Leadership, Impact, and GPCR Signaling with Dr. Michelle Halls

In this episode Dr.Michelle Halls shares how dissecting the spatial organization of GPCR signaling opens new doors in drug discovery. From early discoveries in cyclic AMP signaling to uncovering ultrasensitive receptor responses at femtomolar ligand concentrations, her work highlights why receptor localization and protein complex assembly matter for therapeutic targeting.

This conversation is especially valuable for scientists developing functional assays, fluorescence-based tools, and high-throughput GPCR screens.

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Inside This Episode

How ultrasensitive GPCR signaling emerges from pre-assembled receptor–effector complexes at the plasma membrane.
Why receptor localization and scaffolding dramatically shift functional readouts in disease models.
What early cyclic AMP assays revealed about spatial signaling long before high-content technologies existed.
The moment when femtomolar ligand concentrations uncovered unexpected receptor sensitivity.
How an integrated training and lab structure at Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences fosters innovation in functional assay development and GPCR research.

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Why It Might Hit Home

If you’ve ever:

Faced unexpected assay behavior at ultra-low ligand concentrations,
Balanced innovation with robust validation under real experimental constraints,
Tried to map signaling heterogeneity in disease-relevant models,
Built assays that need to work in real biology—not just on paper,

…this episode will resonate.

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About the Guest

Michelle Halls is an Associate Professor at Monash University and Deputy Theme Leader of Drug Discovery Biology at Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences. She leads the Spatial Organisation of Signalling Laboratory, where her team investigates how GPCRs orchestrate localized signaling events, how these mechanisms are hijacked in disease, and how they can be leveraged for therapeutic innovation.

Michelle earned her PhD in Molecular Pharmacology at Monash University, then trained in single-cell biology as an NHMRC CJ Martin Fellow at University of Cambridge. She established her lab in 2011, and today she is a Viertel Senior Medical Research Fellow. Her recognitions include the 2024 ASCEPT Achievement Award, the 2023 BPS Geoffrey Burnstock Prize, and the 2019 Faculty Future Research Leader Award.

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More about Michelle Halls

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Articles about this Podcast Episode

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