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Home → Flash News → Do you know that dilated cardiomyopathy, a disease that makes it harder for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body, results from the deficiency of Latrophilin-2? Check out this paper to understand the function of Latrophilin-2 and how it leads to dilated cardiomyopathy. Subscribe to the Dr. GPCR Newsletter 📰 and get the latest GPCR News delivered to your inbox. Published on October 31, 2024 Category GPCR Weekly News Do you know that dilated cardiomyopathy, a disease that makes it harder for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body, results from the deficiency of Latrophilin-2? Check out this paper to understand the function of Latrophilin-2 and how it leads to dilated cardiomyopathy. Subscribe to the Dr. GPCR Newsletter 📰 and get the latest GPCR News delivered to your inbox. ➡️ https:// www.ecosystem.drgpcr.com/gpcrs-in-cardiology-endocrinology-and-taste/latrophilin-2-deletion-in-cardiomyocyte-disrupts-cell-junction%2C-leading-to-d-cmp Previous Next Recent Articles

<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Dr. Stuart Maudsley About Dr. Stuart Maudsley Stuart graduated from the University of Leeds in the U.K. with a First Class Honors degree in Pharmacology. At the end of his studies, he was awarded the Pfizer Prize for undergraduate research. He then completed his Ph.D. at Leeds as well as the University’s Ackroyd, Brotherton, and Brown Scholar. Following his Ph.D., Dr. Maudsley was awarded a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Fellowship to train with Professor Robert Lefkowitz at Duke University. Following this tremendous experience, he was recruited to be the Principal Investigator of the Receptor Biology Section at the Medical Research Council (MRC) -Human Reproductive Sciences Unit within the University of Edinburgh. At the MRC he developed novel prostate cancer therapeutics based upon his research into GPCR pluridimensional signaling. To broaden his biomedical skill-set Stuart next accepted the position of Head of the Receptor Pharmacology Unit at the National Institutes of Health – National Institute on Aging at the Johns Hopkins University Medical Center. At the NIH he was the recipient of the coveted NIH ‘Bench-to-Bedside’ Translational Research Grant Award, one of the few awards available within the intramural NIH program. Upon starting a new family, and returning to Europe, Dr. Maudsley continued his scientific journey with the award of the highly-valued Odysseus Program Type I Program Grant to work as both the Adjunct Director of the VIB Center for Molecular Neurology and also Vice-Chair of the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Antwerp. Stuart’s current research, in the Receptor Biology Lab, focuses on the development of novel GPCR-based therapeutics that interdict diseases based on their gerontological underpinnings. This research stream is now forming the basis of a new technology-based start-up company, HeptOME , to help screen and develop novel longevity/disease-regulating compounds with multidimensional disease efficacy profiles. Dr. Stuart Maudsley on the web Maudsley Lab LinkedIn Google Scholar ResearchGate Maudsley Lab on Facebook Receptor Biology Lab Facebook Group Twitter Semantic Scholar Instagram Neurotree Dimensions Reddit 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 >>

Discover how Celtarys Research is transforming GPCR assay development with fluorescent ligands in this episode featuring CSO Dr. Maria Majellaro—and learn what their new partnership with Dr. GPCR means for the global research community. << Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Custom Molecules, Fluorescent Probes: When Chemists Think Like Biologists with Dr. Maria Majellaro from Celtarys A Partnership Rooted in Scientific Innovation In this episode, Dr. Maria Majellaro, CSO of Celtarys Research, shares the story behind the company’s journey from academic curiosity to biotech force. But this conversation also marks something new: a strategic partnership between Dr. GPCR and Celtarys, built on a shared commitment to empowering the GPCR research community. At Celtarys, the focus is on enabling fast, customizable development of fluorescent ligands and chemical probes for GPCR assays. What started as a PhD project has grown into a commercial technology that helps scientists interrogate receptor pharmacology with greater speed and flexibility. “We started with GPCRs, but now we’re expanding to many new targets. Every time, it’s a new world—and we’re still learning.” — Maria Majellaro Through this partnership, Celtarys becomes an integral part of the Dr. GPCR ecosystem, contributing both expertise and tools that align directly with the needs of scientists at the bench and in translational drug discovery. Decision-Making: From Researcher to Scientific Leader Maria’s story is one of trusting her instincts while embracing change. She began as a medicinal chemist in Italy, but a postdoc opportunity in Santiago de Compostela—and a mentor’s timely suggestion—changed her trajectory. When the time came to decide whether to leave the lab and lead Celtarys into biotech, she took the leap. “It was my shift from the lab to leadership. I wasn’t sure at first, but I realized I could do this too.” — Maria Majellaro Her decisions, often made intuitively rather than analytically, have led to key inflection points—including Celtarys’ formal launch in 2021, just as the world was emerging from the pandemic. Now, she leads a team of six scientists and continues to build momentum through collaborations like the one with Dr. GPCR. Translating Science into Business Like many scientists-turned-entrepreneurs, Maria faced the challenge of learning the business side of biotech on the fly. Celtarys had the technology—but not the roadmap for commercialization. That changed with support from Galicia’s robust biotech network, and the company quickly defined its value: building better tools for drug discovery assays. “As scientists, we know how to make molecules. But we had to learn everything else—IP, market positioning, customer discovery.” — Maria Majellaro This year, as part of its partnership with Dr. GPCR, Celtarys will bring those lessons to the broader community, providing insight into assay development, probe design, and the realities of scaling innovation from lab bench to product launch. The Complexity Behind Every “Successful” Probe Maria is candid about the technical challenges behind fluorescent ligand development. “It’s not just attaching a fluorophore,” she says. Each probe must retain activity, remain soluble, and be compatible with a given assay format. There were moments of doubt and repeated optimization. The payoff? Enabling companies and academic labs to avoid the costly dead ends often associated with probe development. “You can have a great ligand—but if you can’t solubilize it, it’s useless.” — Maria Majellaro Celtarys’ unique chemical platform shortens development timelines and allows tailored modifications—critical for labs starting new GPCR-related projects. Their work directly supports the tool-building mission that aligns with the Dr. GPCR ecosystem. Pivoting: From Chemistry Company to Discovery Partner Initially focused on tool production, Celtarys has evolved into something more: a scientific collaborator. Their approach is highly consultative—they don’t just sell ligands, they co-develop solutions. The company works with clients from pharma, CROs, and academia, including MD Anderson and several leading GPCR labs. “We always start with the problem, then generate the right compound using our chemistry. It’s about enabling biology.” — Maria Majellaro Through its partnership with Dr. GPCR, Celtarys will expand its visibility and impact—offering its expertise, tools, and real-world insight to researchers tackling today’s most pressing GPCR-related questions. Summary made with AI ________ Key Takeaway This episode is more than a conversation—it’s the official kickoff of a one-year partnership between Dr. GPCR and Celtarys. Together, we’re combining chemistry, biology, and business insight to empower the GPCR research community like never before. Whether you're designing assays, developing probes, or seeking better tools for GPCR drug discovery, Celtarys and Dr. GPCR are now working hand-in-hand to help you do it faster, better, and more reproducibly. Keyword Cloud GPCR research community , Dr. GPCR ecosystem , GPCR drug discovery , fluorescent ligands , GPCR scientist network , custom ligand development , GPCR assay development , G protein-coupled receptors , GPCR podcast , Celtarys partnership Summary created by AI ________ About Maria Majellaro Dr. Maria Majellaro obtained her PhD with the distinction of Doctor Europeus from the Department of Pharmacy at the University of Bari (Italy) in 2018. During her doctoral studies, she spent one year as a predoctoral visiting student at the CIQUS Research Center—Campus of International Excellence—in Santiago de Compostela (Spain). In 2018, she returned to CIQUS to work as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the group of Prof. Eddy Sotelo, where together with Dr. Jhonny Azuaje they laid the groundwork for the future creation of Celtarys Research. Since the founding of Celtarys in 2021, she has served as the company’s Chief Scientific Officer, leading all scientific activities—from the development of Celtarys’ proprietary products to the ideation and execution of custom research projects. She also oversees the company’s scientific collaborations across Europe and beyond, being responsible for securing and managing national and international research grants. To date, she has successfully led seven funded projects. Her scientific expertise is rooted in organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry, with a particular focus on GPCR modulators. She has played a central role in the development and validation of Celtarys’ proprietary synthetic technology and is both a co-author of the related patent and a co-founder of the company. Maria Majellaro on the web LinkedIn ResearchGate 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 >>

Retreat 2023 About Program Registration Logo Contest Committee Sponsors GPCR Retreat Program < Back to schedule Biochemical Mechanisms Underlying Location Bias in GPCR Signaling Date & Time Saturday, November 4th / 8:40 AM Abstract Coming Soon About Sudarshan Rajagopal "Dr. Sudarshan Rajagopal is a physician-scientist and is currently an Associate Professor of Medicine and Biochemistry at Duke University School of Medicine. He obtained his B.S. in Chemistry from The University of Chicago in 1998 and subsequently enrolled in the Medical Scientist Training Program at The University of Chicago. During his doctoral work in the lab of Prof. Keith Moffat, he studied the structural mechanisms of bacterial photoreceptors using time-resolved Laue crystallography. He was awarded his PhD in 2004 and his MD in 2006. He then joined the Internal Medicine Residency training program at Duke University Medical Center. During his Cardiology fellowship, he trained in the lab of Dr. Robert J. Lefkowitz, where his research focused on biased agonism, with the development of approaches to quantify ligand bias and the identification of ACKR3 as an endogenously beta-arrestin-biased receptor. After completing his training, he joined the faculty at Duke, with a focus on the mechanisms underlying biased agonism at GPCRs and its contribution inflammation and cardiovascular disease. His group and others have shown that many of these ligands act as biased agonists for the same receptor. His lab is also interested in identifying novel signal transduction mechanisms of GPCRs, such as the formation of complexes between G proteins and beta-arrestins. His clinical focus is on pulmonary arterial hypertension, a disease of the pulmonary arterioles that causes right heart failure, and he serves as co-director of the Duke Pulmonary Vascular Disease Center." Sudarshan Rajagopal on the web The Rajagopal Lab Google Scholar Pubmed 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

<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Dr. Adriano Marchese About Dr. Adriano Marchese Adriano Marchese is a Professor of Biochemistry at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Adriano received his Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacology in 1991 from the University of Toronto. He continued his graduate studies at the University of Toronto where he earned his MSc (1994) and Ph.D. (1998) in Pharmacology. He then moved to Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA, for his postdoctoral training in Jeff Benovic’s laboratory studying the regulation of G protein-coupled receptor trafficking and signaling. In 2004 Adriano joined the faculty of the Department of Pharmacology at Loyola University Chicago. In 2016 he decided to move his lab to the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, WI. Adriano’s research has contributed to our understanding of the role that ubiquitin plays in GPCR signaling and trafficking. His laboratory is interested in understanding the mechanisms that govern spatial and temporal regulation of GPCR signaling by -arrestins and post-translational modifications (PTMs), such as phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and SUMOylation. His lab has shown a role for -arrestins and PTMs in GPCR trafficking and signaling and has leveraged this knowledge to reveal the spatial and temporal requirements for GPCR activation of signaling pathways related to cell survival, proliferation, and migration. The ultimate goal of Adriano’s research is to target novel aspects of GPCR signaling for therapeutic development. Dr. Adriano Marchese on the web Twitter LinkedIn Google Scholar Website 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 >>

Retreat 2023 About Program Registration Logo Contest Committee Sponsors GPCR Retreat Program < Back to schedule Biased agonism at the GLP-1 receptor: from structure to animal models of disease Date & Time Friday, November 3rd / 11:05 AM Abstract Coming Soon About Patrick Sexton " Patrick Sexton is a NHMRC Senior Principal Research Fellow and Director, ARC Centre for Cryo-electron Microscopy of Membrane Proteins ( www.ccemmp.org ). He is a leader in the study of GPCRs. Recently, his team has applied cryo-EM to elucidation of the structure and dynamics of GPCRs. Prof. Sexton has published over 335 peer reviewed journal articles and has been cited >29,000 times (Google Scholar). He is a 2022 Clarivate Analytics Highly Cited Researcher in two disciplines: Pharmacology & Toxicology; Biology & Biochemistry, a corresponding member of NC-IUPHAR, a member of the Faculty of 1000 and an elected Fellow of the British Pharmacological Society (BPS). Prof. Sexton’s awards include the ASCEPT Lecturer award, Endocrine Society (Australia) Senior Plenary award, Rand Medal (ASCEPT), Paxinos-Watson Award (Australian Neuroscience Society), Vane Medal (BPS), Gordon Hammes Lectureship Award (American Chemical Society) and the GSK Research Excellence award. Prof. Sexton is also a co-founder of Septerna Inc. " Patrick Sexton on the web CCeMMP Monash University 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

Full Agenda Adhesion GPCR workshop 2024 CINVESTAV, Mexico City, Mexico October 23-25 Download PDF Program HERE < Back to Full Agenda Mexico City Nocturnal Tour, Food and drinks Coming Soon < Previous Session Next Session >

Retreat 2023 About Program Registration Logo Contest Committee Sponsors GPCR Retreat Program < Back to schedule Distinct sub-cellular signal propagation as a component of functional selectivity Date & Time Saturday, November 4th / 8:15 AM Abstract Coming Soon About Michel Bouvier "Michel Bouvier is a professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine and the CEO of the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer ( IRIC ) at the Université de Montréal. Following his Ph.D. in Neurological Sciences at the same university in 1985, he completed a post-doctoral fellow at Duke University in the laboratory of Robert Lefkowitz. In 1989, he returned to Montréal as a professor of biochemistry and a scholar of the Medical Research Council of Canada at the Faculty of Medicine of the Université de Montréal. Since 2001, he holds the Canada Research Chair in Signal Transduction and Molecular Pharmacology. Dr. Bouvier is the author of 300 scientific papers and 15 patents and delivered close to 500 invited conferences. He is a world-renowned expert in the field of cell signaling and GPCRs and made seminal contributions to our understanding of this major class of drug targets. In addition to paradigm shifts including inverse agonism, biased signaling, and pharmacological chaperones, his work on bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) resulted in the development of screening assays that are now widely used for drug discovery. His work received more than 30,000 citations yielding an h-index of 95. He has supervised the research work of 75 graduate students and 40 post-doctoral fellows. Michel’s scientific contributions were recognized by the attribution of many awards and distinctions including his election as a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (2014), the Julie Axelrod award from the American Society of Pharmacology and Exerimental Therapeutics (2017), the Wilder Penfield award from the Quebec Government (2017), the innovation award of ADRIQ (2019) and the 2021 Killam prize form the Canada Council for the Arts." Michel Bouvier on the web Wikipedia IRIC Bouvier Lab Google Scholar Pubmed ResearchGate Twitter LinkedIn Universite de Montreal- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine 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

Retreat 2023 About Program Registration Logo Contest Committee Sponsors GPCR Retreat Program < Back to schedule "Have a nice weekend, and I'll see you tomorrow!": RAMP-interacting GPCR Pathways Date & Time Thursday, November 2nd / 4:30 PM Keynote Talk Abstract Coming Soon About Kathleen Caron "Kathleen M. Caron, Ph.D. is the Frederik L. Eldridge Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Cell Biology & Physiology at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill—a large, interdisciplinary basic science department consistently ranked in the Top 5 in the Nation in NIH funding. Dr. Caron received a BS in Biology and BA in Philosophy at Emory University and a PhD at Duke University while training with Dr. Keith Parker to elucidate the role of steroidogenesis in regulating sexual determination and adrenal and gonadal development using genetic mouse models. She pursued postdoctoral training with Nobel Laureate Dr. Oliver Smithies at UNC-CH, where she was the first to discover the essential role of adrenomedullin peptide for embryonic survival. With a special emphasis on G protein coupled receptors and receptor activity modifying proteins in vascular biology, the Caron laboratory has gained valuable insights into the genetic basis and pathophysiology of lymphatic vascular disease, preeclampsia and sex-dependent cardiovascular disease. Dr. Caron has received numerous awards including a Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award in the Biomedical Sciences, an Established Investigator Award and an Innovator Award from the American Heart Association, a Jefferson Pilot Award in Biomedical Sciences and a UNC-CH Mentoring Award. She currently serves as Associate Editor of Physiological Reviews; the #1 ranked journal in Physiology (IF 46.5). Dr. Caron is also past Associate Editor at JCI and served as the inaugural Associate Editor at ACS-Pharmacology and Translational Science. Dr. Caron currently holds multiple scientific advisory roles in academia, industry and the National Institutes of Health." Kathleen Caron on the web UNC-Chapel Hill Department of Cell Biology and Physiology UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center Twitter Google Scholar ORCID 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

Retreat 2023 About Program Registration Logo Contest Committee Sponsors GPCR Retreat Program < Back to schedule A journey from Duke to McGill along the dopamine circuit Date & Time Friday, November 3rd / 8:55 AM Abstract Coming Soon About Bruno Giros "Bruno Giros' lab is dedicated to investigating how molecular changes at the nerve synapse might impact integrated behavior and what we might learn from these mechanisms to cure mental illness. After a doctoral training at the Pierre and Marie Curie University in Paris and a short internship at Genentech Inc. in South San Francisco, he joined the CNRS as a Research Fellow in 1987 in the INSERM Laboratory directed by Jean-Charles Schwartz in Paris, where he cloned and characterized dopamine D2 and D3 receptor subtypes. From 91 to 94, he was an assistant professor at Duke University in North Carolina, working with Marc Caron on the characterization of several neurotransmitter transporters and kinases and establishing the first knock- out for these genes. In 1999, back in France, Dr. Giros created the INSERM/CNRS laboratory on the "Neurobiology of Psychiatric Disorders", at the University of Paris-Sorbonne. Since 2008, he arrived at McGill University with a Canada Research Chair. At McGill, his laboratory has two main axes of research: 1) Studying interindividual vulnerability to chronic stress and depression and; 2) Understand the role of phenotypically defined subpopulations of striatal neurons in motor and cognitive functions." Brunos Giros on the web The Douglas Research Centre McGill University Pubmed Google Scholar 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

Retreat 2023 About Program Registration Logo Contest Committee Sponsors GPCR Retreat Program < Back to schedule Coffee Break 3 Date & Time Friday, November 3rd / 10:25 AM 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

Retreat 2023 About Program Registration Logo Contest Committee Sponsors GPCR Retreat Program < Back to schedule Dopamine-Mediated Motor Recovery after Ischemic Stroke Date & Time Friday, November 3rd / 8:30 AM Abstract Coming Soon About Mario Tiberi "I did my graduate research on the regulation of axonal transport by tricyclic antidepressants (M.Sc.) and molecular pharmacology of opioid receptors (Ph.D.) in the Department of Pharmacology at the Université de Montréal under the mentorship of Dr. Pierre-André Lavoie and Dr. Jacques Magnan, respectively. I then pursued my postdoctoral training at Duke University in the laboratory of Dr. Marc Caron, where I cloned the dopamine D5 receptor gene and investigated the regulation of dopaminergic and adrenergic receptors. My addiction for dopamine led me to the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (then the Moses and Rose Loeb Research Institute) to develop my independent research program. The Tiberi Lab pursues the study of the molecular, structural, pharmacological and signaling features of dopamine (DA) receptors. We are also currently developing the translational component of our research to capitalize on the druggability potential of GPCRs. More specifically, we investigate the druggability potential of new signaling partners we identified that drive the formation of different DA receptor complexes. We hope our research will aid in the development of new therapeutic interventions for the alleviation of L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia in Parkinson’s Disease and improvement of post-stroke recovery." Mario Tiberi on the web University of Ottawa Pubmed Google Scholar ResearchGate 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

Retreat 2023 About Program Registration Logo Contest Committee Sponsors GPCR Retreat Program < Back to schedule A positive Allosteric Modulator of M1 Acetylcholine Receptors Improves Cognitive Deficits in Male and Female Alzheimer’s Mice Date & Time Friday, November 3rd / 1:55 PM About Khaled Abdelrahman Dr. Khaled Abdelrahman graduated in 2006 with a BSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Alexandria University (Egypt) followed by MSc in Pharmacology in the same university that was conferred in 2009. He joined the laboratory of Dr. William Cole at the University of Calgary in 2010 for his Ph.D. where he studied the molecular basis underlying altered cerebrovascular function and blood flow in type 2 diabetes. In 2015, He joined Dr. Stephen Ferguson’s laboratory in the Departments of Cellular & Molecular Medicine and Neuroscience at the University of Ottawa as a Postdoctoral Fellow to explore novel G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) candidates that can be targeted pharmacologically to slow neurodegeneration. He has been also studying what aspects of GPCR signaling are regulated in a sex-selective manner and how this can influence drug discovery in the area of neurodegenerative diseases. He is also a Registered Pharmacist in Canada and held two of the most prestigious Clinician Postdoctoral Fellowships offered by Alberta Innovates and Canadian Institutes of Health Research. He received the Canadian Society of Pharmacology and Therapeutics Postdoctoral and Publication awards along with many Young Scientist Awards from the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. Khaled Abdelrahman on the web University of British Columbia Twitter PubMed Google Scholar 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

Retreat 2023 About Program Registration Logo Contest Committee Sponsors GPCR Retreat Program < Back to schedule Cannabinoid compounds to augment L-DOPA treatment in Parkinson's Disease Date & Time Friday, November 3rd / 9:20 AM Abstract Coming Soon About Ali Salahpour "Dr. Salahpour did his undergrad (1993-1996) and PhD (1996-2002) at University of Montreal in the Department of Biochemistry. His PhD work was under the supervision of Dr. Michel Bouvier working on the topic of GPCR dimerization/oligomerization. In November of 2002, he joined the lab of Dr. Marc Caron at Duke University for his post-doctoral training. In the Caron lab, Dr. Salahpour worked on Dopamine Transporter and its role on regulating dopamine transmission and homeostasis. In April 2009, he joined the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at University of Toronto and has continued working on dopamine transmission and homeostasis and the role of several of key modulators of the dopamine system, including the dopamine transporter (DAT), the Vesicular Monoamine Transporter 2 (VMAT2), Tyrosine Hydroxylase (TH) and Trace Amine Associate Receptor 1 (TAAR1)." Ali Salahpour on the web University of Toronto Pubmed Google Scholar Twitter 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

Home → Flash News → Autoantibodies that activate GPCRs? Wild—but real. Tom Sakmar & Ilana Kotliar break down the link between GPCR autoantibodies, long COVID, and disease signaling in Ep.167 of the Dr.GPCR Podcast This episode is a must if you're thinking diagnostics. 📲 Tap to listen: Ep 167 with Drs. Tom Sakmar & Ilana Kotliar #GPCRautoantibodies #GPCRdrugdiscovery #DrGPCR #Immunology Published on June 3, 2025 Category Dr. GPCR Podcast Autoantibodies that activate GPCRs? Wild—but real. Tom Sakmar & Ilana Kotliar break down the link between GPCR autoantibodies, long COVID, and disease signaling in Ep.167 of the Dr.GPCR Podcast This episode is a must if you're thinking diagnostics. 📲 Tap to listen: Ep 167 with Drs. Tom Sakmar & Ilana Kotliar #GPCRautoantibodies #GPCRdrugdiscovery #DrGPCR #Immunology Previous Next Recent Articles

Home → Flash News → 🚀 New Workshop: Practical Quantification of Allosteric Modulation Join Dr. Terry Kenakin on May 1st, 2025, for an advanced live workshop on allosteric modulators in GPCR drug discovery. Learn how to: ✔️ Identify, measure, and quantify allosteric properties ✔️ Apply functional allosteric models to determine mechanisms of action ✔️ Confirm allostery through kinetic analysis 📅 Date: May 1st, 2025 ⏳ Registration deadline: April 18th 📍 Live on Google Meet 🔗 Register now: https://www.ecosystem.drgpcr.com/event-details-registration/practical-quantification-of-allosteric-modulation #GPCR #Allostery #DrugDiscovery #Pharmacology Published on March 3, 2025 Category GPCR University 🚀 New Workshop: Practical Quantification of Allosteric Modulation Join Dr. Terry Kenakin on May 1st, 2025 , for an advanced live workshop on allosteric modulators in GPCR drug discovery. Learn how to: ✔️ Identify, measure, and quantify allosteric properties✔️ Apply functional allosteric models to determine mechanisms of action✔️ Confirm allostery through kinetic analysis 📅 Date: May 1st, 2025⏳ Registration deadline: April 18th📍 Live on Google Meet 🔗 Register now: https://www.ecosystem.drgpcr.com/event-details-registration/practical-quantification-of-allosteric-modulation #GPCR #Allostery #DrugDiscovery #Pharmacology Previous Next Recent Articles

Retreat 2023 About Program Registration Logo Contest Committee Sponsors GPCR Retreat Program < Back to schedule Coffee Break 1 Date & Time Thursday, November 2nd / 2:45 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

Home → Flash News → 10 GPCR pharmacology lessons. Zero fluff. Launching July 1, Terry’s Corner gives you the clarity and confidence to make better decisions—starting with: • The role of pharmacology in discovery strategy • Black & Leff’s operational model—finally made practical • Binding curves, orthosteric vs allosteric function, and real vs apparent affinity • Molecular dynamics and how they guide ligand design • Why Terry built this—and how it sharpens your next move 📅 Learn anytime. New course every week. 📬 Subscribe to The Kenakin Brief → https://www.terrykenakin.com #GPCRscience #drugdiscovery #TerrysCorner #GPCRpharmacology #ligandbinding Published on June 30, 2025 Category Terry's Corner 10 GPCR pharmacology lessons. Zero fluff. Launching July 1, Terry’s Corner gives you the clarity and confidence to make better decisions—starting with: 🟢 The role of pharmacology in discovery strategy 🟢 Black & Leff’s operational model—finally made practical 🟢 Binding curves, orthosteric vs allosteric function, and real vs apparent affinity 🟢 Molecular dynamics and how they guide ligand design 🟢 Why Terry built this—and how it sharpens your next move 📅 Learn anytime. New course every week. 📬 Subscribe to The Kenakin Brief → https://www.terrykenakin.com #GPCRscience #drugdiscovery #TerrysCorner #GPCRpharmacology #ligandbindingv Previous Next Recent Articles

Home → Flash News → New biosensor technologies are shedding light on GPCR dynamics directly in cells, offering exciting possibilities for multiplexing and miniaturization! Curious about how these advances could impact drug discovery? Check out the latest review on GPCR biosensors. Check out the latest GPCR news in the Ecosystem today! You’ll need to register but don’t worry, it’s Free! Published on October 24, 2024 Category GPCR Weekly News New biosensor technologies are shedding light on GPCR dynamics directly in cells, offering exciting possibilities for multiplexing and miniaturization! Curious about how these advances could impact drug discovery? Check out the latest review on GPCR biosensors. Check out the latest GPCR news in the Ecosystem today! You’ll need to register but don’t worry, it’s Free! ➡️ https:// www.ecosystem.drgpcr.com/reviews/gpcr-biosensors-to-study-conformational-dynamics-and-signaling-in-drug-discovery #GPCR #DrGPCR #biosensor Previous Next Recent Articles

<< 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 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 >>

<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Jacob Lee & Jin Choe About this episode In this special episode of the Dr.GPCR podcast , I sat down with the co-founders of Genemod . Jacob Lee and Jin Choe met in ninth grade in English class and have been friends since. Although both went to the same college, Jacob and Jin choose different career paths. One day as they were catching up, Jacob shared his struggles of managing samples and an incredible amount of data and projects in the lab with Jin. Our of this need Genemod was born. Today, Genemod has built a freezer management tool and a project management tool where scientists can manage their reagents, samples, and projects on one intuitive platform. The team is planning on building even more tools that will make Genemod the go-to platform for all research scientists to make research more efficient. Genemode on the web Website Jacob Lee on LinkedIn Jacob Lee on Dr. GPCR Ecosystem Jin Choe on LinkedIn Jin Choe on 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 >>

<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Exploring Career Paths in GPCR Research with Dr. Jacek Mokrosiński About Dr. Jacek Mokrosiński "Jacek is a Senior Scientist at Novo Nordisk specializing in molecular pharmacology and cell-based screening technologies. He works in a multidisciplinary Chemical Biology team based at the recently established US R&D hub in Lexington, MA. Originally from Łódź, Poland, Jacek completed his Master's degree in Biology, specializing in Biochemistry at the University of Łódź. He then moved to Denmark, where he trained at the University of Copenhagen under supervision of Professor Thue W. Schwartz, and worked closely with Dr Birgitte Holst studying structural and mechanistic properties of ghrelin receptor and GPCRs involved in regulation of metabolism. After completing his Ph.D., he pursued research in genetics of metabolic regulation at the Institute of Metabolic Science - Metabolic Research Laboratories at the University of Cambridge in the team led by Professor I. Sadaf Farooqi. His research aimed at understanding molecular mechanism through which rare genetic variation may lead to or protecting from excessive body weight gain. As part of Farooqi's team, he characterized a series of novel human genetic variants identified in several GPCRs associated with obesity and other metabolic diseases, including GPR10, Melanocortin 4, Serotonin 2C and TRH receptors. Since 2021, Jacek has been working at Novo Nordisk at its research sites in the UK (Oxford) and the US (Indianapolis, Indiana and most recently Lexington, Massachusetts). He is passionate about cell-based in vitro technologies to study mechanistic properties of GPCRs and understanding the dynamics of receptor signalling. He is an avid proponent of close collaboration between industry and academia." Dr. Jacek Mokrosiński on the web ORCID ResearchGate LinkedIn Twitter Dr. GPCR AI Summary AI-generated content may be inaccurate or misleading. Always check for accuracy. Quick Recap Yamina and Jacek discussed their experiences with name mispronunciations, cultural differences, and the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in drug development. They also shared their career journeys, emphasizing the value of being open-minded, proactive, and embracing new opportunities. Lastly, they discussed their research interests, particularly in the field of GPCR, and the importance of method development, integrity, and honesty in scientific research. Next Steps Jacek will collaborate with Alex Romeo on a podcast about transitioning to the industry. In future talks and interviews, Jacek will share his stories and advice about GPCRs. Yamina will schedule a future talk with Jacek about GPCRs as therapeutic modalities. Summary Embracing Cultural Differences and Collaboration Yamina and Jacek shared their experiences with name mispronunciations and variations and discussed the importance of embracing cultural differences. They also discussed their professional backgrounds, highlighting the benefits of a multidisciplinary approach in drug development and the importance of collaboration between academia and industry. They talked about their shared passion for advancing science and improving patient outcomes, and their early interests in science and chemistry. They also shared their appreciation for documentaries showcasing manufacturing processes and the value of true experimentation in scientific research. Jacek's Career Journey and Advice Jacek and Yamina discussed Jacek's career journey, focusing on his experiences, challenges, and lessons learned. Jacek highlighted the importance of being open-minded and proactive, emphasizing that he learned by doing rather than taking specific courses. He also underscored the role of the people around him, expressing gratitude for their guidance and support. His advice was to be ready for changes and to embrace opportunities as they arise. Jacek's career path, which led him from Poland to Denmark and then to the US, exemplified his advice in action. Passion for Science and Career Journeys Yamina and Jacek discussed their passion for science and how it led them to their current careers. Jacek shared his experience of working with Piketa and how he found a job in Seda's lab at Cambridge, where he could immediately contribute due to his technical skills. Yamina agreed with Jacek's sentiments and spoke about her own journey, expressing her happiness in discussing science and reading papers. They emphasized the importance of finding a job that aligns with one's interests and strengths and being open to opportunities. They also highlighted the need for a work-life balance and the joy of a well-done job. Embracing Networking for Professional Growth Jacek and Yamina discussed the importance of building a network and being open to new opportunities. Jacek realized that being introverted doesn't mean he can't benefit from networking and interaction with others. He also highlighted the benefits of attending conferences and engaging with colleagues, sharing examples of how such interactions led to collaborations and new opportunities. Yamina agreed, emphasizing the importance of mental preparation and embracing different social situations, both virtual and in-person. They underscored the value of these interactions for professional growth and encouraged others to adopt a proactive approach to networking. Building Professional Connections Strategies Yamina and Jacek discussed the importance of building professional connections and strategies for introducing oneself to potential contacts. They emphasized the need to be mindful of the other person's time, provide clear explanations for the purpose of the connection, and offer something of value in return. They also highlighted the advantages of using LinkedIn as a tool for networking and the significance of personalizing messages to make a lasting impression. GPCR Research Interests and Collaborations Yamina and Jacek had a deep and engaging discussion about their research interests and achievements, particularly in the field of GPCR. Jacek shared his fascination with the growth hormone secretion receptor and the melanocortin 4 receptor, and their roles in regulating body weight and growth. Yamina, in turn, talked about her work on melanocortin receptors and an upcoming collaboration with a postdoc scientist. They also highlighted the importance of method development, integrity, and honesty in scientific research. The discussion revealed their interest in GPCRs as therapeutic modalities and possible future collaborations. 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 >>

<< 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 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 >>

<< 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 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 >>

<< 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 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 >>

<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Dr. Katarina Nemec About Dr. Katarina Nemec " I am a pharmacist with an interest in systems pharmacology and precision medicine. Since my undergraduate studies, I have been engaged in researching molecular mechanisms that govern human (patho-)physiology and their interplay with drugs. I aim to discover new therapeutic approaches, and druggable molecules or refine canonical drug targets to create drugs with fewer adverse effects. I studied Pharmacy at the University in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and at the University of Bonn, Germany, working initially on the role of prostaglandin receptor EP4 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. During my PhD studies in Martin Lohse lab at the Max Delbrueck Center in Berlin, I consolidated my knowledge of GPCRs pharmacology while performing various cell-based experiments to understand the binding, activation, and signaling of therapeutically relevant GPCRs. In addition, I generated various optical biosensors based on fluorescence or bioluminescence resonance energy transfer technologies (FRET, BRET) that were used for functional screens with state-of-the-art microscopy and high throughput screening to explain novel ways of GPCR modulation. I am continuing with the development of advanced screening approaches in the Madan Babu lab to progress in the understanding of spatiotemporal regulation of biased GPCR activation and signaling. I want to combine experimental approaches with data-driven discovery and adopt data science methodology to tackle relevant scientific questions on the systems pharmacology level. " Dr. Katarina Nemec on the web Babu Lab ResearchGate Google Scholar ORCID 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 >>

<< 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 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 >>

Biotech founder Ajay Yekkirala shares how AI, GPCRs, and bold questions are driving next-gen pain therapeutics and drug discovery innovation. << Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) From Curiosity to Breakthrough: Ajay Yekkirala on GPCR Innovation What if the key to safer, more effective drugs lies in asking the right questions — and daring to challenge what’s “not possible”? In this episode, Dr. Ajay Yekkirala shares the pivotal moments that transformed him from a curious PhD student into a GPCR drug developer and entrepreneur. Dr. Ajay Yekkirala is a GPCR pharmacologist, biotech entrepreneur, and co-founder of Superluminal Medicines, a company using machine learning to unlock new GPCR-targeted therapies. In this wide-ranging conversation, he reflects on the mentors, failures, and bold questions that shaped his journey from academia to AI-powered drug discovery. Why This Matters Translating basic GPCR science into actual medicines is broken. Ajay unpacks why—and what it takes to fix it. AI is reshaping how we understand protein dynamics , but only when driven by deep biological questions. Young scientists are hungry for alternate career paths. This episode is a playbook for thinking bigger. Innovation doesn’t happen in isolation. Ajay reveals how humility, curiosity, and collaboration fuel the future of drug discovery. What You’ll Learn in This Episode How Ajay’s failed MD/PhD application rerouted his path toward a breakthrough GPCR research career The inside story behind founding Blue Therapeutics and targeting supraspinal pain pathway What it means to “teach AI protein dynamics,” and how Superluminal is using it to predict signaling bias The entrepreneurial lessons no one tells postdocs: how to pitch, fail, and build a team Why asking “what if it can be done?” is the heart of scientific innovation Who Should Listen PhD students and postdocs exploring biotech careers GPCR scientists interested in translational innovation Biotech investors and strategic leaders seeking new drug development models Anyone curious about where AI meets molecular pharmacology About Ajay Yekkirala Dr. Ajay Yekkirala is a molecular pharmacologist, biotech founder, and scientist whose career has been defined by bold questions and even bolder moves. Originally on track to pursue an MD/PhD, a rejection letter pivoted him into a PhD program at the University of Iowa, where he studied opioid pharmacology under the legendary Dr. Philip Portoghese. That “failure” became a launchpad: Ajay later joined the lab of Dr. Clifford Woolf at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, where he deepened his understanding of pain biology and began dreaming bigger. Driven by the opioid crisis and the lack of non-addictive pain treatments, Ajay co-founded Blue Therapeutics, a biotech startup focused on targeting supraspinal GPCRs for chronic pain. But he didn’t stop there. Seeing the limits of traditional drug discovery, he later co-founded Superluminal Medicines, a company using machine learning to explore GPCR structure-function relationships and predict biased signaling with precision. Ajay’s work sits at the intersection of GPCR biology, AI, and translational medicine. He’s a strong advocate for cross-disciplinary thinking, mentoring young scientists, and building companies that solve real, unmet needs in human health. His story is one of relentless curiosity, humility in the face of complexity, and an unshakable belief in science’s power to do better. Ajay Yekkirala on the web Superluminal Medicines LinkedIn Tune in now to hear how asking “what if?” led Ajay Yekkirala to reshape the future of GPCR-targeted medicine. 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. Eric Trinquet discusses the science and story behind pH Sense, Revvity’s innovative GPCR internalization assay, and his journey in GPCR product R&D. << Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) From Rare Earth Probes to Internalization Assays: The pHSense Story with Dr. Eric Trinquet What does it take to design a breakthrough GPCR assay—from idea to industrial impact? In this special episode, Dr. Eric Trinquet shares the inside story behind the development of pH Sense, Revvity’s latest innovation for tracking GPCR internalization. With a career spanning two decades at the intersection of fluorescence chemistry, functional assays, and product development, Eric takes us through the highs, failures, and scientific “aha” moments that shaped tools like the IP-One kit, Tag-lite, and now, pH Sense. If you’ve ever used HTRF or wondered what goes into making a product worthy of your next experiment, this is your backstage pass. You’ll hear what truly makes a reagent successful—and why academic–industry collaborations are essential for advancing GPCR research. ⸻ Inside This Episode How Eric and his team reimagined rare earth complexes to develop pH-sensitive probes with tunable brightness and lifetime. Why pH Sense enables high-throughput, no-wash tracking of GPCR internalization—even at endogenous expression levels. What shifted the team’s strategy from traditional calcium assays to IP1 accumulation—and why it mattered for Gq-coupled receptors. How collaborations with David Parker and Jean-Philippe Pin accelerated both probe chemistry and biological validation. What it felt like to see the first dose-response curves in native beta cells—and why that moment changed the trajectory of the project. Why the commercialization of a reagent is not the end, but the beginning of a feedback-driven innovation cycle. ⸻ Why It Might Hit Home If you’ve ever: Wrestled with unreliable endpoint assays or cumbersome radioactive protocols, Pushed for more physiologically relevant systems and hit the “overexpression ceiling,” Balanced scientific rigor with the unpredictability of product development, Or felt the thrill of seeing a tool you built drive real biological insight… …this episode will resonate. ⸻ About the Guest Dr. Eric Trinquet is Head of R&D for Life Sciences Reagents at Revvity, where he leads innovation in biochemical and cell-based assay platforms. With a foundational career at Cisbio Bioassays—later acquired by Revvity—Eric played a pivotal role in bringing technologies like HTRF, the IP-One kit, and the Tag-lite platform into widespread use. Originally trained as a physicist with a strong interest in photophysics and fluorescence chemistry, Eric transitioned into the GPCR field through hands-on assay development. His passion lies in turning cutting-edge probe chemistry into robust, scalable tools for drug discovery and basic research. What drives him? A mix of scientific curiosity, a tolerance for failure, and a commitment to delivering real-world impact—one product at a time. ⸻ More about Revvity pHSense Reagents GPCR Reagents Revvity on Dr. GPCR Dr. GPCR X Revvity Collaboration ⸻ Want more like this? Join the Dr. GPCR Premium Ecosystem for behind-the-scenes access to GPCR innovators, exclusive deep-dives, and practical tools to accelerate your research or career. 👥 Build connections. 🧪 Get insights. 🎧 Stay ahead. 👉 Join now 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 >>

<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Dr. Arun Shukla About this episode In this episode of the Dr.GPCR podcast , my guest is Dr. Arun Shukla from the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur, India. Arun is currently an Associate Professor & Joy Gill Chair Professor, Intermediate Fellow, Wellcome Trust DBT India Alliance Swarnajayanti Fellow & EMBO Young Investigator at the Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering. He earned his master's degree in biotechnology from Jawaharlal Nehru University in India and it was during a biochemistry class where he learned about cell signaling that he became curious and wanted to learn more about it. Arun first started working on GPCRs and their structural characterization at the Max Planck Institute of Biophysics where he completed his doctoral studies in the lab of Dr. Hartmut Michel . Fascinated by GPCRs he wrote to Dr. Bob Lefkowitz and asked him if he could join his lab at Duke University. Dr. Shukla spent several years in the Lefkowitz lab and collaborated extensively with Dr. Brian Kolbika of Stanford University. Join us and learn more about Dr. Shukla’s research and how working in the lab instead of going to classes made him realize that research is what he wants to do for the rest of his life. Dr. Arun Shukla on the web Indian Institute of Technology Dr. Arun Shukla Lab Google Scholar PubMed Wikipedia LinkedIn Twitter 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 >>