The department is playing a key role in Mexico and other countries as a consequence of its academic and scientific activities. Some international students have returned to their countries and currently are scientists in their institutions. The department has graduated more students in Cell Biology than any other institution in Mexico. We have graduated 368 students, 244 corresponding to the Master of Science degree and 124 to Doctorate, since 1973.

Outstanding, the department has developed several projects that have shown a great impact in other areas such as Biotechnology and Pharmaceutics. One of such projects is the culture of human epidermis to be used in skin grafts. Professor Walid Kuri-Harcuch developed this technology in our department. Later on, it was transferred to a private company to be used for treatment of several types of skin damages and other skin pathologies. Other important project allowed the development of a vaccine to prevent the blue eye disease in pigs, which is now being produced by a non public company. This project was developed to solve a regional problem of high prevalence in the Mexican Bajío. Professor Manuel Hernandez-Hernandez was one of the researchers involved in this successful project.

Finally, based on the scientific production, the high efficiency of termination of our graduate programs, and the distinction of all professors of the Faculty as members of the Researchers National System (Sistema Nacional de Investigadores, SNI), our graduate programs have been awarded with an International Level of Competence by The National Council of Science and Technology from Mexico (CONACyT).