CMCP).

Since its establishment, CMCP has served as a cornerstone of interdisciplinary discovery at the University of Virginia. Built on world-class strengths in membrane biology and cell physiology, the Center has evolved into a vibrant scientific community spanning fundamental mechanisms, technology innovation, and relevance to human disease. I am honored to serve as Director and to build upon the extraordinary foundation established by Dr. Lukas Tamm and the Center’s faculty.

At its core, CMCP is guided by a clear principle: to understand physiology and disease, we must uncover the physical rules that govern how cells work. Membranes are not passive barriers; they are dynamic, information-rich interfaces that regulate transport, signaling, force transmission, and communication across scales. By defining how these processes are structured, coordinated, and controlled, we gain mechanistic insight into both normal function and pathological failure.

Looking ahead, my vision is one of continuity and deliberate evolution. CMCP is not a narrowly defined biophysics unit—it is an integrated community organized around three interconnected pillars: membrane biology, imaging across scales, and cell physiology. Together, these strengths uniquely position us to illuminate how molecular mechanisms give rise to cellular and organismal function—and how those mechanisms can be measured, modeled, and ultimately harnessed to improve human health.

In the years ahead, CMCP will serve as a nexus for discovery and innovation across Grounds. By integrating high-resolution structural approaches, advanced cellular and in vivo imaging, quantitative biophysics, and computational modeling, we aim to connect mechanistic discovery with translational opportunity. Our goal is not only to explain biological systems, but to enable new strategies for diagnosis, intervention, and therapy.

I view the Center as a catalyst for research across the Grounds. My priority is to leverage the vast intellectual strength of our nearly 50 resident and affiliated faculty members, fostering an environment in which faculty and trainees collaborate freely, share ideas across disciplines, and pursue ambitious questions. We will expand opportunities for intellectual exchange, seed interdisciplinary initiatives, compete for large-scale federal support, and strengthen partnerships with industry and philanthropy to ensure the Center’s long-term sustainability and impact.

CMCP’s future will be defined not by a single discipline or technique, but by a shared commitment to mechanistic rigor, quantitative precision, and translation to human health. I invite you—whether scientist, trainee, collaborator, or supporter—to engage with the Center as we enter this next phase. Together, we will continue advancing discovery by integrating mechanistic insight, technological innovation, and meaningful impact on human health.

Huiwang Ai, PhD
Director, Center for Membrane and Cell Physiology
Professor, Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, Chemistry, and Biomedical Engineering