The Department of Cell Biology originated from the Biology Teaching and Research Section established in 1954. Professor Lu Huilin, a renowned medical geneticist and medical educator, served as its first director. Academician Xia Jiahui, a distinguished medical geneticist, joined the section in 1961. In 2003, the Department of Cell Biology was formally established within the College of Life Sciences at Central South University, the department covers multiple disciplines including cell biology, developmental biology, zoology and botany, and has cultivated a large number of undergraduate and graduate students.

The Department of Cell Biology primarily delivers courses in cell biology and advances in biology for majors including Biological Sciences, Eight-Year Clinical Medicine Program, Five-Year Clinical Medicine Program, Five-Year Medical Specialization Program, and Four-Year Medical Specialization Program. It also teaches courses in medical cell biology and cell structure and disease for master's and doctoral students. The department maintains master's degree programs, doctoral degree programs, and a postdoctoral research station.

The Department of Cell Biology focuses on the following primary research areas: Research on the mechanisms of occurrence and development of major diseases such as tumors, neurodegenerative diseases, and atherosclerosis;Research on disease diagnosis and prevention, separation and pharmacological study of active components of natural medicines, development of small molecule drugs, cultivation and application of stem cells;Viral infections and host immunity, proteomics research, , the development and clinical application of metagenomic technologies; Animal evolution, animal development and immunity, the construction and application of model animals, mechanisms for maintaining animal diversity, and the diagnosis and treatment of animal diseases; Plant propagation ecology, plant evolution, and mechanisms for preserving biodiversity; Aquatic biological ecotoxicology, development and utilization of algal resources, etc.