American Society for Cell Biology
Professional scientific society advancing cell biology research, education, careers, and public policy.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
The American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) is a professional scientific society representing researchers, educators, students, postdoctoral fellows, and other professionals working in cell biology and related life-science disciplines. It was established in 1960 in response to the emergence of cell biology as a distinct field and to the need for a national organization representing scientists studying the cell as the fundamental unit of life. The society developed during a period when electron microscopy was revealing cellular structures in unprecedented detail, but its scope soon expanded beyond microscopy to encompass molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, light microscopy, bioengineering, genomics, high-resolution imaging, computational analysis, and biomedical research. The organization grew out of a 1959 resolution by the United States National Academy of Sciences supporting the creation of a national cell biology society that could represent the United States within the International Federation for Cell Biology. An organizing meeting took place on May 28, 1960, at Rockefeller University in the office of Keith R. Porter, one of the early pioneers of electron microscopy. The society was incorporated in New York State in 1961 and held its first annual meeting in Chicago later that year. The early membership included many influential cell biologists, including George Palade, Don Fawcett, Hewson Swift, Arthur Solomon, Montrose Moses, and Hans Ris. Although the society initially grew from the electron-microscopy community, it became a broad, interdisciplinary organization as research technologies and biological questions evolved. ASCB's central activities include convening an annual scientific meeting, publishing and disseminating research and education materials, supporting professional development, recognizing scientific and educational achievement, and advocating for research funding and evidence-based public policy. Its annual meeting combines lectures, symposia, workshops, poster sessions, exhibitions, career discussions, education programming, networking, and forums on public engagement and inclusion. The meeting serves both as a venue for presenting new research and as a professional community for scientists at different career stages. The society's publication portfolio includes Molecular Biology of the Cell, a research journal and venue for scholarly essays; CBE—Life Sciences Education, which publishes research on life-science education and evidence-based teaching practice; the ASCB Newsletter; and The ASCB Post, an online source of science news, commentary, and professional information. ASCB also supports resources such as The Cell: An Image Library, a public collection of cell images, videos, and animations intended to support research, education, and public understanding. Beyond research communication, ASCB works on career development, education, diversity and inclusion, international collaboration, public outreach, and public policy. Its committees address the needs of students and postdoctoral researchers, women in cell biology, underrepresented minority scientists, educators, international members, and scientists engaging with government and the public. The society presents a broad set of honors, including the E.B. Wilson Medal, the Keith R. Porter Lecture, the Bruce Alberts Award for Excellence in Science Education, the Günter Blobel Early Career Award, the ASCB Public Service Award, and awards recognizing research, leadership, inclusivity, and innovation. ASCB has reported a substantial international membership and annual meetings attracting thousands of participants. Since its founding, members and former members have included numerous Nobel laureates in medicine and chemistry.
History
The origins of the American Society for Cell Biology lie in the rapid development of cell biology after the Second World War. Electron microscopy was making it possible to examine the internal organization of cells at a level of detail that had previously been unavailable. Researchers working in this emerging area believed that existing scientific societies and journals did not adequately represent cell biology as an independent and increasingly important discipline. On April 6, 1959, the United States National Academy of Sciences adopted a resolution supporting the creation of a national society of cell biology. One purpose was to provide a national representative to the International Federation for Cell Biology. An ad hoc organizing meeting was held on May 28, 1960, in the office of Keith R. Porter at Rockefeller University. Porter was among the early pioneers of electron microscopy, and the meeting brought together a group of scientists who helped define the society's initial identity. Other early leaders included George Palade, Don Fawcett, Hewson Swift, Arthur Solomon, Montrose Moses, and Hans Ris. The society was legally incorporated in New York State on July 31, 1961. A membership campaign recruited the organization's first 480 members. Its inaugural annual meeting took place in Chicago from November 2 to 4, 1961. The meeting attracted 844 participants and featured lectures, slides, and films demonstrating cellular structures. A mail ballot conducted during the meeting selected Don Fawcett as the first ASCB president. ASCB's initial community was strongly associated with electron microscopy, but the organization did not remain limited to that technique. Advances in molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, and light microscopy rapidly broadened the scientific territory of cell biology. Later developments in bioengineering, high-resolution imaging, genome sequencing, computational methods, and large-scale data analysis continued to expand the field and the society's relevance to medicine, pharmacology, and biotechnology. The organization experienced rapid early growth. By 1963, membership was reported at approximately 9,000 scientists. In 2008, ASCB was reported to have about 11,000 members worldwide, with roughly one quarter working outside the United States. Its annual meeting developed into a large international gathering, generally held in the late autumn or early winter, combining scientific presentations with poster sessions, exhibits, educational programming, career guidance, advocacy, and networking. The society has also emphasized the participation and advancement of students, postdoctoral researchers, women, underrepresented minorities, and LGBTQ scientists. ASCB's institutional role extends beyond meetings. It publishes research and education journals, distributes newsletters and science news, supports public-facing image resources, recognizes achievement through awards and lectures, and communicates with policymakers about biomedical research and funding. Its committees cover education, finance, international affairs, membership, minority affairs, program planning, public information, public policy, students and postdoctoral researchers, and women in cell biology. Through these activities, ASCB has developed from a specialist organization founded around a new imaging technology into a broad professional society serving the modern cell-biology community.
- 2012
San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment
[1]Participants associated with the ASCB annual meeting developed a declaration urging institutions and scientists to assess research more broadly and to avoid treating journal impact factors as a substitute for evaluating individual contributions.
- 1963
Early membership expansion
[1]The society's membership was reported to have reached approximately 9,000 scientists.
- 1961
Legal incorporation and first annual meeting
[1]ASCB was incorporated in New York State and held its first annual meeting in Chicago, where Don Fawcett was selected as the first president.
- 1960
ASCB is organized
[1]An organizing meeting held at Rockefeller University brought together early leaders of the emerging cell-biology community and established the society.
- 1959
National Academy of Sciences supports a national cell biology society
[1]The United States National Academy of Sciences adopted a resolution supporting the creation of a national society representing cell biology and the United States within the International Federation for Cell Biology.
Products and positioning
An interdisciplinary, member-based scientific society connecting cell biology research with education, professional development, public engagement, inclusion, and biomedical policy.
Research journal
Molecular Biology of the Cell
A scholarly publication associated with ASCB that presents research reports and essays in cell biology and related areas. It is published online on a frequent schedule and serves as one of the society's principal channels for communicating research findings and scientific analysis.
Education research journal
CBE—Life Sciences Education
An online, peer-reviewed journal focused on life-science education research and evidence-based teaching practice. It supports the society's interest in improving biology instruction, educational scholarship, and the preparation of future scientists.
Member publication
ASCB Newsletter
A recurring online newsletter covering society programs, events, public-policy issues, grants, career advice, and other information relevant to ASCB members and the wider cell-biology community.
Online publication
The ASCB Post
An online publication providing science news, commentary, professional insights, and blog-style material related to cell biology and the work of the scientific community.
Scientific image resource
The Cell: An Image Library
A public resource containing images, videos, and animations depicting cells, cellular components, and biological functions across different organisms. The resource is intended to support research, teaching, outreach, and broader understanding of cellular activity.
Scientific conference · 1961
ASCB Annual Meeting
The society's principal annual gathering, generally held in the first part of December. It combines scientific lectures, symposia, workshops, poster presentations, exhibits, award sessions, career roundtables, education programs, advocacy discussions, and networking for researchers at different career stages.
Brand decisions
2012
Support for broader research assessmentStrategyBackground
Scientists participating in the ASCB meeting discussed concerns about the use of journal-level metrics, particularly impact factors, to judge individual researchers and their work.
Action taken
The meeting helped produce the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment, calling for more accurate evaluation of diverse research outputs and contributions.
Aftermath
The declaration became an international reference point in discussions about responsible research assessment and the limitations of relying on journal impact factors.
Recent events
- 2012
ASCB annual meeting helped develop the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment[1]
Other
Scientists attending the ASCB meeting in San Francisco developed the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment, which called for research outputs to be evaluated more accurately and cautioned against relying excessively on journal impact factors when assessing individual researchers.
Sources2 sources
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