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- ep 175 with jens carlsson clip 2 | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
At Uppsala University, Jens Carlsson’s lab uses modeling to shape experiments—not just explain them. Discover how strategic collaboration drives real GPCR drug discovery impact. Home → Flash News → ep 175 with jens carlsson clip 2 If your model can’t change an experiment, what’s the point? Published on October 31, 2025 Category Dr. GPCR Podcast If your model can’t change an experiment, what’s the point? That’s the standard Dr. Jens Carlsson sets in his lab at Uppsala University. For him, modeling isn’t just about elegant simulations; it’s about impact . The kind of impact that shows up in how experiments are designed, which compounds get prioritized, and what gets synthesized next. Carlsson’s lab doesn’t work in isolation. They collaborate deeply with medicinal chemists, pharmacologists, and biotech partners to create workflows that connect virtual screening to synthesis and bioassay. Every step has a purpose. Every prediction feeds into a testable hypothesis. But the real differentiator? The way they collaborate: strategically, transparently, and without ego. His team is clear about the capabilities and limitations of their models, an honesty that builds long-term trust across disciplines. In GPCR drug discovery, where complexity is the rule and timelines are tight, this kind of cross-functional fluency is no longer optional. It’s the catalyst for turning insight into innovation. 🎧 Learn how Carlsson turns models into translational outcomes in this episode of the Dr. GPCR Podcast: model predict discover #DrGPCR #GPCR #CollaborationInScience #ComputationalChemistry #Pharmacology #DrugDesign Previous Next Recent Articles
- We’re excited to announce our strategic partnership with Celtarys Research, a biotech company specializing in fluorescent ligand technologies and real-time, non-radioactive GPCR assays. This collaboration combines Dr. GPCR’s global platform with Celtarys’ innovative chemical biology tools, making it easier than ever for scientists to study ligand-receptor interactions, visualize binding, and accelerate drug discovery. We’re proud to welcome Celtarys to the Dr. GPCR ecosystem to support researchers worldwide and expand access to high-performance tools for GPCR-targeted therapeutics. ✳️Read the complete press release: https://www.ecosystem.drgpcr.com/post/dr-gpcr-and-celtarys-research-join-forces-to-expand-access-to-innovative-gpcr-tools #GPCR #DrGPCR #CeltarysResearch #DrugDiscoveryTools #FluorescentLigands #GPCRresearch #ScientificPartnership | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
Home → Flash News → We’re excited to announce our strategic partnership with Celtarys Research, a biotech company specializing in fluorescent ligand technologies and real-time, non-radioactive GPCR assays. This collaboration combines Dr. GPCR’s global platform with Celtarys’ innovative chemical biology tools, making it easier than ever for scientists to study ligand-receptor interactions, visualize binding, and accelerate drug discovery. We’re proud to welcome Celtarys to the Dr. GPCR ecosystem to support researchers worldwide and expand access to high-performance tools for GPCR-targeted therapeutics. ✳️Read the complete press release: https://www.ecosystem.drgpcr.com/post/dr-gpcr-and-celtarys-research-join-forces-to-expand-access-to-innovative-gpcr-tools #GPCR #DrGPCR #CeltarysResearch #DrugDiscoveryTools #FluorescentLigands #GPCRresearch #ScientificPartnership Published on June 3, 2025 Category Celtarys - Media Partner We’re excited to announce our strategic partnership with Celtarys Research , a biotech company specializing in fluorescent ligand technologies and real-time, non-radioactive GPCR assays. This collaboration combines Dr. GPCR’s global platform with Celtarys’ innovative chemical biology tools , making it easier than ever for scientists to study ligand-receptor interactions, visualize binding, and accelerate drug discovery. We’re proud to welcome Celtarys to the Dr. GPCR ecosystem to support researchers worldwide and expand access to high-performance tools for GPCR-targeted therapeutics. ✳️ Read the complete press release: https://www.ecosystem.drgpcr.com/post/dr-gpcr-and-celtarys-research-join-forces-to-expand-access-to-innovative-gpcr-tools #GPCR #DrGPCR #CeltarysResearch #DrugDiscoveryTools #FluorescentLigands #GPCRresearch #ScientificPartnership Previous Next Recent Articles
- Adenosine A3 receptor has been proposed to have significant roles in metabolism and immune responses. Check out this study to understand how it affects metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver progression. Subscribe to the Dr. GPCR Newsletter 📰 and get the latest GPCR News delivered to your inbox ➡️https://buff.ly/42b6ra3 #gpcr #drgpcr | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
Home → Flash News → Adenosine A3 receptor has been proposed to have significant roles in metabolism and immune responses. Check out this study to understand how it affects metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver progression. Subscribe to the Dr. GPCR Newsletter 📰 and get the latest GPCR News delivered to your inbox ➡️https://buff.ly/42b6ra3 #gpcr #drgpcr Published on January 16, 2025 Category GPCR Weekly News Adenosine A3 receptor has been proposed to have significant roles in metabolism and immune responses. Check out this study to understand how it affects metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver progression. Subscribe to the Dr. GPCR Newsletter 📰 and get the latest GPCR News delivered to your inbox ➡️https:// www.ecosystem.drgpcr.com/receptor-activation-and-signaling/a3ar-antagonism-mitigates-metabolic-dysfunction-associated-steatotic-liver-disease-by-exploiting-monocyte-derived-kupffer-cell-necroptosis-and-inflammation-resolution #gpcr #drgpcr Previous Next Recent Articles
- You never know where your GPCR takes you with Dr. Brian Hudson | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) You never know where your GPCR takes you with Dr. Brian Hudson About Brian Hudson Brian is a lecturer in the School of Molecular Biosciences at the University of Glasgow. He has more than 20 years of experience in GPCR, primarily focused on drug discovery and developing new tools to study this receptor family. He leads a research group that is focused on understanding the pharmacology and function of a group a GPCRs that are activated by metabolic intermediates. Brian Hudson on the web University of Glasgow 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 Recent Podcast Articles Asking Better Questions in Science: A Practical Guide for Emerging Researchers When the Islet Lit Up: Advancing GPCR Imaging in Native Tissue How Collaboration Sparked a GPCR Imaging Breakthrough in Chemical Biology Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>
- Closing remarks | Adhesion GPCR Workshop 2024 | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
Full Agenda Adhesion GPCR workshop 2024 CINVESTAV, Mexico City, Mexico October 23-25 Download PDF Program HERE < Back to Full Agenda Closing remarks < Previous Session Next Session >
- "Solving financial puzzles feels just like solving scientific ones," says Joe St. Germain from Company Launch Partners. Behind every successful research organization, there is a rock-solid operations team. Don’t miss this rare conversation bridging science, structure, and strategy with Chuck DeWeese & Joe St. Germain. ✳️ Tune in now: Ep 165 with Chuck DeWeese & Joe St. Germain #gpcr #DrGPCR #ScienceStartup | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
Home → Flash News → "Solving financial puzzles feels just like solving scientific ones," says Joe St. Germain from Company Launch Partners. Behind every successful research organization, there is a rock-solid operations team. Don’t miss this rare conversation bridging science, structure, and strategy with Chuck DeWeese & Joe St. Germain. ✳️ Tune in now: Ep 165 with Chuck DeWeese & Joe St. Germain #gpcr #DrGPCR #ScienceStartup Published on May 1, 2025 Category Dr. GPCR Podcast "Solving financial puzzles feels just like solving scientific ones," says Joe St. Germain from Company Launch Partners.Behind every successful research organization, there is a rock-solid operations team. Don’t miss this rare conversation bridging science, structure, and strategy with Chuck DeWeese & Joe St. Germain. ✳️ Tune in now: Ep 165 with Chuck DeWeese & Joe St. Germain #gpcr #DrGPCR #ScienceStartup Previous Next Recent Articles
- 🎧 Why Does GPCR Location Make All the Difference? GPCR location within the cell can change everything: function, pharmacology, and even drug response. In Ep.162 of the Dr.GPCR Podcast, Dr. Gabriele Kockelkoren dives into: 🔬 How GPCR trafficking shapes signaling outcomes 🚀 Career insights from the lab to the broader biotech world This episode is packed with knowledge for scientists, drug hunters, and anyone fascinated by GPCRs! 🎙️ Listen now https://buff.ly/fYZ1tSq #DrGPCR #GPCR #DrugDiscovery #Pharma #Biotech #SciencePodcast ✅ Tune in today! | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
Home → Flash News → 🎧 Why Does GPCR Location Make All the Difference? GPCR location within the cell can change everything: function, pharmacology, and even drug response. In Ep.162 of the Dr.GPCR Podcast, Dr. Gabriele Kockelkoren dives into: 🔬 How GPCR trafficking shapes signaling outcomes 🚀 Career insights from the lab to the broader biotech world This episode is packed with knowledge for scientists, drug hunters, and anyone fascinated by GPCRs! 🎙️ Listen now https://buff.ly/fYZ1tSq #DrGPCR #GPCR #DrugDiscovery #Pharma #Biotech #SciencePodcast ✅ Tune in today! Published on March 18, 2025 Category Dr. GPCR Podcast 🎧 Why Does GPCR Location Make All the Difference? GPCR location within the cell can change everything: function, pharmacology, and even drug response. In Ep.162 of the Dr.GPCR Podcast, Dr. Gabriele Kockelkoren dives into: 🔬 How GPCR trafficking shapes signaling outcomes 🚀 Career insights from the lab to the broader biotech world This episode is packed with knowledge for scientists, drug hunters, and anyone fascinated by GPCRs! 🎙️ Listen now https://buff.ly/fYZ1tSq #DrGPCR #GPCR #DrugDiscovery #Pharma #Biotech #SciencePodcast ✅ Tune in today! Previous Next Recent Articles
- Plenary Lecture | Adhesion GPCR Workshop 2024 | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
Full Agenda Adhesion GPCR workshop 2024 CINVESTAV, Mexico City, Mexico October 23-25 Download PDF Program HERE < Back to Full Agenda Plenary Lecture Identification and Functional Characterization of Adhesion GPCRs As Steroid Hormone Receptors and Hearing and Balance Receptors Abstract Only Available for AGPCR24 Attendees About Jin-Peng Sun "Since starting my laboratory in 2011, I has focused on G protein coupled receptors, in particular, the ligand identification, physiological functions and molecular mechanism of biased signaling of GPCRs. Our first main research aspect is the identification of endogenous ligand of GPCRs. We have identified the receptor subfamily to sense the steroid hormones. For instance, membrane receptor GPR97 is able to sense glucocorticoid to mediate its rapid actions, the progesterone and 17-hydroxyprogesterone membrane receptor are GPR126. We also identified DHEA, DHEAS and DOC are endogenous ligands of GPR64 etc (Nature, 2021a, Nat Chem Biol 2022, PNAS 2022b). Our second main research aspect is dissecting the molecular mechanism underlying sensation of force, ordor, itch and taste by GPCRs. We have elucidated the mechanism of receptors' perception of itch, olfactory and force (Nature 2021b, 2022a, 2022b, 2023a, 2024). Our third main research aspect is working mechanism of GPCR. For arrestin mediated biased signaling, we have proposed the “flute model” and “poly proline region docking theory” etc. to explain the arrestin mediated GPCR functions (Nature communications, 2015, 2021, 2022; PNAS 2021, Molecular Pharmacology, 2017; Recommended by Faculty 1000, Nature Chemical Biology 2018). We identified that arrestin can mediated AT1R/TRPC3 or M3R/TRPC3 coupling by forming a complex of AT1R/β-arrestin-1/PLCγ/TRPC3 or M3R//β-arrestin-1/TRPC3 (Nature communications, 2017, Nature communications, 2018). We also identified that orphan receptor GPR64 forms complex with β-arrestin-1 and CFTR at apical membrane of efferent ductulus to regulate the salt/water metabolism (eLife 2018, Faculty 1000 recommendation). Our fourth main research aspect is ligand coding mechanisms and structural aided drug discovery of GPCR. We have decoded the mechanisms underlying recognition of fish oil (unsaturated fatty acids) and other lipids by GPCRs (Science 2023, Science Advance 2021, PNAS 2023, Nature Metabolism 2023), recognition of amine containing hormones by GPCRs (Cell 2021, 2023, Nature 2023b), bile acids or its derivatives by GPCRs (Nature 2020)." Jin-Peng Sun on the web Google Scholar LinkedIn < Previous Session Next Session >
- Xylazine, Fentanyl, and the Fight for Breath with Catherine Demery | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
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. __________ Keyword Cloud GPCR research community , Dr. GPCR ecosystem , GPCR training program , GPCR podcast , opioid pharmacology , xylazine research , mu opioid receptor , pharmacogenomics , fentanyl epidemic , preclinical pharmacology 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 Recent Podcast Articles Asking Better Questions in Science: A Practical Guide for Emerging Researchers When the Islet Lit Up: Advancing GPCR Imaging in Native Tissue How Collaboration Sparked a GPCR Imaging Breakthrough in Chemical Biology Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>
- ama session sept 18 post 1 | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
Join Terry’s Corner AMA to master GPCR signaling, allosteric modulation, and kinetic strategy in drug discovery. Level up your pharmacology toolkit. Home → Flash News → ama session sept 18 post 1 Ask-Me-Anything Session - Sept 18 - Trailer Published on October 28, 2025 Category Terry's Corner Pharmacology doesn’t stand still—and neither should your toolkit. In the discovery phase, one overlooked kinetic parameter or a misjudged model can set your team back months . Precision in early decisions determines whether your molecule moves forward or stalls. That’s why we’ve built a dedicated space inside Terry’s Corner to get clear, evidence-based answers to the questions that shape your experiments and strategy. In this AMA session, you’ll learn how to: Decode GPCR signaling complexity using functional assay strategies Identify allosteric modulators before they derail downstream decisions Integrate kinetics early—before your program locks into costly pathways Rethink legacy screening frameworks through modern pharmacology This isn’t theory. It’s 45+ years of applied discovery experience from Terry Kenakin distilled into practical, modular lessons designed for scientists who need clarity fast. 🟢 Join Terry’s Corner → Terry's Corner | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem ✳️ BONUS — Live AMA Session: Get direct, unfiltered access to Terry. Bring your most challenging questions to our next Ask Me Anything session on October 30, 12–1 PM EST . ⚠️ Seats are limited. Don’t fall behind on what will shape the next decade of discovery. #GPCR #DrGPCR #Pharmacology #DrugDiscovery #Biotech #AllostericModulation #Kinetics #AssayDevelopment #EarlyDiscovery #PharmaR&D #BiotechInnovation Previous Next Recent Articles
- Interrogating Multiscale Receptors Functions in Space
Retreat 2023 About Program Registration Logo Contest Committee Sponsors GPCR Retreat Program < Back to schedule Interrogating Multiscale Receptors Functions in Space Date & Time Saturday, November 4th / 10:35 AM Abstract Coming Soon About Martin Beaulieu Dr. Beaulieu received a Ph.D. in Neurological Sciences from McGill University and completed his post-doctoral training at Duke University. Prior to his recruitment Dr. Beaulieu was an associate professor and Canada Research Chair (Tier2) in the Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience at Laval University. Dr. Beaulieu’s research is aimed at understanding how cellular and molecular mechanisms regulated by psychoactive drugs intersect with genetic risk factors for mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, depression, and bipolar disorder. Dr. Beaulieu has pioneered work establishing a role for Beta-arrestin signaling in the brain in vivo and has established its importance in D2 dopamine receptors (D2R) functions. These receptors belong to the super-family of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR), the major molecular target for drug development. In particular, D2R is the main pharmacological target of antipsychotic drugs prescribed for schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. Work by the Beaulieu Lab has demonstrated that mood stabilizer drugs (e.g. lithium) used for bipolar disorder therapy target signaling mechanisms regulated by dopamine receptors, thus providing a framework to understand how different drug classes can engage overlapping cellular mechanisms to exert their action. The Beaulieu group is presently investigating how cell surface express proteins can act as allosteric modulators of D2R signaling and explores the potential usefulness of beta-arrestins for the development of new pharmaceutical agents. Translational validation is important to validate findings obtained from experimental models research and bridge the gap between bench and bedside. Working in collaboration with geneticists, the Beaulieu-Lab has identified interactions between cellular mechanisms engaged by D2R and psychiatric drugs with genetic risk factors implicated in schizophrenia by large whole-genome association studies (GWAS) in humans. These investigations have led to the identification of an RNA binding protein (FXR1P) involved in the regulation of protein synthesis as a potential downstream effector of the action of mood stabilizers and other psychoactive drugs. In addition to basic research, the Beaulieu group is also actively implicated in translational research and industry collaboration to develop new drugs and drug development technology. Martin Beaulieu on the web University of Toronto Google Scholar LinkedIn ResearchGate Dr. GPCR Previous Event Next Event Great Lakes GPCR Retreat and Club des Récepteurs à Sept Domaines Transmembranaires du Québec Great Lakes GPCR Retreat and Club des Récepteurs à Sept Domaines Transmembranaires du Québec 22nd GPCR Retreat Sponsored by
- A Brief History of allosteric modulation with Dr. Arthur Christopoulos | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) A Brief History of allosteric modulation with Dr. Arthur Christopoulos About Dr. Arthur Christopoulos " Arthur Christopoulos is the Professor of Analytical Pharmacology and the Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Australia. His research focuses on novel paradigms of drug action at GPCRs, particularly allosteric modulation and biased agonism, and incorporates computational and mathematical modelling, structural and chemical biology, molecular and cellular pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, and preclinical models of behaviour and disease. His work has been applied to studies encompassing neurological and psychiatric disorders, cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, chronic pain and addiction. He has received substantial, long-term support from international and national competitive, charitable and commercial sources, as well as being academic co-founder of three GPCR-focussed biotechnology companies. Professor Christopoulos has over 360 publications, including in leading international journals such as Nature,Science and Cell, and has delivered over 180 invited presentations. He has served on the Editorial Board of 8 international journals and was a Councillor of the International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (IUPHAR). He has also been the recipient of multiple awards, including the John J. Abel Award and the Goodman and Gilman Award from the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics; the Rand Medal from the Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists; the British Pharmacological Society’s Gaddum Memorial Award; the IUPHAR Sir James Black Analytical Pharmacology Lecturer; the GSK Award for Research Excellence and a Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) from the University of Athens. Since 2014, Clarivate Analytics have annually named him a Highly Cited Researcher in ‘Pharmacology & Toxicology’, and in 2021 also named him a Highly Cited Researcher in the additional category of ‘Biology & Biochemistry’. In 2017, he was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences, in 2018 as a Fellow of the British Pharmacological Society, and in 2021 he was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science for his seminal contributions to drug discovery. In 2023, he was elected a Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia. " Dr. Arthur Christopoulos on the web Monash University Wikipedia Google Scholar LinkedIn Dr. GPCR AI Summary Quick recap Yamina and Arthur discussed Arthur's career journey in pharmacology, including his mentors and significant discoveries related to allosteric receptors. They explored the evolution of the field, allosteric modulation concepts, and potential therapeutic approaches involving autoantibodies and allosteric modulators. Additionally, they covered the importance of target product profiles, reproducibility in experiments, and collaborative efforts such as a potential book on GPCR history. Next steps - Arthur will continue to collaborate with other researchers and drug companies to advance the understanding and application of allosteric modulation. - Arthur will work on designing ligands for specific receptors, aiming to create biased agonists for therapeutic use. Summary Arthur's Career Journey and Allosteric Receptors Yamina and Arthur discussed Arthur's career journey and his contributions to the field of pharmacology, with a focus on allosteric receptors and their modulation. Arthur highlighted his mentors' influence, such as Fred Mitchelson and Nigel Burch, and significant discoveries like the concept of synthetic allosteric modulators by Bruns and Fergus. He also discussed the evolution of the field, from biochemical radioligand binding assays to cell-based functional assays, and the influence of Terry Kenakin and chemical programs on his later work. The conversation ended with Arthur's ongoing research and his development of a new operational model. Yamina emphasized the importance of understanding the historical context of the field and the significance of Arthur's contributions. Allosteric Modulation and Hybrid Molecules Arthur and Yamina discussed the development of an operational model for allosteric modulation, emphasizing the balance between mechanism and empiricism. Arthur shared his career journey, including his collaboration with Patrick Sexton and Jim Burch, and the discovery of hybrid molecules with functional selectivity. They also discussed the re-emergence of interest in certain programs, the importance of connections across receptor families, and the potential of hybrid molecules. Arthur's strategy of consulting drug companies and targeting their posters at conferences was also shared with Yamina. Pharmaceutical Industry Experiences and GPCR History Arthur shared his experiences in the pharmaceutical industry, highlighting the differences between big pharma and biotech. They discussed strategies for analyzing large compound screening data, emphasizing robust assays and addressing issues like shifting curves. Arthur recounted a 2004 visit to a pharma company using replicates in assays. Yamina proposed compiling a book on GPCR history through collaborative interviews, considering a symposium to align terminology. For their upcoming project, Yamina favored a conversational approach, while Arthur suggested a kickoff meeting, with Yamina planning chapters and interviews. Bias Mitigation in Symposium Ideas Arthur and Yamina discussed the concept of bias in the context of the history of the Symposium idea. They reviewed significant early papers related to the topic, including work by Brian Roth, Terry Kenakin, Bill Clarke, and Kelly Burke. They also discussed their own research on chemokine receptors and the importance of understanding the natural environment in drug discovery. Lastly, they touched on a project with Nicola Smith that challenged their previous theories. Allosteric Modulation and Drug Discovery Yamina and Arthur delved into the complexities of protein-protein interactions, specifically allosteric modulation. They discussed various modulatory elements, such as RAMPs, G proteins, and GRKs, with Arthur recounting his initial collaboration with Patrick Sexton on RAMPs and amylin receptors. They also delved into the different signaling of Class B receptors and the potential for modulation at various levels. The discussion underscored the potential of allosteric modulators as drugs, despite challenges in the past due to a lack of understanding about the principles involved. They highlighted the importance of fine-tuning the approach to suit different diseases and interdisciplinary collaboration. The discussion also emphasized the need for a disease-specific approach, considering the clinical context and dialing in the desired effect, as well as the significance of rational drug design principles. Allosteric Modulation and Autoantibodies Discussion Arthur and Yamina discussed the potential of autoantibodies and allosteric modulation in the context of disease and therapeutic approaches. Arthur explained the concept of endogenous allosteric ligands and the possibility of using a neutral allosteric ligand as a preferred therapeutic approach, emphasizing the importance of looking for low level cooperativity factors. They also discussed the potential of certain drugs, like flumazenil, as 'nails' or compounds that could be developed into medicines. The conversation highlighted the importance of establishing the correct disease context, setting up appropriate assays, and understanding the models for their work. They both agreed on the necessity of understanding the target product for an allosteric modulator and working backwards from there. TPP, Allosteric Modulators, and Reproducibility Yamina and Arthur discussed the concept of a target product profile (TPP) in drug development, with Arthur explaining its application in other contexts as well. Yamina appreciated Arthur's expertise and indicated she would be creating an outline for an episode on allosteric modulators. They highlighted the importance of reproducibility in scientific experiments, sharing personal experiences and anecdotes. They also discussed their upcoming trips to the GPCR Colloquium in California and current research in their fields. 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 Recent Podcast Articles Asking Better Questions in Science: A Practical Guide for Emerging Researchers When the Islet Lit Up: Advancing GPCR Imaging in Native Tissue How Collaboration Sparked a GPCR Imaging Breakthrough in Chemical Biology Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>
- We’re proud to welcome Celtarys as our media partner! Known for their fluorescent ligand innovation, Celtarys is helping researchers make biology visible, faster, smarter, and with more precision. Their chemistry speaks the language of biology, and now, they’re speaking to the global GPCR community through this powerful collaboration. 🔗 Explore Celtarys on the Dr. GPCR Ecosystem: https://www.ecosystem.drgpcr.com/celtarys-research-dr-gpcr-ecosystem #DrGPCR #GPCRtools #FluorescentLigands #BiotechInnovation | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
Home → Flash News → We’re proud to welcome Celtarys as our media partner! Known for their fluorescent ligand innovation, Celtarys is helping researchers make biology visible, faster, smarter, and with more precision. Their chemistry speaks the language of biology, and now, they’re speaking to the global GPCR community through this powerful collaboration. 🔗 Explore Celtarys on the Dr. GPCR Ecosystem: https://www.ecosystem.drgpcr.com/celtarys-research-dr-gpcr-ecosystem #DrGPCR #GPCRtools #FluorescentLigands #BiotechInnovation Published on June 4, 2025 Category Celtarys - Media Partner We’re proud to welcome Celtarys as our media partner! Known for their fluorescent ligand innovation, Celtarys is helping researchers make biology visible, faster, smarter, and with more precision. Their chemistry speaks the language of biology, and now, they’re speaking to the global GPCR community through this powerful collaboration. 🔗 Explore Celtarys on the Dr. GPCR Ecosystem: https://www.ecosystem.drgpcr.com/celtarys-research-dr-gpcr-ecosystem #DrGPCR #GPCRtools #FluorescentLigands #BiotechInnovation Previous Next Recent Articles
- Dr. Benjamin Myers | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Dr. Benjamin Myers About Dr. Benjamin Myers Ben Myers is an assistant professor at the University of Utah School of Medicine in Salt Lake City, UT, and an investigator with the Huntsman Cancer Institute. Ben’s research focuses on Smoothened and other class F GPCRs which play essential roles in embryonic development and in cancer. His group studies the unusual signaling mechanisms employed by these atypical 7-transmembrane receptors, combining biochemical and structural approaches with cell biology and in vivo models. These studies have revealed new and unexpected ways for membrane lipids to regulate GPCR activity and for GPCRs to control intracellular kinases. More recently, Ben’s lab has begun studying GPCR signaling pathways that operate within the primary cilium, a tiny antenna-shaped structure at the cell surface with critical links to development, physiology, and disease. Ben studied developmental and cancer signaling as a postdoctoral fellow with Philip Beachy at Stanford University. Prior to that, Ben received his Ph.D. from UCSF in 2008, where he worked with David Julius on the structure, function, and physiology of ion channels and GPCRs in the nervous system. Dr. Benjamin Myers on the web Website Twitter Pubmed University of Utah Dr. GPCR Ecosystem 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 Recent Podcast Articles Asking Better Questions in Science: A Practical Guide for Emerging Researchers When the Islet Lit Up: Advancing GPCR Imaging in Native Tissue How Collaboration Sparked a GPCR Imaging Breakthrough in Chemical Biology Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>
- Dr. Hannes Schihada | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Dr. Hannes Schihada About Dr. Hannes Schihada Following studies in Pharmacy in Regensburg, Germany, I joined the receptor pharmacology group of Martin Lohse at the Institute of Pharmacology & Toxicology in Würzburg, Germany, in 2015. My project involved the development of FRET/BRET -based GPCR conformational biosensors, which can be employed in high throughput ligand screening. After my Ph.D. defense in 2019, I moved with a DFG (German research council) PostDoc fellowship to Stockholm, Sweden, in order to focus my research on class Frizzled GPCR s in the lab of Gunnar Schulte at the Karolinska Institute. I spent 2 1/2 years in his lab and developed novel conformational sensors for these intriguing receptors, allowing us to better understand their mode of action. By the end of 2021, I moved back to Germany and joined the pharmaceutical chemistry group of Peter Kolb in Marburg. I was recently awarded a Marie Sklodowska Curie PostDoc Fellowship in order to investigate and find better ligands for the orphan class A GPCRs , GPR3 , GPR6 , and GPR12 . Dr. Hannes Schihada on the web Karolinska Institutet Twitter Adher´n Rise LinkedIn Dr. GPCR Ecosystem 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 Recent Podcast Articles Asking Better Questions in Science: A Practical Guide for Emerging Researchers When the Islet Lit Up: Advancing GPCR Imaging in Native Tissue How Collaboration Sparked a GPCR Imaging Breakthrough in Chemical Biology Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>
- Empowering Drug Discovery for the GPCR Community with Dr. Justin English | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Empowering Drug Discovery for the GPCR Community with Dr. Justin English About Dr. Justin English "Dr. English earned his PhD at UNC Chapel Hill in the laboratory of Dr. Henrik Dohlman and performed his postdoctoral work with Dr. Bryan Roth at the same University. We moved to Salt Lake City, Utah in 2020 to begin his own laboratory in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Utah School of Medicine. His lab focuses on developing and innovating technologies to solve broad questions in pharmacology, with a specific focus on G-protein coupled receptor signaling and biology." Dr. Justin English on the web The English Lab University of Utah Google Scholar LinkedIn Dr. GPCR 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 Recent Podcast Articles Asking Better Questions in Science: A Practical Guide for Emerging Researchers When the Islet Lit Up: Advancing GPCR Imaging in Native Tissue How Collaboration Sparked a GPCR Imaging Breakthrough in Chemical Biology Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>
- Chris Langmead | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Chris Langmead Chris Langmead is Professor, Deputy Director, and Better Medicines Theme Leader of the Neuromedicines Discovery Centre at the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS), a collaborative venture targeting new medicines development for poorly-treated mental health disorders. He also directs a collaborative neuroscience R&D program with Servier (France) and is the co-founder and CEO of Phrenix Therapeutics, a biotech spin-out from the Neuromedicines Discovery Centre that is developing next-generation therapeutics for schizophrenia. Prior to these roles this he was Head of Pharmacology at Heptares Therapeutics Ltd., a UK-based biotechnology company (2009-2012), where he was responsible all of the company’s discovery biology. He is an acknowledged expert in drug discovery, particularly in the field of psychiatry, where he has led multiple projects into late stage preclinical development, many of which have progressed into clinical trials. These successes enabled the US$400M sale of Heptares Therapeutics Ltd. to the Sosei Group Corporation in 2015. Prior to joining Heptares, Chris was a neuroscience researcher at GlaxoSmithKline, UK (1998-2009). He has a degree and PhD in pharmacology from Queens' College, Cambridge and University College London, respectively, was the youngest person to be elected as a Fellow of the British Pharmacological Society in 2012, and was the recipient of the British Pharmacological Society Novartis Prize in 2017. Chris serves on the editorial boards of the British Journal of Pharmacology, ACS Chemical Neuroscience, ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science and Frontiers in Pharmacology. He is also a corresponding member of NC-IUPHAR. He has published over 70 research articles, reviews and book chapters on drug discovery, which have been cited over 5000 times. Christopher Langmead on the web Monash University T witter Google Scholar Linkedin PubMed Monash Neuromedicines Dr. GPCR Ecosystem 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 Recent Podcast Articles Asking Better Questions in Science: A Practical Guide for Emerging Researchers When the Islet Lit Up: Advancing GPCR Imaging in Native Tissue How Collaboration Sparked a GPCR Imaging Breakthrough in Chemical Biology Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>
- Coffee Break 4
Retreat 2023 About Program Registration Logo Contest Committee Sponsors GPCR Retreat Program < Back to schedule Coffee Break 4 Date & Time Friday, November 3rd / 3:00 PM Previous Event Next Event Great Lakes GPCR Retreat and Club des Récepteurs à Sept Domaines Transmembranaires du Québec Great Lakes GPCR Retreat and Club des Récepteurs à Sept Domaines Transmembranaires du Québec 22nd GPCR Retreat Sponsored by
- terrys corner predict drug behavior | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
Home → Flash News → terrys corner predict drug behavior Published on July 12, 2025 Category Terry's Corner Linear, linkage, or probability? Dive into the logic of drug modeling with Terry Kenakin. In his latest lesson, he breaks down the essential models shaping modern pharmacology. Learn to “extend your eyes” and predict complex drug behaviors. 🟢 Browse the full catalog (and expect a new course every week!) ✳️ https://www.terrykenakin.com #pharmacology #drugmechanism #kenakin #GPCR #DrGPCR Previous Next Recent Articles
- Trainee Symposium I
Retreat 2023 About Program Registration Logo Contest Committee Sponsors GPCR Retreat Program < Back to schedule Trainee Symposium I Date & Time Thursday, November 2nd / 1:45 PM - 2:45 PM Title: Virion Display to Discover a Novel Ligand of the Orphan GPCR GPRC5B and its Role in Obesity About Eric Johansen "I will be a 6th year Ph.D student in the chemical biology interface program at Johns Hopkins University. My project is investigating a new protein ligand for a GPCR and its potential role in obesity. My interests in research are primarily directed towards methods that study GPCRs and GPCR signaling, as well as drug discovery and design." Eric Johansen on the web Johns Hopkins University Dr. GPCR Title: Modeling Cardiac Fibrosis in a Dish: Combining hIPSC-Derived Fibroblasts and FRET Biosensors to Unravel GPCR-Mediated Cardiac Fibrosis Activation in Dilated Cardiomyopathy About Grace Mazarura "I am a graduate student in the Hébert Lab. In my current research project I use iPSC-derived cardiac fibroblasts to examine cellular signaling in the fibrotic response, a key driver of dilated cardiomyopathy." Grace Mazarura on the web McGill University Dr. GPCR Title: Characterization of Novel Opioid-Neurotensin Bifunctional Ligands Designed to Target Pain Management About Émile Breault "Emile Breault is undertaking his master's degree in pharmacology at the university of Sherbrooke under the supervision of Prof. Sarret. He recently received his BSc in pharmacology from the University of Sherbrooke in 2023. During his graduate studies, Emile is interested in characterizing novel G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) ligands for the treatment of chronic pain but also in deciphering cellular signaling pathways associated with the physiological effects observed in vivo of such GPCRs." Émile Breault on the web Google Scholar ResearchGate Dr. GPCR Title: Synapse-Associated Protein 102 and Post-Synaptic Density 95 Differentially Shape Dopamine D1 Receptor Signaling About Bassam Albraidy "My thesis focus on studying the interaction of dopamine D1 receptors scaffolding proteins synapse-associated protein 102 and post-synaptic density 95, and the impact of these complexes in D1R-mediated signaling and trafficking mechanisms." Bassam Albraidy on the web X (Twitter) LinkedIn Dr. GPCR Previous Event Next Event Great Lakes GPCR Retreat and Club des Récepteurs à Sept Domaines Transmembranaires du Québec Great Lakes GPCR Retreat and Club des Récepteurs à Sept Domaines Transmembranaires du Québec 22nd GPCR Retreat Sponsored by
- Board Meeting
Retreat 2023 About Program Registration Logo Contest Committee Sponsors GPCR Retreat Program < Back to schedule Board Meeting Date & Time Friday, November 3rd / 9:30 PM Previous Event Next Event Great Lakes GPCR Retreat and Club des Récepteurs à Sept Domaines Transmembranaires du Québec Great Lakes GPCR Retreat and Club des Récepteurs à Sept Domaines Transmembranaires du Québec 22nd GPCR Retreat Sponsored by
- Exploring the combination of molecular simulation, pharmacological assays, and NMR to reveal the molecular mechanism of biased activation at the vasopressin V2 receptor. Did you know that we work hard to bring you the most recent GPCR News, weekly? Catch up today in the Ecosystem using your free site membership! | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
Home → Flash News → Exploring the combination of molecular simulation, pharmacological assays, and NMR to reveal the molecular mechanism of biased activation at the vasopressin V2 receptor. Did you know that we work hard to bring you the most recent GPCR News, weekly? Catch up today in the Ecosystem using your free site membership! Published on December 10, 2024 Category GPCR Weekly News Exploring the combination of molecular simulation, pharmacological assays, and NMR to reveal the molecular mechanism of biased activation at the vasopressin V2 receptor. Did you know that we work hard to bring you the most recent GPCR News, weekly? Catch up today in the Ecosystem using your free site membership! ➡️ https://www.ecosystem.drgpcr.com/receptor-activation-and-signaling/high-affinity-elr%2B-chemokine-ligands-show-g-protein-bias-over-%CE%B2-arrestin-recruitment-and-receptor-internalization-in-cxcr1-signalling #gpcr #drgpcr Previous Next Recent Articles
- What are your thoughts on β2AR? Listen to Ep.163 of the @DrGPCR Podcast, where @DVeprintsev shares his thoughts and experiences about working with GPCRs, tips on framing your research correctly, and other insightful topics. Don’t miss out! ✳️https://www.ecosystem.drgpcr.com/dr-gpcr-podcast/ep-163-with-dr.-dmitry- #GPCRs #SciencePodcast #DrugDiscovery #Biotech #DrGPCR | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
Home → Flash News → What are your thoughts on β2AR? Listen to Ep.163 of the @DrGPCR Podcast, where @DVeprintsev shares his thoughts and experiences about working with GPCRs, tips on framing your research correctly, and other insightful topics. Don’t miss out! ✳️https://www.ecosystem.drgpcr.com/dr-gpcr-podcast/ep-163-with-dr.-dmitry- #GPCRs #SciencePodcast #DrugDiscovery #Biotech #DrGPCR Published on April 3, 2025 Category Dr. GPCR Podcast What are your thoughts on β2AR? Listen to Ep.163 of the @DrGPCR Podcast, where @DVeprintsev shares his thoughts and experiences about working with GPCRs, tips on framing your research correctly, and other insightful topics. Don’t miss out! ✳️ https://www.ecosystem.drgpcr.com/dr-gpcr-podcast/ep-163-with-dr.-dmitry- #GPCRs #SciencePodcast #DrugDiscovery #Biotech #DrGPCR Previous Next Recent Articles
- Dr. Ralf Jockers | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Dr. Ralf Jockers About Dr. Ralf Jockers Ralf Jockers studied in Cologne and received a Ph.D. in biotechnology and biochemistry from the University of Braunschweig, Germany. For postdoctoral training, he joined the laboratory of Dr. Strosberg AD in France, where he worked on the regulation of ß-adrenergic receptors. He is the Research director at INSERM with a specific interest in G protein-coupled receptors by developing original BRET and TR-FRET assays. His laboratory is currently located at the Institute Cochin – Inserm (Paris, France). His laboratory was among the first to demonstrate the oligomerization of GPCRs. He showed the formation of melatonin receptor heteromers in vitro and in vivo and their importance in retinal physiology. He established the concept of ligand-independent functions of orphan receptors in heterodimers with other GPCRs. He discovered multiple rare and loss-of-function variants of the MT2 melatonin receptors that are associated with type 2 diabetes (TD2) development. Many MT2 variants are biased and their defects are signaling pathway-specific opening new perspectives for T2D treatment and precision medicine. His lab was among the first to discover mitochondrial functions of GPCRs. He was the director of the French network of GPCRs (GDR-3545), currently directs the International Research Network (IRN) i-GPCRnet of the CNRS, is chair of IUPHAR « Melatonin receptor » sub-committee, Editor-in-Chief of « Frontiers in Cellular Endocrinology » and AE of « J Pineal Research”. He is a highly cited researcher – 2019 and 2020 identified by Clarivate Web of Science ™. Dr. Ralf Jockers on the web Jockers Lab WGDR-3545 Pubmed Dr. GPCR Ecosystem 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 Recent Podcast Articles Asking Better Questions in Science: A Practical Guide for Emerging Researchers When the Islet Lit Up: Advancing GPCR Imaging in Native Tissue How Collaboration Sparked a GPCR Imaging Breakthrough in Chemical Biology Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>
- Check In
Retreat 2023 About Program Registration Logo Contest Committee Sponsors GPCR Retreat Program < Back to schedule Check In Date & Time Thursday, November 2nd / 4:00 PM Previous Event Next Event Great Lakes GPCR Retreat and Club des Récepteurs à Sept Domaines Transmembranaires du Québec Great Lakes GPCR Retreat and Club des Récepteurs à Sept Domaines Transmembranaires du Québec 22nd GPCR Retreat Sponsored by
- Brendan Wilkins | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Brendan Wilkins About Brendan Wilkins "Brendan completed his undergraduate training at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, Australia in 2016 with first class Honours in Pharmacology. In his Honours year, Brendan explored small molecule allosteric modulators of the β2-adrenoceptor under the tutelage of Dr Angela Finch. Since then, Brendan worked as a research assistant at the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute where he investigated the orphan G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), GPR37L1. Brendan is now a final year PhD candidate in the Orphan Receptor Laboratory headed by Associate Professor Nicola J Smith at UNSW Sydney, Australia. Brendan’s PhD project focuses on the orphan GPCR GPR146. This project aims to characterise the molecular pharmacology of GPR146 and to validate the proposed ligands of GPR146 in line with IUPHAR-NC guidelines on deorphanisation of orphan GPCRs. Brendan is currently looking for post-doctoral positions to begin in mid-2024" Brendan Wilkins on the web UNSW Sydney Google Scholar ResearchGate LinkedIn Twitter Dr. GPCR 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 Recent Podcast Articles Asking Better Questions in Science: A Practical Guide for Emerging Researchers When the Islet Lit Up: Advancing GPCR Imaging in Native Tissue How Collaboration Sparked a GPCR Imaging Breakthrough in Chemical Biology Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>
- ep 169 with sokhom pin some 2 | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
Home → Flash News → ep 169 with sokhom pin some 2 Published on July 10, 2025 Category Dr. GPCR Podcast Build the team you always wished you had. At Alkermes, Sokhom S. Pin didn’t just lead a lab. He built a culture. His team became known as “the happiest group in the company.” Why? Empowerment, trust, and zero tolerance for toxicity. It wasn’t luck. It was leadership. ✳️ Watch Ep. 169: https://www.ecosystem.drgpcr.com/dr-gpcr-podcast/ep-169-with-dr-sokhom-pin #biotechleadership #GPCRresearchcommunity #DrGPCR #teamculture Previous Next Recent Articles
- GPCRs and the Science Behind Pain and Recovery with Dr. Alex Serafini | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
Dr. Alex Serafini shares why pain research must start with real-world behavior and models before drilling into GPCR targets — a top-down rethink for drug discovery. << Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) GPCRs and the Science Behind Pain and Recovery with Dr. Alex Serafini 1. Strategy: From Personal Pain to Scientific Purpose Dr. Alex Serafini’s entry into science wasn’t typical. Born in California, raised in Silicon Valley, and initially eyeing finance, his trajectory took a sharp turn after struggling with unresolved, chronic pain following repeated surgeries for a pilonidal cyst. "I wasn't able to get stronger pain meds because of the opioid epidemic," he recalls. That gap in care sparked a curiosity that became a career. Driven by personal experience and a desire to innovate in pain management, Alex pursued a master's in pain research at Hopkins and later an MD-PhD at Mount Sinai. His early exposure to TRPV1 channels and peripheral pain mechanisms with Dr. Mike Caterina laid the foundation. But the deeper mission? Finding answers for patients society often overlooks. Pain became more than biology — it became a personal strategy. “I started going through what I was going through… and that got me very interested in research.” — Alex Serafini 2. Decision-Making: Saying Yes to the Unorthodox Path Serafini’s journey defied traditional checklists. He joined Mount Sinai through FlexMed — bypassing the MCAT — and was torn between a career in pharma and academia. At one point, he had a job offer at Roivant (a biotech firm known for repurposing shelved compounds), but a late-stage offer into an MD-PhD program — and parental “encouragement” — rerouted his path. His approach to decision-making is pragmatic: follow impact, not orthodoxy. The decision to stay on as a postdoc in the same lab as his PhD — with Dr. Venetia Zachariou — wasn't the typical next step, but it allowed him to wrap up high-impact work and learn about PI-level grant writing, strategy, and lab management. In his words: “She let me run projects like a junior PI.” “I didn’t need to chase new techniques — I needed to finish the science that mattered.” — Alex Serafini 3. Blind Spots: The Underestimated Role of RGS Proteins in Pain Although not a self-proclaimed GPCR specialist, Serafini found himself repeatedly drawn to them, or more precisely, to RGS (Regulators of G protein Signaling) proteins. The lab’s work with RGS4 led to unexpected results: knockout mice spontaneously recovered from chronic pain after three weeks, an effect rarely observed. He points out that GPCRs—especially orphan and CNS-associated ones—are often downplayed in pain research, with most focus on ionotropic targets like NAV1.8. But Serafini believes that’s a blind spot. “We’re using outdated drugs. There are more elegant GPCR targets waiting to be explored.” The lab’s unconventional in vivo-first strategies, combined with RNA-seq and behavioral analysis, revealed nuanced roles of RGS4, RGS9, and RGSZ — not just as modulators but as potential therapeutic linchpins. “Half the time, in pain, what works in vivo doesn’t translate to clinic. We need new thinking.” — Alex Serafini 4. Failure & Frustration: From Pipettes to Pandemic Disruption The road hasn’t been smooth. From struggling to grip mice in early animal studies to thesis delays during COVID-19, Serafini's journey is marked by grit. But it’s in these friction points that new insights emerged. The pandemic disruption, for instance, led him to BSL-3 labs to study persistent pain after SARS-CoV-2 infection, revealing novel immune-neuron signaling in DRGs. He also opens up about the emotional and logistical toll of MD-PhD training. It’s an eight-year-plus haul with built-in uncertainty. However, with mentors who believed in him, especially those who shared administrative, grant-writing, and leadership skills early on, he found direction and resilience. “She [Vanna] gave me a crash course in what it’s like to be a junior PI. That changed everything.” — Alex Serafini 5. Pivoting: Redefining the Pain Research Playbook Looking ahead, Serafini’s vision is bold: build a lab that develops translational models of pain rooted in patient realities. He’s fascinated by transgenerational epigenetics — how parental pain, diet, or drug exposure can leave molecular fingerprints in offspring. He's equally focused on sex differences in pain processing and the failure of "one-size-fits-all" models in pharmacology. His advice? Learn broadly. Stay close to patients. Collaborate relentlessly. And above all, don’t be afraid to start from the phenotype and work backwards to the mechanism. That top-down approach, though less common, could help pain research finally catch up with the complexity of real-world biology. “Start from the end — from the clinic — and then build backwards.” — Alex Serafini _________ Key Takeaway Innovation in pain research won’t come from doing the same things better — it’ll come from flipping the script. Whether it’s challenging legacy targets, redefining preclinical models, or exploring the epigenetic inheritance of pain, Dr. Serafini urges the field to stay bold, patient-centered, and GPCR-aware. Keyword Cloud GPCR research community, Dr. GPCR ecosystem, GPCR drug discovery, GPCR podcast, GPCR data platform, GPCR training program, RGS4, chronic pain, epigenetics, translational models. Summary created by AI ________ About Alex Serafini Alex was born and raised in the Bay Area and received his BS/MS Neuroscience from Johns Hopkins. His master's degree was in Dr. Michael Caterina's lab studying the role of PNS chloride transporters in neuropathic pain. Upon matriculating to Mount Sinai's MD/PhD program, he joined Dr. Venetia Zachariou's lab to study the effects of chronic pain and addiction/withdrawal on the mesocorticolimbic system, focusing on transcription factor and RGS protein maladaptations, behavioral RGS protein drug "screening", and the role of SARS-CoV-2 on CNS function and sensory hypersensitivity. He aspires to become a physician-scientist, with a focus on translational in vitro and in vivo model development for studying chronic pain and affective comorbidities. Other academic interests of his include studying pharmaceutical finance & healthcare administration and developing technologies that increase healthcare access. His non-academic interests include traveling, scouting out micro-breweries, and collecting beer cans. Alex Serafini on the web LinkedIn 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 Recent Podcast Articles Asking Better Questions in Science: A Practical Guide for Emerging Researchers When the Islet Lit Up: Advancing GPCR Imaging in Native Tissue How Collaboration Sparked a GPCR Imaging Breakthrough in Chemical Biology Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>
- How do GPCRs sense pH changes? New cryo-EM structures of GPR4 and GPR68 reveal how extracellular histidines act as proton sensors-trigger activation and biased G protein coupling! Did you know that we work hard to bring you the most recent GPCR News, weekly? Catch up today in the Ecosystem using your free site membership! ➡️https://www.ecosystem.drgpcr.com/structural-and-molecular-insights-into-gpcr-function/structural-basis-and-biased-signaling-of-proton-sensation-by-gpcrs-mediated-by-extracellular-histidine-rearrangement #gpcr#drgpcr | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
Home → Flash News → How do GPCRs sense pH changes? New cryo-EM structures of GPR4 and GPR68 reveal how extracellular histidines act as proton sensors-trigger activation and biased G protein coupling! Did you know that we work hard to bring you the most recent GPCR News, weekly? Catch up today in the Ecosystem using your free site membership! ➡️https://www.ecosystem.drgpcr.com/structural-and-molecular-insights-into-gpcr-function/structural-basis-and-biased-signaling-of-proton-sensation-by-gpcrs-mediated-by-extracellular-histidine-rearrangement #gpcr#drgpcr Published on May 26, 2025 Category GPCR Weekly News How do GPCRs sense pH changes? New cryo-EM structures of GPR4 and GPR68 reveal how extracellular histidines act as proton sensors-trigger activation and biased G protein coupling! Did you know that we work hard to bring you the most recent GPCR News, weekly? Catch up today in the Ecosystem using your free site membership! ➡️ https://www.ecosystem.drgpcr.com/structural-and-molecular-insights-into-gpcr-function/structural-basis-and-biased-signaling-of-proton-sensation-by-gpcrs-mediated-by-extracellular-histidine-rearrangement #gpcr#drgpcr Previous Next Recent Articles
- Inês Pinheiro, Monserrat Avila Zozaya & Yamina Berchiche | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Inês Pinheiro, Monserrat Avila Zozaya & Yamina Berchiche About Inês Pinheiro PharmD by training and Ph.D. candidate in Hartley's lab at the University of Geneva. As a young researcher fascinated by chemokine receptors, molecular pharmacology, drug discovery, and immuno-oncology. Inês Pinheiro on the web LinkedIn University of Geneva Twitter Dr. GPCR Ecosystem About Monserrat Avila Zozaya I am a cell biologist interested in studying GPCRs, especially adhesion GPCRs. Motivated by my scientific passion, I recently started a postdoctoral fellowship to study the role of GPCRs in the mechanisms of pain and its comorbidities. Monserrat Avila Zozaya on the web Antony Boucard Lab Dr. GPCR Ecosystem About 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 The 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. Yamina Berchiche on the web Website LinkedIn Facebook Twitter ResearchGate PubMed Google Scholar Dr. GPCR Ecosystem 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 Recent Podcast Articles Asking Better Questions in Science: A Practical Guide for Emerging Researchers When the Islet Lit Up: Advancing GPCR Imaging in Native Tissue How Collaboration Sparked a GPCR Imaging Breakthrough in Chemical Biology Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>
















