Every scientist has stood in a crowded conference room rehearsing a question they’re too nervous to ask. The expert they admire is right there, but the fear of sounding unprepared wins.Yet one well-timed question can unlock clarity, accelerate a stalled project, or even spark a collaboration. In this episode, JB pulls the curtain back on the mindset and tactics he’s used for years—including the exact line that makes intimidating conversations surprisingly easy. It’s a

Before the islet lit up, the collaboration wasn’t even aimed at imaging. Johannes “JB” Broichhagen trained as a synthetic chemist — someone who trusted carbon–carbon bonds far more than live-cell behavior. Yet curiosity and chemistry pulled him into the world of GLP-1R, pancreatic β-cells, and the biological questions David Hodson had been exploring for years. The call from David — the glowing islet — created a pivot the team couldn’t ignore. A fluorescent peptide probe

Some breakthroughs don’t start with a grant or a roadmap — they start with a question no one expects to matter. For JB, that moment was a cold email from a biologist he’d never met, asking if he could synthesize a molecule “when you’re back in Munich.” That simple ask pulled a young chemist out of the fume hood and into the messy, electrifying world of live-cell biology. What followed — a trip to London, confocal imaging marathons, and a partnership built on trust and c

Science used to reward the lone genius—the first author who “drove the project,” the PI whose name defined a field. But the problems we face today—metabolic disease, obesity, GPCR signaling complexity—are too layered, too multidimensional, too systemic for single-discipline solutions. As Hodson put it, the work he leads now would be impossible without partnerships. Whether it's human genetics, imaging platforms, peptide chemistry, or neural metabolic mapping—every piece re

When David Hodson’s lab teamed up with chemist Johannes Broichhagen aka JB (then a young researcher newly arrived during a home DIY moment), the goal was bold and elegant: Create a photo-switchable ligand to remotely control GPCR signaling with light. This was the moment when photopharmacology felt like the future. The literature was buzzing. Labs were competing. The idea was simple — turn signaling on or off with a flash of light.

Enter a long-term collaboration with chemist Dr. Johannes Broichhagen - aka JB — which, amusingly, began when Hodson opened the door wearing cleaning gloves mid home renovation.

When you walk into a typical academic lab, the boundaries are obvious: this PI’s corner, that group’s benches, their grants, their silos. But in Melbourne, a quiet experiment challenged that model — and it worked.

The first time Michelle ran a cyclic AMP assay, she did it with a single-channel pipette, trays of melting ice, and the kind of focus that only comes from knowing one mistake could waste weeks of work.

Michelle hadn’t mapped out a scientific empire. She was a student expecting tedium, not inspiration. Yet that summer research placement cracked open a new reality: the thrill of asking questions no one else could answer.

Collaboration drives discovery. Dr. Jens Carlsson shows how cross-disciplinary teamwork turns GPCR models into real translational outcomes.

Dr. Jens Carlsson reveals how predictive modeling is reshaping GPCR drug discovery—bridging computation, chemistry, and pharmacology for real-world impact.

Can GPCR models predict biology? Dr. Jens Carlsson shares how structure-based modeling is transforming drug discovery, and why collaboration is key.

Ajay Yekkirala’s journey from rejected med student to GPCR biotech founder shows how failure, mentorship, and curiosity can drive real innovation in drug discovery.

Purpose-driven science works because it creates resilience. Careers built on prestige, titles, or external pressure can burn out quickly. But careers built on urgency, alignment, and meaning are the ones that last.

At its core, Catherine Demery’s research is about receptors and signaling pathways—how mu-opioid and alpha-2 adrenergic receptors interact to disrupt breathing. But it’s also about public health urgency.

Catherine Demery shares how walking away from pharmacy school led her to discover a passion for opioid pharmacology. From CRO experience to addiction-focused research, she now investigates fentanyl and xylazine’s effects on respiration using mouse models. Her story offers critical insight into how non-linear paths, personal loss, and public health urgency can shape impactful scientific careers in the GPCR research community.

What does it mean to lead in science as a PhD student? In this episode, Alessandro Nicoli reflects on being the first PhD in a new lab, the challenges of delegating, and the rewards of mentoring students. His story reveals how leadership is learned through shared growth, patience, and shaping the next generation of GPCR researchers. A must-read for scientists balancing research with mentoring responsibilities.

How do you study receptors with no ligands and no structures? In this episode, PhD student Alessandro Nicoli explains how AlphaFold and molecular dynamics are revolutionizing the study of olfactory GPCRs. By turning predictions into starting points, Alessandro and his team are building models that not only match experimental accuracy but also open new doors in ligand discovery, drug design, and the future of computational biology.

From Venice to Munich, follow the story of Alessandro Nicoli, a PhD student whose path into science was anything but linear. In this episode, he shares how a love of chemistry, the guidance of key mentors, and a leap into computational modeling led him to tackle one of biology’s greatest puzzles: olfactory GPCRs. Discover how AlphaFold, molecular dynamics, and curiosity-driven research are reshaping the way we study G protein-coupled receptors.

Should we start research with the model, not the molecule? Dr. Alex Serafini explains how building backwards may be the future of GPCR-driven pain therapy.

Discover how RGS proteins like RGS4 are reshaping our understanding of GPCRs and chronic pain. Dr. Alex Serafini explains the quiet power of GPCR regulation.

Dr. Alex Serafini turned chronic pain into a research mission. Discover how personal experience shaped his work on GPCRs, RGS proteins, and new pain models.

Sokhom Pin explains why staying in GPCR research during its “unpopular” phase helped him become a sought-after expert today.

Sokhom Pin shares how he built a thriving GPCR research team at Alkermes through trust, culture, and empowerment-driven leadership.