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Cornell University

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Weill Impact

At the Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, researchers push the frontiers of biology by decoding how cells function at the molecular level, revealing mechanisms of health and disease, and devising innovative approaches to transform our understanding of life’s fundamental processes.

The Institute thrives as an interdisciplinary hub of life science research at Cornell. Behind every breakthrough is a dedicated community of scientists, support staff, and students asking bold questions, undertaking cutting-edge research, and transferring ideas and technology – to advance knowledge and improve the human condition.

Explore how we are tackling critical challenges at the forefront of biology and medicine, and shaping a healthier, more sustainable future for all.

Learn more about the Weill Institute’s groundbreaking impact →

Cornell researchers have found a new and potentially more accurate way to see what proteins are doing inside living cells — using the cells’ own components as built-in sensors. This approach...

July 1, 2025

Understanding crop plants’ responses to abiotic stress is increasingly important in this changing climate. We asked experts how discoveries in Arabidopsis thaliana have translated into...

June 21, 2025

How does a tomato plant decide if it’s warm enough to bear fruit?  What causes basil to bolt and rush to produce flowers when the weather gets hot? Do we really understand how plants sense...

June 16, 2025

Marcus Smolka, professor of molecular biology and genetics in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), has been named an associate vice provost in Research & Innovation. His two-year...

May 22, 2025

Flowers grow stems, leaves and petals in a perfect pattern again and again.  Even in this precise, patterned formation in plants, gene activity inside individual cells is far more chaotic than it...

May 22, 2025

“There was a time my roommate asked, ‘Why are you spending so much time in the lab?’ And that really hit me,” said Yanru Liu, a graduate researcher at Cornell’s Weill Institute for Cell...

May 20, 2025

As part of EYH, CROPPS trainee and doctoral student in plant biology Michelle Heeney hosted a workshop on biologically inspired engineering using plants with the lab of Adrienne Roeder, professor...

May 5, 2025

Dr. Adrienne Roeder joins worldwide colleagues in this commentary in The Plant Cell. Over the past 40 years, Arabidopsis has emerged as the most powerful and versatile plant model to uncover core...

May 5, 2025

A team of researchers at Cornell University have made a discovery in fruit flies that could change the way we understand brain diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s in humans.   The...

May 1, 2025

Core Values

World-class research requires a mind open to new ideas and discoveries. The drive to discover and to create lives in each of us. The Weill Institute is committed to a diverse and inclusive community with the highest level of integrity and professional standards. We desire to promote a positive, equitable and creative environment, including freedom from harassment and discrimination. These commitments reflect our institutional values. We work to adhere to them through our policies, employment and management practices.

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