Science Explorer Interactive view Map
Subfield · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Cell Biology research

Cell Biology is a subfield of Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology. Science Explorer counts 496k research works in it since 1950. 19.6% of them reached the world's top 10% most cited for their field and year.

In short: scientific discipline that studies cells.

Research works
496k
fractional, since 1950
In the world top 10%
97k
per year above
Top-10% rate
19.6%
share of its works in the world top 10%
Topics
17
Growth, 2013–17 → 2018–22
+10%
the tick is no change

What is Cell Biology research about, and what is growing?

By the world's output in 2019–23, its most used keywords are Endophytic Fungi, Fungal Pathogens, Mechanotransduction, Stem Cells, Regulation, Oxidative Stress. Gaining share since 2009–13: Hippo Pathway, YAP/TAZ, Myofascial Trigger Points, Pain Management, Regulation. Losing share: Hemoglobin, Scavenger Receptor, Diabetes, Hyaluronan.

▲ gaining share of this field◆ holding its share▼ losing share

Size is the world's fractional works in 2019–23 in the topics tagged with each word; colour compares the word's share of this field with 2009–13. Each links to the topic it comes from most.

All 40 words, with their numbers
  1. Endophytic Fungi17k▲ 1.26×1 topic
  2. Fungal Pathogens17k▲ 1.26×1 topic
  3. Mechanotransduction13k◆ 1.01×3 topics
  4. Stem Cells11k◆ 1.06×2 topics
  5. Regulation9,701▲ 1.33×2 topics
  6. Oxidative Stress8,419◆ 1.05×2 topics
  7. Apoptosis8,146◆ 1.03×2 topics
  8. Cell Migration7,832▼ 0.85×2 topics
  9. Metabolism7,390◆ 1.14×1 topic
  10. Protein7,390◆ 1.14×1 topic
  11. Endoplasmic Reticulum7,262◆ 1.12×1 topic
  12. Stress7,262◆ 1.12×1 topic
  13. Endocytosis7,254▼ 0.78×2 topics
  14. Cell Mechanics6,948◆ 0.88×1 topic
  15. Extracellular Matrix6,948◆ 0.88×1 topic
  16. Cell Division6,123▼ 0.73×1 topic
  17. Microtubules6,123▼ 0.73×1 topic
  18. Melanin5,836▲ 1.19×1 topic
  19. Pigmentation5,836▲ 1.19×1 topic
  20. Cell Signaling5,518▼ 0.75×2 topics
  21. Membrane Fusion5,397▼ 0.77×1 topic
  22. Rab Proteins5,397▼ 0.77×1 topic
  23. Inflammation4,818▼ 0.73×2 topics
  24. Cancer4,750▲ 1.26×2 topics
  25. Myofascial Trigger Points4,740▲ 1.60×1 topic
  26. Pain Management4,740▲ 1.60×1 topic
  27. Hippo Pathway3,866▲ 1.63×1 topic
  28. YAP/TAZ3,866▲ 1.63×1 topic
  29. Hyaluronan3,660▼ 0.72×1 topic
  30. Proteoglycans3,660▼ 0.72×1 topic
  31. Model Organism3,324◆ 1.07×1 topic
  32. Zebrafish3,324◆ 1.07×1 topic
  33. Intermediate Filaments3,298◆ 0.97×1 topic
  34. Keratins3,298◆ 0.97×1 topic
  35. Mitochondria2,833▼ 0.75×2 topics
  36. Hemoglobin2,143▼ 0.57×1 topic
  37. Scavenger Receptor2,143▼ 0.57×1 topic
  38. Diabetes2,042▼ 0.70×2 topics
  39. Biotin1,949▼ 0.81×1 topic
  40. Proximity Labeling1,949▼ 0.81×1 topic

Which countries lead Cell Biology research?

On research quality in 2022–2025, China, the United States and the United Kingdom rank highest in Cell Biology. By volume, China and the United States publish the most (14k and 13k works in 2022–2025).

By research quality, 2022–2025

  1. 1 China · #4 all time 24.3% top 10% · 14k works
  2. 2 United States · #1 all time 19.0% top 10% · 13k works
  3. 3 United Kingdom · #2 all time 23.2% top 10% · 2.2k works
  4. 4 Germany · #3 all time 20.8% top 10% · 2.5k works
  5. 5 India · #14 all time 11.7% top 10% · 3.9k works
  6. 6 France · #5 all time 19.9% top 10% · 1.9k works
  7. 7 Italy · #8 all time 22.9% top 10% · 1.8k works
  8. 8 Canada · #7 all time 20.7% top 10% · 1.3k works
  9. 9 Japan · #6 all time 11.1% top 10% · 2.9k works
  10. 10 Spain · #12 all time 19.9% top 10% · 1.5k works

The track on each row is that row’s top-10% rate. The ranking itself is the composite score, which the rate is only one part of.

Of 43 countries ranked in Cell Biology. Composite of field-normalised excellence (50%), output (30%) and citations (20%); the bracket is the all-time rank.

All countries ranked in Cell Biology

By volume, 2022–2025

  1. 1 China 14k works
  2. 2 United States 13k works
  3. 3 India 3.9k works
  4. 4 Japan 2.9k works
  5. 5 Germany 2.5k works
  6. 6 United Kingdom 2.2k works
  7. 7 France 1.9k works
  8. 8 Italy 1.8k works
  9. 9 Brazil 1.7k works
  10. 10 South Korea 1.6k works

How concentrated that is

The same countries as shares of everything the list above accounts for. A node where two countries do two thirds of the work and one spread evenly across twelve read alike as a ranking and not at all alike here.

China: 31.4%United States: 27.7%India: 8.7%Japan: 6.3%6 others listed: 25.8%31%largest
China14k · 31.4%United States13k · 27.7%India3,938 · 8.7%Japan2,882 · 6.3%6 others listed12k · 25.8%

Shares of the rows listed above, not of the whole node.

Which institutions lead Cell Biology research?

Harvard University (United States) ranks first in Cell Biology on research quality in 2022–2025, followed by Sichuan University and Chinese Academy of Sciences.

By research quality, 2022–2025

  1. 1 Harvard University United States · Cambridge · #1 all time 29.7% top 10% · 157 works
  2. 2 Sichuan University China · Chengdu 30.8% top 10% · 133 works
  3. 3 Chinese Academy of Sciences China · Beijing · #79 all time 29.2% top 10% · 176 works
  4. 4 Stanford University United States · Stanford · #6 all time 32.2% top 10% · 117 works
  5. 5 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique France · Paris · #21 all time 25.0% top 10% · 191 works
  6. 6 University of Pennsylvania United States · Philadelphia · #8 all time 26.7% top 10% · 130 works
  7. 7 Zhejiang University China · Hangzhou 28.8% top 10% · 149 works
  8. 8 Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College China · Beijing 25.3% top 10% · 158 works
  9. 9 Shanghai Jiao Tong University China · Shanghai 26.2% top 10% · 138 works
  10. 10 Sun Yat-sen University China · Guangzhou 26.8% top 10% · 145 works

The track on each row is that row’s top-10% rate. The ranking itself is the composite score, which the rate is only one part of.

Of 99 institutions above the floor of 40 fractional works in Cell Biology.

Top 100 Cell Biology institutions

By volume, 2022–2025

  1. 1 Centre National de la Recherche ScientifiqueFrance 191 works
  2. 2 Chinese Academy of SciencesChina 176 works
  3. 3 University of North Carolina at Chapel HillUnited States 172 works
  4. 4 Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical CollegeChina 158 works
  5. 5 Harvard UniversityUnited States 157 works
  6. 6 Yale UniversityUnited States 153 works
  7. 7 Zhejiang UniversityChina 149 works
  8. 8 Sun Yat-sen UniversityChina 145 works
  9. 9 University of MichiganUnited States 144 works
  10. 10 InsermFrance 139 works

Who are the leading researchers in Cell Biology?

Among the most productive authors in Cell Biology, Rachelle Buchbinder, Darwin J. Prockop and Aarno Palotie rank highest on the composite score.

  1. 1 Rachelle Buchbinder Australia · #147 worldwide 3.5k citations · 131 works
  2. 2 Darwin J. Prockop United States · #175 worldwide 3.8k citations · 131 works
  3. 3 Aarno Palotie Finland · #185 worldwide 4.3k citations · 187 works
  4. 4 Shizuo Akira Japan · #298 worldwide 3.6k citations · 192 works
  5. 5 Michael F. Holick United States · #647 worldwide 2.8k citations · 167 works
  6. 6 Sidney Udenfriend United States · #957 worldwide 2.3k citations · 119 works
  7. 7 Martin Karplus United States · #1,154 worldwide 4.7k citations · 163 works
  8. 8 Albert Hofman Netherlands · #1,194 worldwide 2.8k citations · 137 works
  9. 9 Irwin Fridovich United States · #1,216 worldwide 4.1k citations · 87 works
  10. 10 Roderick J. Hay United Kingdom · #1,354 worldwide 4k citations · 83 works

Re-ranked on the composite score from the 5,117 highest-output authors in Cell Biology. Identities come from OpenAlex author disambiguation, which occasionally merges or splits people.

Top 100 Cell Biology researchers

Where is Cell Biology research done?

The largest centres of Cell Biology research in 2022–2025 are Beijing (China), Shanghai (China), Paris (France) and Guangzhou (China). Among places with at least 20 works in it, it is an unusually large share of all research in Chiang Rai.

Largest cities, 2022–2025

  1. 1 Beijing China 2.1k works
  2. 2 Shanghai China 977 works
  3. 3 Paris France 896 works
  4. 4 Guangzhou China 821 works
  5. 5 Tokyo Japan 750 works
  6. 6 Seoul South Korea 650 works
  7. 7 Nanjing China 608 works
  8. 8 London United Kingdom 592 works
  9. 9 Hangzhou China 579 works
  10. 10 Moscow Russia 561 works

Where it is the local speciality

  1. Chiang RaiTH · 55.3 works16×
← less than its size predicts1×more →

Location quotient: how much more of its research is in Cell Biology than the world average.

See Cell Biology on the map

Cell Biology research by country

The best places for Cell Biology research inside each country, with that country's researchers and world standing.

Where is the best place to study Cell Biology?

Among universities, judged by research, Mae Fah Luang University, Nanjing Agricultural University and China Agricultural University score highest, combining excellence, specialisation, size, growth and international reach. Research strength is one signal when choosing where to study; it does not measure teaching.

0%20%40%mean 29.87%fractional works in this node (log) →share in the world top 10% →Mae Fah Luang University: 54, 17.9%Nanjing Agricultural University: 101, 38.3%China Agricultural University: 98, 40.4%University of Chinese Academy of Sciences: 111, 29.7%Harvard University: 157, 29.7%Northwest A&F University: 81, 37.5%Guiyang Medical University: 39, 26.6%Yale University: 153, 24.5%Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College: 158, 25.3%Zhejiang University: 149, 28.8%China Agricultural U…Nanjing Agricultural…University of Chines…Mae Fah Luang Univer…
above the meannear itbelow it

One dot per university in the table below. The upper left is the interesting corner: small places doing unusually strong work.

#UniversityScoreTop 10%SpecialisationWorksGrowth
1 Mae Fah Luang UniversityThailand 58.717.9%18.4×54 +131.9%
2 Nanjing Agricultural UniversityChina 52.138.3%4.1×101 +18.9%
3 China Agricultural UniversityChina 49.040.4%2.8×98 +10.2%
4 University of Chinese Academy of SciencesChina 47.729.7%1.1×111 +143.8%
5 Harvard UniversityUnited States 47.029.7%2.0×157 -19.9%
6 Northwest A&F UniversityChina 46.537.5%3.3×81 +8.6%
7 Guiyang Medical UniversityChina 46.326.6%4.7×39 +411.0%
8 Yale UniversityUnited States 44.224.5%2.5×153 +5.8%
9 Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical CollegeChina 44.125.3%2.6×158 +8.1%
10 Zhejiang UniversityChina 43.328.8%1.2×149 +16.1%

Universities only. Score blends excellence (30%), specialisation (25%), size (20%), growth (15%) and international reach (10%), 2015–2022; growth compares 2010–14 with 2015–19.

Is Cell Biology research growing?

Output in 2018–2022 was 10% higher than in 2013–2017, peaking in 2025. The fastest-growing topics are Hippo pathway signaling and YAP/TAZ, Myofascial pain diagnosis and treatment and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Disease.

19801990200020102020
grewheldshrank

The same series as a ribbon — one cell per year, darker for more. The line above answers how much; this answers when.

Which topics inside it are moving

Growth and decline on one axis around a shared zero. Two lists side by side hide the thing that matters: whether the growth dwarfs the decline, or the other way round.

  1. Hippo pathway signaling and YAP/TAZ+145%
  2. Myofascial pain diagnosis and treatment+104%
  3. Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Disease+72%
  4. melanin and skin pigmentation+58%
  5. Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases+53%
  6. Zebrafish Biomedical Research Applications+51%
  7. Aldose Reductase and Taurine-3%
  8. Calpain Protease Function and Regulation-4%
  9. Hemoglobin structure and function-22%
← shrinkingno changegrowing →

Growth in output from 2005–09 to 2015–19. Every topic is a page of its own.

What does Cell Biology include?

Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases: 84k fractional worksMuscle metabolism and nutrition: 48k fractional worksMicrotubule and mitosis dynamics: 40k fractional worksCellular transport and secretion: 39k fractional worksCellular Mechanics and I…38kCellular Mechanics and Interactions: 38k fractional worksEndoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Disease: 34k fractional worksHemoglobin structure and function: 32k fractional worksProteoglycans and glycos…30kProteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans research: 30k fractional worksmelanin and skin pigmentation: 29k fractional worksSkin and Cellular Biology Research: 23k fractional worksMyofascial pain diagnosis and treatment: 19k fractional worksBiotin and Related Studies: 19k fractional works

Area is fractional works in that topic. Every name below is a page of its own.