<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Gáspár Pándy-Szekeres About Gáspár Pándy-Szekeres " After a BSc in biology and a MSc in bioinformatics, I have been working in David Gloriam's group as a bioinformatician. My initial focus was on creating an automated chimeric homology modeling pipeline for GPCRs and since have branched out to multiple areas of GPCR research such as sequence alignments, generic numbering systems, structure data, G protein and arrestin coupling and more. As a developer, and more recently the lead developer of GPCRdb my day-to-day work centers around the maintenance and resource/tool development of GPCRdb and its sister databases. I am also affiliated with György Keserű's group at the RCNS in Hungary. I lived in Denmark, Poland, now I live in Hungary. I am married, I have two daughters. In my free time I like to play the guitar, sing and play board games. " Gáspár Pándy-Szekeres on the web LinkedIn University of Copenhagen ResearchGate Twitter Dr. GPCR Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>

<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Dr. Yamina Berchiche About this episode In this Episode 0 of the brand new Dr. GPCR podcast , your host and founder, Dr. Yamina Berchiche introduces the very first podcast dedicated to GPCRs researcher and their work. This podcast is part of the Dr. GPCR Ecosystem, with the goal is to bring together GPCR scientists, biotech, and pharma leaders as well as suppliers working on GPCRs by providing opportunities to connect, share, form trusting partnerships, grow, and thrive together to accelerate GPCR drug discovery and improve human health. Dr. Yamina Berchiche on the web - Website - LinkedIn - PubMed - Twitter - Facebook - Dr. GPCR Ecosystem Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>

<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Developing new tools to uncover GPCR signaling patterns with Remi Janicot About Remi Janicot I was born in Paris (France) and grew up in Europe until I was 18. After graduating high school, I moved to America to pursue my passion for basketball while continuing high level studies. I played collegiate basketball and earned my bachelor’s at Ursinus College, a small school around Philadelphia where I graduated from in 2018. After that, I worked at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore as a research assistant investigating mechanisms and treatments for pediatric epilepsy. With my background in neuroscience, the lab of Dr. Mikel Garcia-Marcos seemed like a good fit as GPCRs are integral to the functioning of the nervous system (and much more). My particular projects revolve around developing new tools to study GPCR activity in ways that were not previously possible. This research has led to a first-author Cell article on the development of a new biosensor platform called ONE-GO biosensors. Overall, the lab works on diverse models and diseases, and has developed a wide array of tools to dissect GPCR/G protein signaling which I would be happy to discuss. Remi Janicot on the web Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>

Dr. Antonella Di Pizio on building computational models for GPCRs with almost no crystal structures and almost no ligands — bitter taste receptors, odorant receptors, and the trace amine-associated receptors that may one day treat depression. << Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Antonella Di Pizio: Computational Pharmacology of Taste and Olfactory Receptors Chemosensory receptors — bitter taste receptors (TAS2Rs), odorant receptors, and trace amine-associated receptors (TAARs) — sit among the most structurally underserved families of class A GPCRs. No crystal structures exist for most of them, sequence identity within the TAS2R family hovers between 15% and 19%, and several members are effectively orphans with only a handful of known ligands. Yet these receptors appear to govern far more than flavor and smell. Bitter taste receptors have been identified in the heart and intestine, olfactory receptors in the brain, and the TAARs sit at the interface between neurotransmission and chemoreception — with clinical interest emerging in schizophrenia, neurodegeneration, depression, and anxiety. In this conversation, Dr. Antonella Di Pizio — who leads the computational pharmacology group at the Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich — describes how she uses homology modeling, docking, molecular dynamics, and iterative mutagenesis to probe these systems. For her, the work isn't abstract: she spent five months staring at empty protein crystals during her PhD, and learned that the distance between giving up and seeing a ligand inside a binding pocket can be measured in weeks. About the Guest Dr. Antonella Di Pizio is an independent research group leader in computational pharmacology at the Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich, where she was the first group leader appointed to the institute's newly-formed in-silico department. Trained as a medicinal chemist at the University of Chieti in Italy, she completed her PhD in computational medicinal chemistry before spending a formative period in Gerhard Klebe's structural biology lab in Marburg. Her postdoctoral training in Masha Niv's lab in Israel marked her first work on GPCRs, specifically the bitter taste receptors (TAS2Rs). Her group now studies taste receptors, odorant receptors, and trace amine-associated receptors using a combination of homology modeling, docking, molecular dynamics, and virtual screening — tightly integrated with experimental mutagenesis and functional assays through collaborations. Scientific Themes of the Conversation Chemosensory receptors as a frontier for GPCR drug discovery Trace amine-associated receptors (TAARs) and their neurological relevance Promiscuity and selectivity within the bitter taste receptor family Iterative integration of computational modeling with experimental mutagenesis Ectopic expression of taste and odorant receptors beyond their namesake tissues Persistence, career building, and what it means to lead a first-generation computational group Key Insights from the Conversation The first in-silico group inside a food biology institute. When Dr. Di Pizio arrived in October 2018, she founded the first computational group in an institute whose original identity had been food chemistry. Her job description — computational pharmacology — was itself an attempt to name a new interface between food chemistry and receptor pharmacology. TAARs look more classical than most chemosensory GPCRs — and that matters for modeling. Unlike bitter taste receptors, which share only 5–10% sequence identity with available structural templates, the TAARs share roughly 30% identity with the β2-adrenergic receptor. That proximity transforms what's computationally tractable, making homology modeling genuinely predictive rather than speculative. TAAR5 is effectively orphan — and may be a new kind of antidepressant target. With only about five known agonists, TAAR5 sits in a pharmacological twilight. Yet knockout mice show anti-anxiety, anti-depressant phenotypes, and expression of the receptor in the brain alters serotonin levels. An antagonist of TAAR5 could, in principle, seed a new class of psychiatric therapy. Bitter is not only about taste. TAS2Rs have been identified in the heart and intestine; olfactory receptors in the brain. What they do there remains largely unknown. But evidence is accumulating that bitter taste receptors participate in innate immunity, recognizing bacterial secretions that happen to register as bitter on the tongue. A bitter receptor is already in phase 2 clinical trials. Isohumulones — the hop-derived bitter compounds that give beer its characteristic flavor — have shown anti-diabetic activity in clinical development. The receptor responsible, TAS2R1, is expressed in the intestine. The drug candidate was never designed as a bitter receptor ligand; the receptor was identified post-hoc. Computational pharmacology is not a downstream silo. Dr. Di Pizio's workflow is deliberately iterative: build the model, predict binding-site residues, send them out for mutagenesis, fold the experimental results back into the model, rebuild. Collaborators are not recipients of finished predictions — they are partners embedded in the modeling loop itself. Five months of empty crystals, then a ligand. During her PhD, Dr. Di Pizio spent five months crystallizing carbonic anhydrase 2 with small molecules and seeing only empty proteins at the synchrotron. Two weeks before her internship ended, after changing every parameter she could think of, she finally saw her ligand inside the binding pocket. She describes it as the happiest moment of her scientific life — and, for a computational chemist, a lasting lesson in what sits behind every coordinate file. Episode Timeline Timestamps were generated using AI for readability. 00:00 Introduction 01:46 Computational pharmacology inside a food systems institute 03:13 From medicinal chemistry to bitter taste receptors 05:44 Trace amine-associated receptors on the edge of neuroscience 12:34 Anosmia and viruses of the olfactory system 19:03 Inside a computational workflow for orphan receptors 29:14 Bitter receptors in the heart and gut 30:43 A bitter receptor in phase 2 clinical trials 43:40 Five months of empty crystals 55:56 Rebuilding a research group during lockdown Selected Quotes "We don't have any crystal structures. So the research is more food-oriented and food-chemistry-oriented — this is why we have knowledge about compounds, but we don't have a lot of knowledge about quantitative structure-activity relations based on the structure of the receptor." "For five months, my protein was always empty at the X-ray. And two weeks before I had to leave, I finally saw my ligand inside the pocket. For me, I think that was my happiest moment in my life." "You share your research goal with your collaborators. They are more partners than collaborators." "Think of being an investor of yourself. Read, study, do the most as you can to learn as much as you can — not only scientifically, but also networking. Be passionate on exactly the field that you work on, because this will be extremely useful later." About this episode In this episode of the Dr. GPCR podcast , we meet with Dr. Antonella Di Pizio, an independent research group leader at the Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich. Antonella trained as a medicinal chemist in Italy, followed by a Ph.D. in computational medicinal chemistry, during which she developed a taste for structural biology. Antonella then moved to Israel, where she first started working on bitter taste GPCRs in Dr. Masha Niv's lab . Today, Antonella has expanded her research to olfactory GPCRs and trace amine receptors. Join us to learn more about chemosensory GPCRs and how computational pharmacology can help better understand their function. Dr. Antonella Di Pizio on the web Leibniz-Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich Google Scholar PubMed LinkedIn Dr. GPCR Ecosystem Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>

Dr. Foord reflects on discovering RAMPs, deorphanizing GPCRs, and navigating industrial GPCR pharmacology, target validation, and drug discovery strategy. << Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Foord: Serendipity, RAMPs, And Industrial GPCR Pharmacology Scientific Abstract This conversation traces how GPCR pharmacology, receptor signaling, and drug discovery evolved inside one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical organizations. Dr. Foord reflects on his path from academic neuroendocrinology to introducing molecular biology and molecular pharmacology into Glaxo’s GPCR programs, and on the combination of rigor, bioinformatics, and serendipity that led to several influential discoveries. He describes the purification and cloning of the CGRP receptor, the identification of receptor activity-modifying proteins (RAMPs), and the realization that CGRP signaling required receptor complexes rather than a single seven-transmembrane protein, reshaping thinking about peptide receptor activation and ligand binding. Dr. Foord also discusses work on angiotensin, GABA B, free fatty acid, nicotinic acid, and prostaglandin EP4 receptors, showing how orphan receptors were deorphanized using expression systems, electrophysiology in Xenopus oocytes, and early bioinformatics. The discussion highlights the gap between identifying a target and delivering a drug, the challenges of target validation, and the realities of industrial decision-making around receptor selectivity, safety, and market focus. Along the way, Dr. Foord reflects on the limits and promise of human genetics, the underexploited potential of GPCR antibodies, and the importance of team composition, negative data, and scientific community in navigating complex receptor biology. About the Guest Dr. Foord is a physiologist and pharmacologist who spent more than two decades at Glaxo, Glaxo Wellcome, and GlaxoSmithKline working on GPCR pharmacology and drug discovery. Trained in neuroendocrinology, he helped bring molecular biology into traditionally pharmacology-driven GPCR programs and worked across migraine, cardiovascular, pain, and inflammation projects. His work contributed to the identification of RAMPs in the CGRP receptor system, deorphanization of several GPCRs including GABA B and carboxylic acid receptors, and discovery of a prostaglandin EP4 modulator that advanced as a drug candidate. Later in his career, Dr. Foord led bioinformatics for neuroscience and played a central role in GSK’s early large-scale genetics initiative, integrating GPCR targets, ion channels, transporters, and ligands into association studies. His experience spans receptor cloning, expression systems such as Xenopus oocytes, electrophysiology, molecular pharmacology, and the use of informatics to mine sequence, structural, and genetic data for new receptor targets. Key Insights from the Conversation RAMPs Reframed Peptide GPCR Pharmacology . Dr. Foord explains how attempts to clone the CGRP receptor from SK-N-MC cells, combined with highly sensitive cAMP readouts in Xenopus oocytes, unexpectedly pulled out RAMP1 rather than a conventional seven-transmembrane receptor. The realization that RAMPs co-assemble with CRLR to form CGRP and related receptors forced a reconceptualization of peptide receptor activation and made clear that receptor complexes, not single proteins, could underlie pharmacological specificity. Serendipity Depends on Experimental Design and System Choice . The discovery of RAMPs was only possible because the assay tied receptor signaling to a highly amplified electrophysiological readout, revealing dramatic effects that might have been lost in noisier systems. Similarly, placental tissue became the source for CGRP receptor purification simply because binding studies showed it combined high receptor density with practical availability, illustrating how pragmatic choices in model systems can open unexpected paths in GPCR pharmacology. Deorphanizing Receptors Blends Bioinformatics and Bench Work . Dr. Foord describes a period where his group repeatedly identified ligands for orphan receptors: the second GABA B subunit via yeast two-hybrid, a carboxylic acid receptor when the solvent turned out to be the real agonist, and a nicotinic acid receptor by intersecting tissue expression data with orphan GPCRs. These stories show how careful pharmacology, informed sequence analysis, and attention to apparent artifacts can reveal new receptor signaling pathways relevant for metabolism and cardiovascular disease. Target Validation Is Harder Than Cloning a Receptor . From the non-existent second AT1 angiotensin receptor to the MAS oncogene as a poor angiotensin responder, Dr. Foord emphasizes how easy it is to be misled by overexpressed systems and noisy orphan receptor data. Southern blotting, cross-hybridization, and later genetic analyses ultimately showed that some hypothesized subtypes were artifacts, underscoring that robust target validation is a distinct and often more challenging problem than receptor cloning or initial ligand binding assays. Drug Discovery Is Constrained by Selectivity, Safety, and Strategy . The CGRP story illustrates how structural biology and pharmacology intersect with corporate decisions: once it became clear that the CRLR binding pocket is shared across CGRP, amylin, and adrenomedullin receptors, small-molecule selectivity looked problematic. Later hepatotoxicity concerns and the success of antibody therapeutics further shifted strategy. Similar strategic considerations shaped the fate of the EP4 partial agonist that ultimately found a niche in veterinary medicine rather than human rheumatoid arthritis. Genetics and Informatics Offer Power but Not Simple Answers . As Head of Bioinformatics for Neuroscience, Dr. Foord participated in GSK’s early large-scale association genetics effort, feeding GPCRs, ion channels, and transporters into case–control studies. Apart from APOE4 in Alzheimer’s disease, most signals failed to reach robustness with available cohort sizes, tempering expectations that genetics alone would deliver pipelines of GPCR targets. He argues that integrating structural biology, computational pharmacology, and genetics may still be key to understanding receptor activation in patients, but requires realistic views of effect sizes and trial design. Scientific Careers Depend on Teams, Mentors, and Community . Reflecting on his path from physiology to molecular pharmacology to bioinformatics, Dr. Foord highlights how good mentors, diverse teams, and open sharing of reagents and ideas enabled progress. He stresses the value of lab “optimists and cynics,” the importance of talking about negative results, and the role of informal networks in preventing wasted effort. For younger scientists, his advice centers on doing work you genuinely enjoy, finding supervisors who connect you to the broader GPCR community, and being willing to pivot as new methods and questions emerge. Episode Timeline 00:00 — Early academic work in neuroendocrinology, self-experimentation with TRH and somatostatin, and first encounters with hormones and GPCRs. 02:00 — Move to Roger Craig’s lab, purification of the CGRP receptor from human placenta, and practical considerations in choosing receptor-rich tissues. 05:00 — Transition from academia to Glaxo, early HIV TAT work in Xenopus oocytes, and the emergence of molecular pharmacology within a pharmacology-led organization. 10:30 — Expression cloning of the CGRP system, discovery of RAMP1, and how oocyte electrophysiology revealed a massive potentiation of endogenous CRLR signaling. 18:00 — Industrial migraine programs, small-molecule CGRP antagonists, challenges with selectivity and liver toxicity, and the later success of CGRP antibodies. 20:00 — Angiotensin receptor work, using Southern blots to hunt for a non-existent AT1 subtype, and the MAS oncogene as a cautionary tale in receptor signaling artifacts. 30:00 — Discovery of the prostaglandin EP4 receptor while searching for angiotensin-related sequences, development of an EP4 partial agonist, and its path into veterinary medicine. 34:00 — GABA B receptor complex, identification of the second subunit via yeast two-hybrid, and closing the chapter on proposed additional GABA B subtypes. 39:00 — Large-scale genetics and bioinformatics at GSK, expectations for GPCR target discovery from association studies, and reflections on why many signals remained elusive. 52:00 — Career advice on doing work you enjoy, the importance of mentors and connectedness, and how team composition and negative data shape GPCR research and drug discovery. Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>

<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Vaithish Velazhahan About Vaithish Velazhahan Vaithish obtained dual bachelor’s degrees with honors in Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology from Kansas State University, USA. His undergraduate thesis work on studying the biochemical mechanisms of flavonoids in cancer using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) led to a Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship. He then received a prestigious Gates Cambridge Scholarship to study for a Ph.D. at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology and the University of Cambridge, where he is currently a final year Ph.D. candidate. His Ph.D. work has been focused on understanding the structure and activation of Class D fungal GPCRs. He has developed novel tools and methodologies to study fungal GPCRs which allowed the determination of the first structures of the prototypical fungal GPCR Ste2. This work has led to two first-authored manuscripts published in the journal Nature. Vaithish has been recognized with the MRC LMB's Max Perutz Prize for outstanding Ph.D. work and has been elected a Research Fellow at Gonville and Caius College, which is one of the most prestigious positions at the University of Cambridge. Vaithish Velazhahan on the web Twitter GatesCambridge PubMed Dr. GPCR Ecosystem Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>

<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Annabelle Milner About Annabelle Milner Annabelle completed her undergraduate degree in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Bath. As part of the degree, she undertook a 1-year research-based placement at the Charles Perkins Centre in Sydney, investigating the effects of dietary carbohydrates on metabolic health with Dr. Jibran Wali. From here, she returned to the UK. She began her Ph.D. at Imperial College London with Prof Aylin Hanyaloglu, Prof Gary Frost, and Dr. Alastair Brown (Sosei Heptares), where she is currently a final year Ph.D. student. Annabelle’s Ph.D. work focuses on microbial-derived metabolites that signal through GPCRs expressed in the GI. In particular, she is looking at L- and D-lactate-activated HCAR1 signaling. She presented her Ph.D. work at the Society of Endocrinology Conference 2022 and was awarded the best oral poster prize. Outside the lab, she enjoys baking and swimming and has recently taken up paddle boarding. Annabelle Milner on the web Linkedin Researchgate Pubmed Dr. GPCR Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>

<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Dr. Prasenjit Saha About Dr. Prasenjit Saha I conducted my doctoral research at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India, to investigate the mechanisms behind rare mitochondrial diseases, which can lead to heart failure, muscle fatigue, and neurodegenerative disorders. I am now working at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, USA, studying the gut microbiome and its impact on cardiovascular disease (CVD). Specifically, I am interested in understanding dysregulated G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling linked to atherosclerosis and diabetes. My research goal is to identify novel cellular target receptors of human gut microbe-derived metabolites that are pathologically linked to CVD. Discovering these receptors would be a significant breakthrough in cardiovascular biology as they could be targeted for therapeutic purposes. During my post-doctoral research, I was part of a study that identified the receptors of a novel human gut microbe-derived metabolite called phenylacetylglutamine (PAG), which is linked to cardiovascular disease. This study demonstrated that PAG is a potential diagnostic marker for CVD as it causes serious fatal conditions such as thrombus formation, which can block blood vessels. In this study, I discovered adrenergic receptors (α2A, α2B, and β2-adrenergic receptors) that serve as the gut microbial metabolite (PAG) receptor and characterized the receptor-metabolite interaction. More recently, I have shifted my focus to identifying allosteric modulators of host G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that contribute to cardio-metabolic disorders. Traditional drug discovery efforts have focused on agonists and antagonists that bind to the orthosteric site of the receptor. However, the pursuit of allosteric modulators has gained attention as they have the potential to fine-tune cellular responses with greater selectivity among the subtypes of GPCRs. My long-term plan is to conduct research in the field of receptor biology, with a focus on GPCRs. They are the largest, most versatile, and most ubiquitous class of plasma membrane receptors and serve as targets for more than one-third of all prescribed drugs currently used in the treatment of human diseases all over the world. Dr. Prasenjit Saha on the web Google Scholar Pubmed LinkedIn Dr. GPCR Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>

<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Dr. John Janetzko About Dr. John Janetzko "I received my Honors BSc in Chemistry from the University of Toronto in 2011, with a focus on synthetic organic and inorganic chemistry. Following this, I pursued graduate studies in Chemistry at Harvard University. At Harvard, I worked in the labs of Drs. Daniel Kahne and Suzanne Walker studying the structure and function of the essential human enzyme, O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT). My Ph.D. work focused on understanding the mechanism of an enigmatic moonlighting function of OGT that had been described only a year earlier. Over the course of my graduate work, I gained experience with structural mass spectrometry and protein crystallography, which shaped my interest in understanding how protein dynamics are linked to function. To further develop these ideas, I joined the lab of Dr. Brian Kobilka at Stanford University at the end of 2017 for postdoctoral work. There, I’ve been working towards understanding the molecular basis of G protein-coupled receptor desensitization and trafficking. My postdoc work has made use of several techniques including various mass spectrometry approaches, single particle cryo-EM and single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy. In July 2024 I will join the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics. Besides research, I am passionate about teaching, science communication and making research more inclusive and welcoming. Outside of the lab, I am an avid bike racer, an occasional cycling coach, and I enjoy spending time with my wife, son, and Bernedoodle." Dr. John Janetzko on the web Stanford University Stanford Medicine Google Scholar Personal Website ResearchGate LinkedIn Twitter Dr. GPCR AI Summary AI-generated content may be inaccurate or misleading. Always check for accuracy. Quick recap In their conversation, Yamina and John discussed crafting social media posts for John's scientific content. They also shared their respective backgrounds and future plans, with John planning to start his own lab at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. John shared his journey into science, from his interest in creative fields to his involvement in the Chemistry Olympiad and subsequent academic pursuits. The conversation also touched on the challenges of applying for academic positions in the US, the importance of adaptability in one's career, and the potential benefits of networking and mentorship. Next steps • Yamina will share ideas on supporting John's new academic position after the recording stops. • John will prioritize getting feedback from people outside his lab to structure his job seminars. Summary Social Media Post Crafting for GPCRs Yamina and John discussed crafting social media posts for John's scientific content. Yamina emphasized that the content should be kept in a PG-13 context and be scientifically related to GPCRs. John expressed his comfort in sharing his stories and agreed to follow Yamina's guidelines. They also discussed their respective backgrounds and John's future plans to start his own lab at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. John shared his journey into science and his initial interest in creative fields. John's Chemistry Olympiad Journey John shared his experiences in high school, where he developed a keen interest in advanced physics and math curriculum. He participated in various academic competitions, including math, physics, and chemistry contests. John explained that he was drawn to chemistry because it allowed him to build things in his mind and design them. He discovered the National Chemistry Olympiad and was selected to attend a provincial training camp at the University of Toronto. This led to his participation in the National Training Program in Quebec City and his selection to represent Canada at the Chemistry Olympiad in Moscow, Russia. John also mentioned his university application process, which was less stressful than the US system. Yamina shared her own experiences with applying to universities in Canada and the US. John's Chemistry Olympiad and GPCR Journey John shared his experience with the Chemistry Olympiad program, highlighting its rigorousness and advanced content that exceeds typical high school curriculums. He also reflected on his journey from his early involvement in a university chemistry lab to his current interest in graduate school, inspired by the innovative approach of using chemistry to understand and build tools for biology. Yamina sought clarification on John's involvement with GPCRs, but the transcript ended before he could respond. John's Scientific Journey and Lab Collaboration John discussed his scientific journey, starting with a project in Suzanne Walker's lab focusing on the essential mammalian protein O-GlcNAc transferase. He then moved to Dan's lab where he met Suzanne and her project. Towards the end of his PhD, John became interested in understanding how proteins operate as large macromolecular machines and decided to work on memory proteins. He chose Brian's lab due to his interest in studying conformational changes. John shared his experience of reaching out to and securing a position in Brian's lab. He detailed his initial email contact, the subsequent Skype meeting, and the in-person visit that led to his acceptance of the position. John also discussed the potential complications that arose when his then-girlfriend, now wife, was applying for residencies. Ultimately, John did join the lab after his girlfriend successfully matched at Stanford. John explained the collaborative culture in Brian's lab, where individuals are encouraged to pursue projects aligned with their interests. He shared his experience working on a project involving receptor kinases and collaborating with other postdocs in the lab to develop assays and improve the biochemistry of certain targets. The conversation emphasized the importance of diverse backgrounds and skill sets in tackling complex challenges and finding solutions. Academia vs. Industry: Career Progression Discussion Yamina and John had a detailed discussion about the prospects of staying in academia versus transitioning to biotech or industry. John shared his thoughts about the great science happening in other sectors and how the decision largely depended on the opportunities presented. Yamina agreed and sought advice from John on career progression in academia. John suggested building milestones and landmarks into a postdoc, such as applying for funding opportunities, and getting diverse feedback to effectively present work. The conversation ended with Yamina asking when a postdoc should start considering their next steps in their career. Academic Position Applications and Transition Preparation John and Yamina discussed the extensive process of applying for academic positions in the US. John suggested starting preparations a year to two years ahead due to the time needed to develop ideas, write proposals, and get feedback. They also highlighted the need for mentorship and networking in finding job opportunities. Yamina questioned whether universities adequately prepare postdocs for the transition to industry or academia, suggesting a detailed manual or guide might be helpful. Both agreed on the importance of adaptability, as unexpected situations like the Covid-19 pandemic can affect the job searching process. John shared his experiences, stating that he submitted approximately 35 to 40 applications and that the interview process is time-consuming. Career Choices and Support in Academia John shared his positive experiences from job interviews and forming friendships with colleagues at various institutions. He also discussed the challenges of choosing between job offers, including considering his wife's career, her family's location in Denver, and other factors like monetary package and colleagues. John emphasized that negotiating salary is often not possible due to strict regulations. Yamina suggested having round tables to discuss these topics. John then reflected on his career, sharing key moments of realization in his scientific work and his upcoming transition out of his lab. The conversation concluded with both John and Yamina expressing a desire to support the academic community in various ways. Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>

<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Dr. Bianca Plouffe About Dr. Bianca Plouffe Dr. Bianca Plouffe obtained her B.Sc. in Biochemistry in 2003 from Université de Sherbrooke (Qc, Canada). She then completed an M.Sc. in Physiology from the same university in 2005 by investigating the molecular mechanisms involved in the angiotensin type 2 receptor (AT2R)-mediated neurite outgrowth while characterizing new selective AT2R agonists. In 2006, Bianca obtained a Doctoral Scholarship from the Fonds de Recherche du Québec en Santé. She moved to the University of Ottawa to complete a Ph.D. in Neuroscience. She identified the molecular mechanisms involved in the opposite regulation of dopamine D1 and D5 receptors by protein kinase C. After obtaining a Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research in 2012, Bianca joined the research group of Prof Michel Bouvier at Université de Montréal. As part of Bouvier’s team, Bianca used Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer (BRET)-based technology to tackle important questions related to GPCRs. She identified the structural determinant controlling biased signaling of melatonin type 2 receptors in the context of protection against type 2 diabetes. Bianca also collaborated with Prof. Robert Lefkowitz , which led to the finding that both β-arrestin and G protein can simultaneously bind to some GPCRs when signaling in endosomes by forming a megaplex. In 2018, Bianca was appointed Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow at Queen’s University Belfast to develop her research program. Funded by a Wellcome Trust Seed Award, she investigated biased and compartmentalized G protein signaling by the vasopressin type 2 receptor. In 2021, Bianca secured a permanent position as a lecturer. Her subsequent work has focused on understanding the role of compartmentalized Gq signaling by the cytomegalovirus-encoded chemokine US28 receptor in the context of glioblastoma. Dr. Bianca Plouffe on the web Queen's University Belfast website LinkedIn ResearchGate ORCID Dr. GPCR Ecosystem Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>

<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Dr. Graham Ladds About Dr. Graham Ladds Graham studied Biochemistry at the University of Birmingham before completing a Ph.D. in yeast pheromone signaling at Warwick. He continued to work at Warwick as a post-doc studying pro-hormone convertases before securing a 5-year independent fellowship funded through the NHS. This project enabled him to return to his interest in GPCRs. He progressed through the ranks at Warwick to become an Associate Professor before leaving in 2015 to join the Department of Pharmacology at Cambridge, where he is also a Fellow of St John’s College. In 2020, he was promoted to a Readership/Professor in Receptor Pharmacology and was elected a Fellow of the British Pharmacological Society. His research group uses a combination of pharmacological investigations and mathematical modeling to study factors that control agonist bias at GPCRs. These investigations have enabled him to foster strong collaborations with the pharmaceutical industry (GSK, Takada, and Firmenich) which have recently been enhanced through him being awarded a Royal Society Industry Fellowship to collaborate with AstraZeneca . Dr. Graham Ladds on the web Twitter ResearchGate LinkedIn Google Scholar PubMed Dr. GPCR Ecosystem Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>

<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Dr. Nicolas Gilles About Dr. Nicolas Gilles "Dr. Nicolas Gilles is an expert in the study of animal toxins. He is pioneering the investigation of animal toxins acting on GPCRs, the largest therapeutic target class. His strongest expertise lies in therapeutic target identification and all the steps from venom manipulations, to in vivo validation. When the pharmacological properties of these new ligands are deemed exceptional, a lead optimization is realized and its therapeutic development initiates through a dedicated start-up." Dr. Nicolas Gilles on the web Google Scholar LinkedIn Dr. GPCR Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>

<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Dr. Yamina Berchiche About Dr. Yamina Berchiche Dr. Yamina A. Berchiche is the founder of Dr. GPCR, an ecosystem designed to bring together stakeholders interested in using G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) that control virtually everything in the body as drug targets. The mission of Dr. GPCR is to accelerate GPCR drug discovery by sharing the latest research and technology advances in the field and providing exposure to scientists through the Dr. GPCR podcast. Dr. Berchiche obtained her Master’s and Ph.D. in Biochemistry at the University of Montreal in Canada before training at Rockefeller University in New York and the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. She developed expertise over the past two decades studying structure/function relationships of GPCRs using live-cell bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET). Her work focused on chemokine receptors, members of the GPCR family that control cell movement in the body. Dr. Yamina Berchiche on the web Website LinkedIn Facebook Twitter ResearchGate PubMed Google Scholar Dr. GPCR Ecosystem Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>

<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Dr. Sudha Shenoy About Dr. Sudha Shenoy Dr. Sudha Shenoy is currently an Associate Professor in Medicine & Cell Biology in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Duke University Medical Center. She received her Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University and completed her postdoctoral training with Dr. Robert J. Lefkowitz (Nobel Laureate, 2012) at Duke University. Dr. Shenoy’s postdoctoral research discovered that ubiquitination of mammalian G protein-coupled receptors is a tag for lysosomal degradation, whereas ubiquitination of the adaptor protein, β-arrestin, is a tag for receptor internalization and formation of signaling endosomes. Her laboratory has continued to work on identifying the molecular mechanisms that ascribe ubiquitin code on GPCRs and β-arrestins. Current efforts aim to understand the regulation of GPCR and beta-arrestin signaling in the heart and vascular endothelium by the deubiquitinating enzymes USP20 and USP33. Dr. Sudha Shenoy on the web Duke University Personal Reflections and Words of Wisdom: Story From Dr. Sudha Shenoy LinkedIn Pubmed Dr. GPCR Ecosystem Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>

Eleonora Comeo synthesizes fluorescent ligands to watch adenosine receptor pharmacology happen in living cells - and explains why targeting these receptors keeps failing. << Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Eleonora Comeo: Fluorescent Ligands and the Pharmacology of Adenosine Receptors Adenosine receptors are among the most studied GPCRs in the human body - and among the most difficult to drug. The four subtypes, A1, A2A, A2B, and A3, are expressed across virtually every tissue and implicated in conditions ranging from Parkinson's disease to ischemic heart disease to cancer. Over 40 crystal structures of the A2A receptor alone have been deposited in the Protein Data Bank. Clinical trials have run for decades. And yet approved therapies that selectively target these receptors remain remarkably scarce. One reason is that selectivity in this family is not just a matter of receptor subtype. It is also a matter of G protein coupling, tissue context, and the signaling assay used to measure affinity in the first place - measurements that shift depending on the experimental system. Eleonora Comeo, PhD candidate at the University of Nottingham and the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, is developing fluorescent ligands to address that gap directly - tools designed to visualize adenosine receptor pharmacology at the single-cell level, in environments that better reflect where these receptors actually work. For Comeo, who entered GPCR research without any background in the field and built her PhD around chemistry she could hold in her hand and watch working in a cell, the tools are both scientific instruments and the reason she stayed. ABOUT THE GUEST Eleonora Comeo is a PhD candidate jointly enrolled at the University of Nottingham and the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, working across the groups of Barrie Kellam and Steve Hill. A trained medicinal chemist and pharmacist, her research focuses on the design and synthesis of fluorescent ligands for adenosine A1 and A2A receptors, with the goal of developing chemical tools capable of interrogating receptor pharmacology in physiologically relevant cellular environments. Her work integrates organic synthesis with NanoBRET, SNAP-tag labeling, confocal microscopy, and super-resolution imaging to study receptor localization, internalization, and binding at endogenous and heterologously expressed levels. SCIENTIFIC THEMES OF THE CONVERSATION Fluorescent ligands as pharmacological tools - how synthetic chemistry produces molecules that make receptor behavior visible Adenosine receptor subtype pharmacology - the four subtypes, their G protein coupling profiles, and why ubiquity creates selectivity problems The tumor microenvironment and adenosine-mediated immune suppression - why A2A and A2B are being targeted in oncology Assay dependency and the instability of affinity measurements across experimental systems Endogenous receptor expression in heterologous cell systems - how HEK cell biology confounds fluorescent ligand screening Receptor dimerization - from A2A/dopamine D2 in Parkinson's to A1/A2A in cardio protection, and what remains unresolved KEY INSIGHTS FROM THE CONVERSATION 1. Visibility changes what pharmacology can ask Fluorescent ligands do more than confirm receptor binding - they allow researchers to follow receptors through internalization, track membrane localization, and observe behavior at the single-cell level using super-resolution imaging. Comeo describes the moment she saw her synthesized ligand labeling the cell membrane as one of the most rewarding points in the PhD, precisely because it closed the loop between synthesis and function in a way that binding numbers alone cannot. 2. Ubiquity is adenosine pharmacology's greatest liability The same properties that make adenosine receptors scientifically compelling - their presence in nearly every tissue, their involvement in nearly every major disease class - are what make selective targeting so difficult. Activating or blocking an adenosine receptor for one indication routinely produces off-target effects in another tissue, because the receptor is already doing something important there. The clinical attrition rate in this family reflects that problem more than it reflects a failure of chemistry. 3. Affinity is not a fixed property - it is assay-dependent The apparent affinity of adenosine for its own receptors shifts depending on which downstream signaling endpoint is being measured. A cAMP assay and a binding assay using the same receptor and the same ligand can return different affinity values. Comeo points to this as an underappreciated complication in the field - one that matters not just for scientific interpretation but for how pharmacological classifications like "low affinity" and "high affinity" are assigned across the A2A and A2B subtypes. 4. Tumor cells use adenosine receptors to silence the immune response In the tumor microenvironment, adenosine concentrations are abnormally high. That excess adenosine activates A2A and A2B receptors expressed on immune cells - and that activation suppresses the immune response, allowing tumors to grow unchallenged. Dual A2A/A2B antagonists are now in clinical trials specifically to interrupt this mechanism. Comeo describes this as one of the areas where she most hopes the field can finally validate the receptors as clinical targets, after years of trials that have not delivered. 5. HEK cells are a known confound that still catch researchers out HEK cells endogenously express A2A and A2B receptors at meaningful levels - a fact that complicates fluorescent ligand screening, binding assays, and any experiment where receptor selectivity is the question. Comeo's work uses selective antagonist controls and NanoBRET-tagged receptor constructs to distinguish transfected receptor signal from endogenous background. She also describes recent work in her group using CRISPR-edited cell lines to express receptors at endogenous promoter levels, producing reliable NanoBRET signal even at physiological expression - a methodological advance with implications for how the field studies GPCRs in native-like contexts. 6. Receptor dimerization raises questions the standard pharmacology framework does not address Adenosine receptors form both homodimers and heterodimers with other GPCRs, including A2A with dopamine D2 (a complex investigated extensively in the context of Parkinson's) and A1 with A2A (under investigation for cardioprotection in ischemic heart disease). The biological implications of many of these complexes are still being resolved. During the conversation, an unresolved question surfaced: when a tagged receptor is transfected into HEK cells that endogenously express the same or related subtypes, can the exogenous and endogenous receptors dimerize - and if so, does that alter the pharmacological readout? Neither Comeo nor the host claimed an answer. The question remains open. 7. The hardest transition in a PhD is learning that not knowing the answer is the point Comeo describes the shift from undergraduate training - where not knowing the answer is a liability - to doctoral research, where not knowing the answer is the entire reason the project exists. It is, she notes, a more difficult transition than it sounds, and one that takes time to internalize. The advice she offers to incoming PhD students centers not on technique but on disposition: stay curious about what others are working on, ask for help without embarrassment, and accept that the project is a shared endeavor even when it feels isolating. EPISODE TIMELINE Timestamps are AI-generated from the transcript and should be verified against the final edited audio before publication. 00:00 Introduction 00:44 From Bologna to Nottingham - following her heart into GPCR research 06:49 One year at Monash - starting fresh on the other side of the world 10:02 Adenosine receptor pharmacology and the challenge of targeting four subtypes 16:56 A2A vs A2B - affinity differences, tumor microenvironment, and immune escape 22:08 Why affinity measurements shift depending on the assay 27:09 Synthesizing fluorescent ligands - from crystal structures to glowing molecules 31:03 Following receptors into the cell with super-resolution imaging 36:25 Receptor dimerization - A2A/D2 in Parkinson's, A1/A2A in cardioprotection, and one open question 41:26 Finishing the PhD - what comes next and what she'll miss 42:42 Advice for PhD students - resilience, collaboration, and not fearing the unknown 54:44 The dopamine rush that keeps scientists coming back SELECTED QUOTES "I completely fell in love with that research. And I felt three months wasn't enough for me. So I asked whether they had a PhD opportunity - and here I am." "Just because you can see them. They're really useful because you can see them - you can use them to visualize the process you're interested in. That's what makes it so rewarding." "It's important to understand, in your cellular context, what the expression of the other receptor is - the one you're interested in - because otherwise you can get confounding outputs." "In chemistry, it's like when you finally see the NMR of your structure without anything but your compound - it's just perfect. You can feel the shivering behind your spine. You would just like to run around screaming." About this episode Eleonora Comeo is a doctoral candidate in Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Discovery in the joint program of the University of Nottingham in the UK and Monash University in Australia. We sat down to chat about GPCRs, synthesizing labeled ligands, and her unique position that allows her to work with GPCR scientists on 2 continents. We also touched on how COVID-19 affected her Ph.D. work. Eleonora Comeo on the web LinkedIn ResearchGate Pubmed Google Scholar Dr. GPCR Ecosystem Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>

<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Dr. Caron Tribute Part 1 About Marc Caron Dr. Caron and his family moved to Durham, NC in 1977, following receipt of his BSc in Chemistry from Laval University and his Ph.D. from the University of Miami. He joined the faculty of Laval University School of Medicine in 1975 and then returned to join Duke’s faculty, where he remained as a James B. Duke Professor until his death. He and his laboratory members studied the mechanisms of action and regulation of hormones and neurotransmitters and how they might underlie brain and behavior disorders such as schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, mood disorders, and addiction. Among his many honors, Dr. Caron was an investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute from 1992 to 2004, a member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a recipient of the Julius Axelrod Award. An authoritative and prolific scientist, with over 650 scientific publications, he is most beloved as a mentor and his relentless encouragement that shaped the careers of hundreds of scientists worldwide. About our panelists in alphabetical order and the year they first met Dr. Caron Dr. Jeffrey Benovic (1985) Dr. Michel Bouvier (1985) Dr. Kathleen Caron - Co-host- (1970) Dr. Richard Cerione (1985) Dr. Brian Kolbilka (1987) Dr. Frederik Leeb-Lundberg (1984) Dr. Robert Lefkowitz (1973) Dr. Lee Limbird (1973) Dr. David Sibley (1988) Memories our panelists shared with us https://video.wixstatic.com/video/93ce84_92e3a06139244357b0823e3ecc294e27/1080p/mp4/file.mp4 Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>

Catherine Demery shares how she found clarity and purpose in academic opioid research. From her early doubts to designing preclinical models of fentanyl and xylazine overdose, she reflects on staying in academia, building translational experiments, and using real-world data to drive impactful science in the GPCR research community. << Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Xylazine, Fentanyl, and the Fight for Breath with Catherine Demery Two drugs. Two different mechanisms. One deadly outcome. Fentanyl and xylazine are pushing the opioid crisis into dangerous new territory, and Catherine Demery is on the front lines of the science trying to stop it. In this gripping conversation, Catherine, a PhD candidate at the University of Michigan, shares how personal loss and an unconventional career path—industry chemist, NIH researcher, and now GPCR pharmacologist—led her to investigate how these drugs shut down breathing in different ways. Her research combines cutting-edge GPCR signaling studies with real-time public health data from Michigan’s Red Project, revealing how fentanyl slows inhalation, xylazine prolongs exhalation, and together they drop heart rate to dangerous lows. And while users aren’t asking for xylazine, dealers are lacing it into the supply—driving overdose deaths higher. Why This Matters Fentanyl : Potent synthetic opioid that decreases inhalation rate. Xylazine : Veterinary sedative that prolongs exhalation and induces bradycardia—acting through alpha-2 adrenergic, not opioid, receptors. The Combo : Not just additive—lethal. Street Data : Xylazine-laced fentanyl in Michigan has jumped 30–60% in recent years. What You’ll Learn in This Episode How industry lab experience builds the discipline needed for academic research. Why xylazine is an emerging overdose threat and how it differs mechanistically from opioids. The methods used to measure respiratory depression in live models. How loss and lived experience can sharpen scientific focus. The role of public health programs in informing lab research. How GPCR pharmacology connects molecular insights to real-world interventions. Who Should Listen This episode is especially relevant for: GPCR drug discovery scientists Respiratory pharmacologists Addiction researchers Public health professionals Early-career scientists navigating non-linear paths About Catherine Demery Catherine Demery didn’t set out to be on the front lines of the opioid crisis. After earning her undergraduate degree in biochemistry from the University of Michigan, she deferred pharmacy school, unsure if that path felt right. Instead, she went hands-on—working as an analytical chemist in a GLP/GMP-regulated CRO, where precision and discipline became second nature. That led her to a master’s in pharmacogenomics at Manchester University, igniting her fascination with how genetics and drugs interact. Her next stop: the NIH, studying the immunology of pregnancy. But loss has a way of sharpening focus—friends lost to overdose brought the opioid epidemic into painful clarity. Catherine decided to act where she could make the biggest difference: in the lab. Today, as a PhD candidate in the labs of Dr. John Traynor and Dr. Jessica Anand at the University of Michigan, Catherine investigates how fentanyl and xylazine shut down breathing through different mechanisms—work that blends receptor pharmacology, preclinical models, and public health data to tackle one of the most urgent challenges in addiction science. Catherine Demery on the web LinkedIn Google Scholar University of Michigan 🎧 Listen now and see how one scientist is turning molecules into a mission, bridging the gap between receptor pharmacology and the urgent fight to save lives in the opioid epidemic. Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>

Gunnar Schulte of Karolinska Institute makes the case that frizzled receptors are GPCRs — through G-protein coupling maps, conformational biosensors, and the first small molecule shown to activate frizzled 6. << Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Gunnar Schulte: Frizzled Receptors and the GPCR Identity Question Frizzled receptors are a family of 10 cell surface proteins that mediate Wnt signaling — one of the most fundamental pathways in vertebrate development, stem cell renewal, and tumor biology. Despite decades of study, the field remains divided on a foundational question: are frizzled receptors GPCRs? They carry the characteristic seven-transmembrane topology, but their ligands are large, lipid-modified proteins that require carrier molecules for transport, their canonical Wnt–beta-catenin signaling appears G-protein-independent, and almost no small molecule pharmacology exists for this subfamily. Gunnar Schulte's lab at Karolinska Institute has spent years assembling the evidence on the other side — demonstrating G-protein coupling specificity across individual frizzled subtypes, detecting ligand-induced conformational changes through biosensor approaches that mirror what is seen in classical GPCRs, and showing that G-protein-dependent pathways downstream of frizzled activation are physiologically relevant. For Schulte, the scarcity of pharmacological tools is not just a technical inconvenience — it is the central obstacle that has shaped every decision his lab has made since his first postdoc. The question of whether frizzled receptors are GPCRs is, in his view, inseparable from the question of whether they can ever be drugged. About the Guest Gunnar Schulte is a professor at the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, where he leads research on Wnt–frizzled receptor signaling. His lab investigates the molecular mechanisms of frizzled receptor activation, including G-protein coupling specificity across all 10 human frizzled subtypes, receptor conformational dynamics, and biosensor platforms for quantifying signaling selectivity. Schulte's work helped establish that individual frizzled receptors are not interchangeable — each couples to distinct G-protein families in ways that challenge the field's conventional focus on the beta-catenin pathway alone. He began his scientific career studying adenosine receptor signaling during a PhD with Bertil Fredholm at Karolinska, and pivoted to frizzled receptors during a postdoctoral fellowship with Ernest Arenas, staying at the same institution ever since. Scientific Themes of the Conversation The GPCR identity question — what it takes to make the case, and why the field is still divided G-protein coupling specificity across the 10 frizzled subtypes — each receptor is its own pharmacological entity The Wnt ligand problem — lipid modifications, carrier proteins, and what makes these ligands so difficult to work with Conformational dynamics as functional evidence — how biosensors are being used to argue for GPCR-like activation in frizzled Pathway selectivity — how the receptor may choose between disheveled and G-protein signaling through conformational selection The pharmacology gap — small molecules, repurposed Smoothened compounds, and what a druggable frizzled might eventually look like Key Insights from the Conversation 1. Each frizzled receptor is its own pharmacological entity The frizzled family is commonly discussed as a single target class, but Schulte's G-protein coupling data reveal that individual subtypes are functionally distinct. Frizzled 5 couples to Gq, frizzled 7 to Gs, frizzled 10 to G13 — and the pattern continues across the family without a simple organizing rule. Treating "frizzled" as a unified target, Schulte argues, is one reason the field has been slow to build pharmacology. 2. The Wnt ligand problem may be the field's deepest bottleneck Wnt ligands are approximately 35–40 kDa, carry a lipid modification that prevents them from diffusing freely in aqueous medium, and require carrier proteins to reach their receptors. Fewer than one in 19 Wnt ligands is currently available in a biologically active, tagged form suitable for binding assays. Schulte describes spending a substantial portion of his lab budget on recombinant Wnts while still unable to run the systematic interaction mapping the field needs. 3. Conformational change is Schulte's strongest argument for GPCR identity Using cpGFP-based conformational sensors inserted into frizzled receptors, Schulte's lab has shown that Wnt stimulation produces detectable conformational changes that parallel what is observed in classical GPCRs. For Schulte, this is not secondary evidence — it is the clearest demonstration that frizzled receptors operate by the same fundamental activation mechanism, and the clearest challenge to those who believe otherwise. 4. A Smoothened compound became the first pharmacological handle on frizzled SAG1.3, a small molecule agonist originally developed for the related receptor Smoothened, was shown by Schulte's lab to act as a weak partial agonist at frizzled 6. Every chemical modification so far has converted it into an antagonist rather than a stronger agonist. But the result was the first demonstration that frizzled receptors have a pharmacologically accessible binding pocket — a conclusion that was not obvious from the initial frizzled 4 crystal structure, which suggested the pocket was too small for small molecule targeting. 5. The class F CRISPR knockout cell line changed what questions could be asked Working in cells that endogenously express multiple frizzled subtypes makes it nearly impossible to attribute a signaling event to a single receptor. The development of a HEK cell line with all class F receptors knocked out — generated by Benoît Vanhollebeke's lab in Belgium and shared with the field — gave Schulte's group the clean background needed to study individual frizzled subtypes in isolation. Combined with porcupine inhibitors to suppress endogenous Wnt secretion, this system has become what Schulte describes as one of the most important practical advances the field has seen in years. 6. Disheveled may regulate access to both G-protein and beta-catenin pathways through conformational selection Disheveled (DVL), the scaffolding protein downstream of frizzled, is not simply a beta-catenin pathway component. Schulte's lab has preliminary evidence that disheveled undergoes conformational selection at the receptor — analogous to the way G proteins adopt receptor-stabilized conformations before activating. This would mean the receptor itself determines whether a signal flows through disheveled or through a G protein depending on its conformational state, a form of pathway selectivity that remains to be fully mapped in the frizzled system. 7. A PhD lesson in pharmacological humility that lasted 25 years During his thesis seminar, Schulte presented data attributing an unexpected signaling connection to a kinase pathway he had dissected with pharmacological inhibitors. His supervisor, Bertil Fredholm, asked a single question: had he checked whether those inhibitors were also antagonists at the adenosine receptors under study? Several were — the signal Schulte had mapped was an off-target receptor effect, not the kinase pathway he had concluded. He describes the experience as formative, and the lesson as one that has quietly shaped his approach to chemical probes ever since. Episode Timeline Timestamps are AI-generated from the transcript and may not reflect the final edited video exactly. 00:00 Introduction 00:48 From Berlin to Stockholm — a career redirected by armed robbery 08:30 The adenosine receptor talk that pulled Schulte into GPCRs 11:14 From adenosine to frizzled: the postdoc decision that defined the lab 17:43 Frizzled receptors: 10 subtypes, 19 ligands, almost no drugs 20:22 When Wnt–frizzled signaling goes wrong — cancer, fibrosis, nail dysplasia 28:23 G-protein coupling specificity across the frizzled family 34:55 SAG1.3: repurposing a Smoothened compound to activate frizzled 6 40:51 Where beta-arrestin and disheveled fit in Wnt signaling 47:01 The class F CRISPR knockout cell line that changed everything 53:43 Conformational change as the strongest argument for GPCR identity 01:03:11 Career advice: explore widely, then commit to a niche Selected Quotes "The frizzles look like GPCRs, but the field is somehow split in people who believe they are and other people who don't believe they are. The biggest question is how we don't understand how the ligand interacts with the receptor, how the receptor really gets activated and how signaling is initiated and specified." "I think that is one of the interesting advances — we understand that a frizzled in a signaling system is not necessarily only the abbreviation FZD. It's also a number, because the individuals of the family are different. And I think that is not really particularly appreciated in the field, because we didn't know so far." "We clearly see that Wnt stimulation changes the conformation of the frizzles that we have looked at in the same way, or a similar way, as the GPCR acts. That is my strongest argument for the GPCR nature of these receptors." "It's not like in the good old adenosine receptor times, that we have the small molecule available and get crystal clear tenfold increase of a kinase phosphorylation or something." About Dr. Gunnar Schulte Gunnar Schulte is a Professor in receptor pharmacology and research group leader for the section Receptor Biology and Signaling at the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology. He has a background in biochemistry from the Free University in Berlin/Germany and a Ph.D. in molecular pharmacology (supervisor: Bertil B Fredholm; 1998-2002) from Karolinska Institutet. As a postdoc, he trained first with Ernest Arenas (Karolinska Institutet, Molecular Neurobiology; 2003-2005) and later with Roger J Summers (Monash University, Melbourne Australia, GPCR pharmacology; 2006) before starting his independent research team "Receptor Biology & Signalling" in 2008. Gunnar Schulte is also the scientific secretary of the Swedish Society for Medical Research (SSMF) and a member of the editorial board/editorial advisory board of Molecular Pharmacology, British Journal of Pharmacology, Pharmacological Reviews, and The Journal of Biological Chemistry. General Research Interest: The focus in the Schulte lab is on Frizzled signaling and pharmacology aiming to understand the role of WNT/Frizzled signaling in biology, physiology, and disease. Most importantly my research team tries to understand underlying mechanisms of WNT-receptor interaction, the relevance of receptor dynamics, and receptor complex composition for signal initiation and specification. The ultimate aim is to use the new knowledge to find, create and optimize Frizzled-targeting small molecule drugs to improve future therapies of human disease. Dr. Gunnar Schulte on the web Schulte Lab LinkedIn Google Scholar Orcid YouTube Dr. GPCR Ecosystem Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>

<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Dr. Caron Tribute Part 2 About Marc Caron Dr. Caron and his family moved to Durham, NC in 1977, following receipt of his BSc in Chemistry from Laval University and his Ph.D. from the University of Miami. He joined the faculty of Laval University School of Medicine in 1975 and then returned to join Duke’s faculty, where he remained as a James B. Duke Professor until his death. He and his laboratory members studied the mechanisms of action and regulation of hormones and neurotransmitters and how they might underlie brain and behavior disorders such as schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, mood disorders, and addiction. Among his many honors, Dr. Caron was an investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute from 1992 to 2004, a member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a recipient of the Julius Axelrod Award. An authoritative and prolific scientist, with over 650 scientific publications, he is most beloved as a mentor and his relentless encouragement that shaped the careers of hundreds of scientists worldwide. About our panelists in alphabetical order and the year they first met Dr. Caron Dr. Larry Barak (1994) Dr. Kathleen Caron - Co-host- (1970) Dr. Steve Ferguson (1995) Dr. Neel Freedman (1994) Dr. Jacob Jacobson (2003) Dr. Stephane Laporte (1999) Dr. Stuart Maudsley (1997) Dr. Richard Premont (1993) Dr. Jie Zhang (1990) Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>

Discover the Dr. GPCR Ecosystem – the ultimate hub for GPCR professionals to connect, collaborate, and advance drug discovery. Home: About The global hub for GPCR science Accelerating GPCR drug discovery, together Where academia and industry meet to advance GPCR research, share knowledge, and foster collaboration across the entire ecosystem. For scientists University Your professional home in GPCR science. Live masterclasses, curated research intelligence, and a community that keeps you connected and ahead. ➔ Live masterclasses with leading researchers ➔ Weekly GPCR research intelligence ➔ Members-only networking & AMAs Explore University For industry Foundry Reach the GPCR research community where they already learn and collaborate. Strategic partnerships, visibility programs, and curated service directories. ➔ Yearly Glow strategic media partnerships ➔ CRO Bank curated service directory ➔ Direct access to 1,400+ GPCR scientists Explore Foundry 1,400+ GPCR scientists reached 200+ Expert talks & masterclasses 180+ Podcast Episodes Strategic Partner(s) Closing the gap between academia and industry Dr. GPCR is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit empowering the GPCR field through shared knowledge, collaboration, and open access to tools that accelerate drug discovery. 🤝 Support the Mission

<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Re-cap of Endocrine Metabolic GPCR 2024 with the Organizers About Dr. Aylin Hanyaloglu Dr. Aylin Hanyaloglu has been a Principal Investigator at Imperial College London since 2007. She received her BSc in Human Biology from King’s College London in 1997, and while her Ph.D. commenced at the MRC Human Reproductive Sciences Centre, Edinburgh, a move to Perth, Australia resulted in her Ph.D. in Molecular Endocrinology being awarded in 2002 with Distinction from the University of Western Australia. Dr. Hanyaloglu undertook her postdoctoral training at the University of California, San Francisco with Professor Mark von Zastrow where she identified novel core cellular machinery critical for G protein-coupled receptor trafficking and signaling. Her research focuses on understanding the fundamental cell biological mechanisms regulating GPCR activity, including spatial control of GPCR signaling and receptor crosstalk, and applying these mechanisms for distinct GPCRs in diverse physiological and pathophysiological systems, with particular focus on women's health, pregnancy, and nutrient sensing in the gut. Her work is currently funded by Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Diabetes UK, Wellcome Trust, and the Medical Research Council. Dr. Aylin Hanyaloglu on the web LinkedIn Endocrine Metabolic GPCRs Researchgate Twitter Imperial College London Elsevier Loop Dr. GPCR About Dr. Caroline Gorvin "Dr. Caroline Gorvin is a Wellcome Trust & Royal Society Sir Henry Dale Fellow at the Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham. She obtained her PhD in 2012 from the University of Oxford, where her research focused on the cellular mechanisms by which mutations in a chloride-proton antiporter cause the renal disorder Dent’s disease. Caroline continued to undertake postdoctoral research in Oxford, investigating the signalling and trafficking of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), calcium-sensing receptor, and its role in calcium homeostasis. Caroline moved to the University of Birmingham in 2018 to establish her research group investigating metabolic GPCRs. Her current research focuses on how metabolic GPCRs cross-talk and interact to regulate appetite and bone metabolism." Dr. Caroline Gorvin on the web University of Birmingham Endocrine Metabolic GPCRs Society of Endocrinology Google Scholar ResearchGate Loop Twitter Dr. GPCR About Dr. Alejandra Tomas "Dr. Alejandra Tomas is a molecular cell biologist and Senior Lecturer at the Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London. She obtained a PhD in Biochemistry from University College London and spent several years in Switzerland working on the study of membrane trafficking processes in pancreatic beta cells before returning to the UK, first to her Department at UCL and then to lead a laboratory at Imperial following the receipt of an MRC New Investigator Award in 2015." Dr. Alejandra Tomas on the web Imperial College London Endocrine Metabolic GPCRs ResearchGate Google Scholar LinkedIn Twitter Dr. GPCR Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>

<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Robert Laprairie About Dr. Robert Laprairie Dr. Robert Laprairie is an Associate Professor and the Saskatchewan Research Chair in Drug Discovery and Development in the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition at the University of Saskatchewan. The focus of his research is the molecular pharmacology of cannabinoids and cannabinoid receptors. He was the 2018 and 2021 recipient of the Young Investigator of the Year Awards from the British Pharmacological Society and International Cannabinoid Research Society (ICRS), respectively. In 2019 he became the Director of Education for the Canadian Consortium for the Investigation of Cannabinoids (CCIC) and now also serves as the organization’s President. Dr. Robert Laprairie on the web University of Saskatchewan Twitter Instagram ResearchGate Google Scholar Dr. GPCR Ecosystem Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>

In this short resilience conversation, Dr. Graciela Pineyro shares what a forced lab shutdown taught her about prioritization, remote lab meetings, and running a research program across closed borders. << Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Graciela Pineyro: Resilience, Lab Life, and the Zoom Effect Research doesn't pause neatly. In March 2020, Dr. Graciela Pineyro — a principal investigator at CHU Sainte-Justine in Montreal studying GPCR signaling — watched her lab close from one day to the next. This short resilience conversation, part of a Dr. GPCR Podcast series capturing the realities of scientific life, returns to Dr. Pineyro several months into the shutdown to hear what she learned. The discussion moves across three overlapping questions: how a forced pause reshapes scientific prioritization, how remote lab meetings alter who speaks up and why, and what it costs a scientist personally to keep a lab running across a closed international border. For Dr. Pineyro, whose husband remained in Uruguay for the duration of the shutdown, the scientific work and the human cost were never separate conversations. What emerges is a quiet argument that the structural shifts the pandemic forced — project planning in self-contained blocks, flatter meeting dynamics, planned reflection time — may deserve to survive the return to the bench. About the Guest Dr. Graciela Pineyro is a principal investigator at CHU Sainte-Justine in Montreal, where her research group works on GPCR signaling. She is a returning guest of the Dr. GPCR Podcast; her earlier episode covers her scientific profile in depth, including her research trajectory, laboratory focus, and contributions to the field. This resilience conversation captures her voice not as a researcher presenting results, but as a PI speaking candidly about how her program is navigating a moment no one planned for. Scientific Themes of the Conversation Forced pause as a prioritization tool — How closure reveals what a lab would otherwise never stop to question. The democratizing effect of remote meetings — Why some lab members speak more freely from home than they ever did in person. Experimental planning under uncertainty — Structuring projects into self-contained blocks so a lab can survive iterative shutdowns. The personal geography of modern science — What it costs a scientist when the research program and the family are in different countries. Civic responsibility in returning to the bench — Deconfining a research center slowly, with planning for possible return to closure. Key Insights from the Conversation The pause was never just a pause. Dr. Pineyro frames the shutdown not as lost time but as a rare moment of recul — the French word for a step back that allows for perspective. She talks about finally being able to ask which projects deserved to be finished first, second, third. The question was always there; the pause was what forced it to be answered. Zoom did not flatten the lab. It flattened the hierarchy of who gets heard. The most striking observation in the conversation: lab members who rarely spoke up during in-person meetings began contributing more on Zoom. Dr. Pineyro notes she isn't sure why — something about speaking from home, something about reduced interpersonal threat. But the finding is sharp enough to take seriously when in-person dynamics return. Planning in blocks is a form of resilience. The lab restructured projects into discrete, self-contained units — each one designed so that if the research center closed again, the team would still have something to analyze, something to write. This is operational wisdom that long outlives the pandemic. The personal cost doesn't stay outside the lab. Dr. Pineyro speaks openly about her husband being stuck in Uruguay since March, missing their planned reunion, hoping for Christmas. She does not separate this from the scientific conversation — and the listener shouldn't either. Running a lab during the pandemic was rarely just a scientific problem. Returning to the bench is a decision, not a default. The research center was deconfining at 20% capacity the week of the recording. Dr. Pineyro frames reopening as something her team is taking "civically with responsibility and a grain of salt" — acknowledging that back-and-forth closures may be the new baseline. That framing, made months before it became the standard narrative, is worth noticing. Some pandemic-era practices deserve to survive. The implicit argument threaded through the whole conversation: the structural shifts forced by the shutdown — planned reflection, remote meeting inclusion, block-based project design — may be worth keeping. Not because the pandemic was good for science, but because normal lab life had quietly suppressed some of the things the pause made visible. Episode Timeline Timestamps were generated using AI for readability. 00:00 Introduction and 2020 Summit announcement 01:45 Welcoming a returning guest 02:02 How COVID reshaped the lab and the personal cost 03:30 Using forced pause for prioritization 04:10 Planning experiments in self-contained blocks 04:47 The Zoom effect — quieter voices speaking up 05:49 Closing reflections 06:01 Outro Selected Quotes "One day we were doing experiments, and the next we had to close. We have to go back now and start from scratch." "Zoom democratizes the world. People that usually do not speak so much in the lab meetings were speaking a little bit more through Zoom." "We are sort of thinking in advancing our projects in sort of blocks, closing some questions very tightly. So if we are sent back home, at least we have something to work on." "We are all prepared to take this civically with responsibility and also with a grain of salt, knowing that we might have to be going back and forth for a while before everything goes back to normal." About this episode: Dr. Graciela Pineyro is a professor of pharmacology at the department of pharmacology and physiology of the University of Montreal. She has done extensive work on the molecular pharmacology of opioid receptors and is currently focusing on the pharmacology of cannabinoids in the context of pain. We chatted about how the current pandemic has affected her personally and professionally. Dr. Graciela Pineyro on the web Dr. Graciela Pineyro on LinkedIn Dr. Graciela Pineyro - University of Montreal Dr. Graciela Pineyro - CHU Ste-Justine Research Centre Pineyro Lab Publications on Google Scholar Pineyro Lab on Pubmed Dr. GPCR Ecosystem Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>

<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Translating computational approaches to GPCR biologists with Dr. Riccardo Capelli About Dr. Riccardo Capelli Dr. Riccardo Capelli is an assistant professor in Applied Physics at the Department of Biosciences, University of Milan. He earned his PhD in Physics at the same university, focusing on in silico structural vaccinology and advancing free energy calculation techniques. He then held a postdoctoral position at Forschungszentrum Jülich (Germany), where he worked on calculating ligand binding kinetics using classical molecular dynamics. This was followed by a postdoctoral role at the Polytechnic University of Turin (Italy), where he developed coarse-grained models for self-assembling systems. Now in a tenure-track position, his research spans the development of computational methods such as structure-based models and enhanced sampling techniques, as well as their application to biomolecular systems, mainly on GPCRs activation and dynamics. Dr. Ricardo Capelli on the web Google Scholar ResearchGate Bysky App : @ riccardocapelli.bsky.social Twitter X : @ ric_capelli Computational Structural Biology Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>

<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Dr. Katarzyna Marcinkiewicz About Dr. Katarzyna Marcinkiewicz "Katarzyna is a Senior Editor at Nature Communications, which she joined in April 2020, following three years on the editorial teams of Nature Structural and Molecular Biology and Nature Biotechnology. She obtained her Ph.D. from Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences in New York City, studying epigenetic changes in cancer. During her postdoctoral training at New York University School of Medicine, her research focused on cellular senescence. Katarzyna handles submissions in structural biology, biophysics and biochemistry, with a particular focus on membrane proteins and protein folding." Dr. Katarzyna Marcinkiewicz on the web LinkedIn Nature The Spectator Dr. GPCR Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>

Can models predict drug outcomes? Jens Carlsson shares how GPCR modeling is moving from explanation to real prediction in drug discovery. << Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Model. Predict. Discover. with Dr. Jens Carlsson What if models didn’t just explain the past — but could truly predict what comes next? In this episode, Dr. Jens Carlsson reveals how computational modeling is evolving from explanation to real prediction—and how that shift accelerates real-world discovery. Dr. Jens Carlsson, Professor of Computational Biochemistry at Uppsala University, joins Dr. Yamina Berchiche to share his unconventional journey from aspiring engineer to GPCR modeler. With a deep focus on structure-based drug design, Jens discusses how his lab bridges simulation and experiment—and why understanding the limits of prediction is just as critical as the predictions themselves. From virtual screening of billions of molecules to leveraging AlphaFold for structure prediction, Jens shares the cutting-edge tools his lab uses—and the collaborative mindset required to turn models into testable hypotheses. Along the way, he reflects on key career moments, the role of mentorship, and how curiosity continues to drive his work across both academic and industry settings. Why This Matters Computational models are moving beyond interpretation into real-world prediction of ligand-receptor interactions. Bridging computation, chemistry, and pharmacology is key to speeding up drug discovery. AI and machine learning are opening new doors—but only if scientists know their tools’ limits. What You’ll Learn Why Jens Carlsson believes modeling should predict , not just explain How his team uses structure-based modeling to identify novel GPCR ligands The value of failure—and how it shaped his path as a scientist Why collaborations between modelers and experimentalists are more vital than ever How AlphaFold is shaking up structural biology—and where it still falls short Advice for junior scientists: what really matters when building a research career Who Should Listen GPCR scientists and pharmacologists Computational chemists and structural biologists Early-career researchers exploring drug discovery Biotech leaders and R&D strategists Anyone interested in predictive modeling, AI in biology, or structure-function relationships About Jens Carlsson Jens Carlsson is a Professor of Computational Biochemistry at Uppsala University, where his research group uses structure-based modeling to investigate GPCRs. His team focuses on understanding how ligands modulate receptor function and how those insights can drive drug discovery. By combining molecular docking, molecular dynamics, and machine learning, Jens works at the intersection of computation and pharmacology, often in close collaboration with experimental labs. Trained initially as a biotechnology engineer, Jens discovered his true calling during an internship where his modeling skills stood out, mainly because his bench skills didn’t. That moment launched a career built around using computational tools to answer big biological questions. His journey took him from Sweden to Scripps Research and UCSF, where he was first introduced to GPCRs and mentored by pioneers like Brian Shoichet and Ken Jacobson. Jens is passionate about prediction over explanation: building models that can guide experiments, not just interpret them. Outside academia, he advises companies through a consulting arm focused on ligand design strategy. With a reputation for collaborative science, Jens is a strong advocate for bringing together chemists, modelers, and biologists to accelerate discovery and train the next generation of GPCR researchers. Jens Carlsson on the web Carlsson Group Uppsala University LinkedIn Hit play now to hear how prediction is reshaping GPCR science, and what that means for the future of drug discovery. Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>

Discover how Dr. Tom Sakmar and Dr. Ilana Kotliar built a multiplexed platform to map GPCR-RAMP interactions and uncover autoantibody-driven GPCR signaling in disease. << Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Hacking GPCRs: Tools, Tech & Drug Discovery with Tom Sakmar & Ilana Kotliar In this episode, host Dr. Yamina Berchiche reconnects with Dr. Tom Sakmar , Professor at Rockefeller University, and Dr. Ilana Kotliar , his former graduate student, to explore the development of powerful multiplex tools designed to map GPCR-RAMP interactions across the receptor superfamily. What began as a focused exploration into Family B GPCRs evolved into a comprehensive resource for the GPCR research community — bridging wet-lab experimentation, open-access tools, and computational biology. A Long-Term Vision Realized “We've done this work for the past 30 years.” – Tom Sakmar Dr. Sakmar recounts how a fateful phone call from Bruce Merrifield decades ago inspired his lifelong focus on Family B GPCRs. That curiosity laid the foundation for a broader investigation into receptor activity-modifying proteins (RAMPs) . The lab’s early partnership with students like Emily Lorenzen catalyzed a transition from single-receptor studies to multiplexed approaches , opening doors to high-throughput interaction mapping. From Curiosity to Collaboration “We decided to evaluate the multiplexing methods... and found this Luminex assay.” – Tom Sakmar After exploring several screening techniques, the lab adopted the Luminex bead-based assay , which allowed simultaneous detection of multiple GPCR-RAMP interactions. This methodology was enhanced through collaboration with Jochen Schwenk’s lab at SciLifeLab in Karolinska. The result: a scalable platform to analyze hundreds of interactions with minimal sample usage. A Rotation That Changed Everything “I really love this project. I want to take it forward.” – Ilana Kotliar Dr. Kotliar joined the Sakmar lab as a rotation student and immediately saw the project’s potential. She expanded the original Family B focus to encompass the entire GPCR superfamily , building a digital and physical toolkit to systematically investigate GPCR-RAMP biology. Her goal was ambitious: map the complete interactome and validate findings in both overexpression and native contexts. Tools for the Community “We have a library on Addgene... dual-epitope tagged GPCRs.” – Ilana Kotliar The team developed two main assets: A web interface to visualize antibody validations and GPCR-RAMP interactions. A DUET-tagged GPCR library (220 constructs) available through Addgene , enabling labs to explore interactions with ease. These tools are fully open to academic researchers , with wide applicability beyond just RAMPs — including scaffold proteins, disease markers, and heterodimerization partners. Driving Impact through Open Science “500+ requests have come in for these clones.” – Tom Sakmar Dr. Sakmar highlights the vital role of Addgene in distributing the DUET library. The logistical lift was considerable — involving extensive 96-well plate work and documentation — but the team prioritized accessibility over proprietary restrictions. Their ethos: empower fellow scientists, not profit from them. Beyond GPCR-RAMP: New Avenues “What if your favorite scaffold protein interacts with GPCRs?” – Tom Sakmar The constructs aren’t limited to RAMP interaction studies. They can be used to probe GPCR associations with any protein , from cytoskeletal scaffolds like 14-3-3 and P11 to disease-linked interactors . The system is modular and adaptable, opening doors for systems biology and context-specific interaction mapping . A Diagnostic Future “Autoantibodies targeting GPCRs might drive disease.” – Tom Sakmar One especially exciting avenue is autoimmune and infectious diseases . The team envisions using these tools to detect GPCR autoantibodies , which are implicated in conditions like long COVID and Graves’ disease . Unlike blocking antibodies, some autoantibodies activate GPCRs , potentially driving pathophysiology — a paradigm-shifting concept in GPCR immunology. From Many to One: De-Orphanization and Precision Focus “You can use this system to de-orphanize receptors.” – Ilana Kotliar While the toolkit enables broad interactome analysis , it’s also valuable for narrowing in on orphan GPCRs — receptors with unknown ligands or function. This could accelerate discovery of therapeutic targets by combining multiplex data with focused downstream assays. In Ilana’s words, it’s a powerful way to “go from many back to one.” The Shift Toward Technology-Driven Biology “Today’s students want to multiplex, miniaturize, and engineer tools.” – Tom Sakmar Dr. Sakmar reflects on the generational shift in research culture. Instead of focusing on a single receptor, students now gravitate toward platforms , biosensors , and data-rich assays . The multiplex strategy aligns perfectly with this evolution, providing scalable approaches to biological discovery. Global Collaboration and Computational Frontiers “There is no science that ends at a national border.” – Tom Sakmar The success of this project hinged on international collaboration and a multidisciplinary mindset . As the field advances, the computational layer — including AlphaFold and structural prediction tools — will play an increasingly pivotal role. This synergy of wet-lab, in silico, and community-driven resources promises a new era for GPCR systems biology . Key Takeaway This episode is more than a conversation — it’s a masterclass in tool-driven discovery , community science, and the future of GPCR interaction mapping . If you’re working on GPCRs, this is your call to leverage these tools , ask new questions, and help unlock previously hidden layers of receptor biology . About Tom Sakmar Tom Sakmar is a physician-scientist and Rockefeller University professor dedicated to drug discovery and chemical biology research, mainly involving GPCRs. He and his artist/designer wife, Karina Åberg, have three teenage children. Tom Sakmar on the web LinkedIn ResearchGate Pubmed ORCID Google Scholar Rockefeller University Wikipedia About Ilana Kotliar Ilana Kotliar is a 5th year graduate student in the lab of Dr. Thomas Sakmar at The Rockefeller University and just recently defended her PhD thesis. Ilana uses chemical biology-based methods to study the regulation and protein-protein interactions of GPCRs. Ilana’s research is multi-disciplinary and involves a close collaboration with the lab of proteomics expert Dr. Jochen Schwenk, located at The Science for Life Laboratory in Sweden. She is a recipient of the prestigious Women in Entrepreneurship Award, an NIH T32 Training Grant, and two Nicholson Fellowships. Outside of the lab, Ilana is a leader within her community, spearheading several outreach initiatives including a global mentoring initiative that matches graduate student mentors to PhD applicants. Ilana graduated Summa cum laude from Cornell University, where she studied Chemistry and Chemical Biology and was recognized as a Merrill Presidential Scholar. Ilana Kotliar on the web Google Scholar LinkedIn Twitter Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>

Chemical biologist Johannes Broichhagen reveals how fluorescent probes transform GPCR imaging, internalization studies, and assay development in live cells and tissues. << Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Chemical Probes for GPCR Imaging and Internalization with Dr. Johannes Broichhagen In this episode of The Dr. GPCR Podcast, chemical biologist Dr. Johannes Broichhagen shares how his lab builds next-generation fluorescent probes to visualize GPCRs with precision. From the early days of ion channel chemistry to pioneering peptide–fluorophore conjugates for the GLP-1 receptor, JB breaks down the strategic decisions that shaped these tools—and why reliable chemical probes are transforming GPCR drug discovery . He explains what chemical design can solve that antibodies can’t, how to validate functional assay systems, and why fluorescence-based assays paired with careful synthetic planning open doors for both high-resolution imaging and high-throughput screening . You will walk away with a deeper understanding of GPCR internalization, probe specificity, and the cross-disciplinary habits that make collaborations actually work. Why this matters How a chemist with zero biology training became a leader in GPCR probe design. Why peptide-based fluorescent ligands succeeded where antibodies repeatedly failed. What actually happened the moment JB and collaborators imaged an entire pancreatic islet in one shot. How parallel synthesis and side-by-side functional assays accelerate probe optimization and reduce false leads. Why targeting the pharmacologically relevant surface-exposed receptor pool changes the way scientists interpret GPCR trafficking. The moment when super-resolution imaging revealed nanoscale receptor domains that conventional tools completely missed. Who should listen If you’ve ever: Navigated a project where the biology refused to match the textbook mechanism. Balanced creativity in tool development with the pressure for reproducible, publication-grade data. Tried to build assays that behave in living cells—not just on paper. Collaborated across chemistry and biology and felt the translation gap firsthand… …this episode will resonate. About Johannes Broichhagen Dr. Johannes Broichhagen is a chemical biologist whose work sits at the intersection of organic synthesis, peptide chemistry, and advanced imaging. Born in 1984, he studied chemistry at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (2004–2010) and completed his doctorate at LMU Munich in 2014 . His postdoctoral training included research at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (2015–2016) and later at the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg, where he served as both postdoc and departmental group leader (2017–2020). These years shaped his interest in ion channels, GPCR pharmacology, and the chemical strategies needed to probe complex biology. Since 2020, JB has led his research group at the Leibniz Research Institute for Molecular Pharmacology (FMP) in Berlin, focusing on developing fluorescent chemical tools to visualize GPCRs and other cell-surface proteins with high specificity. His lab integrates synthetic chemistry, theoretical chemistry, cell biology, and imaging to understand receptor organization and dynamics across cells, tissues, and intact organisms. Curiosity, collaboration, and a love of translating chemical concepts into biological insight drive his scientific mission. Johannes Broichhagen on the Web LinkedIn Google Scholar Lab Website Leibniz Research Institute for Molecular Pharmacology (FMP) Profile Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>

<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Dr. Stephen Ferguson About Dr. Stephen Ferguson Dr. Stephen Ferguson is a Professor in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Ottawa. He did B.Sc. in biology at McGill University and received his Ph.D. under the mentorship of Dr. Brian Collier in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics at McGill University (1994). He did his postdoctoral training with Dr. Marc G. Caron at Duke University (1994-1997), where he and his colleagues investigated the role of G protein-coupled receptor kinases and beta-arrestin in regulating G protein-coupled receptor endocytosis, trafficking, and signaling. He has held four Canada Research Chairs since 2001 and was previously a Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada MacDonald Scholar (1998-2003) and Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario Career Investigator (2003-2016). He was a recipient of Canada's Top 40 under 40 award in 2004 and received Queen Elizabeth II, Diamond Jubilee Medal, in 2012. He has also received both Junior (2001) and Senior (2005) investigator awards from the Pharmacological Society of Canada. Most recently, in 2021, he was elected as a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Science (FCAHS). His research career has focused on the investigation of the regulation of G protein-coupled receptors signaling mechanisms in health and disease. He currently holds multiple research grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) for his research investigating the role of metabotropic glutamate receptor signaling in Huntington’s and Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Stephen Ferguson on the web Carlton University Canada Research Chairs Twitter ResearchGate LinkedIn Dr. GPCR Ecosystem Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>

<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Dr. Richard Premont About Dr. Richard Premont "Dr. Premont obtained his B.S. in Biology and Chemistry at the California Institute of Technology in 1985, and M.Ph . and Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences (Pharmacology) at Mount Sinai School of Medicine (City University of New York) in 1990 and 1992, working with Ravi Iyengar on regulation/desensitization of the liver glucagon receptor and glucagon-stimulated adenylyl cyclase system. In 1992, he won a Helen Hay Whitney Foundation fellowship to support his post-doctoral work with Robert Lefkowitz and Marc Caron at Duke University. His initial project to identify and clone taste receptors was unsuccessful, but led to the identification of GRK5 and continued focus on GRKs (particularly GRKs 4,5,6) and arrestins as GPCR regulators and as mediators of distinct signaling pathways through partners including GIT1. In 1999, obtained an independent faculty position at Duke in Gastroenterology, where he remained until 2018 studying GPCRs and their signaling pathways in the liver and in liver disease. In 2018, he moved to Harrington Discovery Institute and Case Western Reserve University, where he studies GPCR regulation by S-nitrosylation. My research focus is on understanding how distinct cellular signaling pathways interact and are coordinated to produce integrated physiological responses, and how dysregulation of this coordination results in pathophysiology. For this, we have worked in three main areas: the regulation of G protein-coupled receptor signaling particularly by the G protein-coupled receptor kinase (GRK) – beta-arrestin system, the coordination of heterotrimeric G protein, small GTP-binding protein and protein kinase pathways by GIT/PIX scaffolding complexes during cellular signaling, and characterizing the role of protein S-nitrosylation as a signaling post-translational modification in mediating and regulating cellular signaling pathways, particularly in conjunction with better characterized signaling systems. In our work, we utilize methods including structural biology and proteomics, molecular biology and biochemical enzymology, primary and model cell culture, and transgenic, knockout, knock-in and conditional models of mouse physiology and behavior." Dr. Richard Premont on the web Google Scholar LinkedIn Dr. GPCR Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>