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Retreat 2023 About Program Registration Logo Contest Committee Sponsors GPCR Retreat Program < Back to schedule Breakfast 2 Date & Time Saturday, November 4th / 7:30 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

How academia and biotech collaborate to scale GPCR tools—covering fluorescence assays, GPCR internalization, and real-world distribution. Episode 3 of 3. << Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Scaling GLP 1 Receptor Tools Through Academia Industry Collaboration How do GPCR tools move from individual academic labs into broad use across the research community? In this episode of the Dr. GPCR Podcast , leaders from academia and biotech unpack what effective collaboration really looks like when developing, validating, and distributing GPCR research tools. Joining the conversation are Maria Majellaro (CSO and co-founder of Celtarys Research), Johannes Broichhagen, and David Hodson. Together, we discuss how gpcr drug discovery advances when chemists, biologists, and industry partners align around rigor, trust, and accessibility. The episode explores gpcr internalization , fluorescence-based probe design, and how functional assay development benefits from scalable distribution rather than ad-hoc sharing. Listeners will walk away with a clearer view of how academic innovation translates into tools for high-throughput screening , and why availability can be as impactful as discovery itself. Why This Matters How GPCR tools lose impact when distribution and access aren’t planned from the start Why fluorescence-based assays outperform antibodies for studying receptor localization and trafficking What changes when academia and biotech share priorities instead of working in parallel When industry partnerships become essential for reproducibility and scale The moment when availability—not innovation—becomes the bottleneck in GPCR research Who Should Listen This episode is for scientists and leaders who are: Navigating the transition from academic tool development to real-world adoption Balancing innovation with validation in GPCR assay design Building reagents that must work in complex tissues, not just simplified models Exploring academia–industry collaboration but want to understand how it works in practice This conversation is part three of a three episode series produced in collaboration with our partners at Celtarys Research . 🎧 Listen to Part 1 with Dr. Hudson 🎧 Catch up on Part 2 with Dr. Broichhagen About the Guests Maria Majellaro, PhD Dr. Maria Majellaro is the Chief Scientific Officer and co-founder of Celtarys Research , a biotech spin-off from the University of Santiago de Compostela focused on advanced fluorescent ligands and GPCR research tools. She earned her PhD in medicinal chemistry from the University of Bari in 2018, including research training at the CIQUS Research Center in Spain. Following her PhD, she joined Prof. Eddy Sotelo’s group at CIQUS as a postdoctoral researcher, where the scientific foundations of Celtarys were established. Since co-founding the company in 2021, she has led all scientific activities, from proprietary technology development to international collaborations and funded research projects. Her work centers on GPCR modulators, synthetic chemistry, and enabling robust biological assays through high-quality chemical tools. Johannes Broichhagen, PhD Dr. Johannes Broichhagen is a group leader at the Leibniz Research Institute for Molecular Pharmacology (FMP) in Berlin. Trained as a chemist, he studied at the University of Erlangen–Nuremberg and completed his PhD at LMU Munich, followed by postdoctoral research at EPFL in Switzerland. His research focuses on bottom-up chemical tool development for imaging and interrogating GPCRs and other cell-surface proteins in complex biological systems. By combining fluorophore design, ligand chemistry, and pharmacology, his work enables precise visualization of receptor localization, dynamics, and function across tissues. David Hodson, PhD Dr. David Hodson is the Robert Turner Professor of Diabetic Medicine at the University of Oxford and a leading expert in metabolic GPCR biology. Originally trained as a veterinary surgeon, he conducted postdoctoral research at the CNRS in Montpellier before establishing independent laboratories at Imperial College London and later the University of Birmingham. His research focuses on class B GPCRs, including the GLP-1 and GIP receptors, with an emphasis on understanding how these receptors operate within complex tissues such as the pancreas and brain. By integrating advanced tools and translational biology, his work directly informs therapeutic strategies for diabetes and obesity. Guests on The Web Maria Majellaro LinkedIn ResearchGate Ecosystem Johannes Broichhagen LinkedIn Google Scholar Lab Website Leibniz Research Institute for Molecular Pharmacology (FMP) Profile David Hodson Radcliffe Department of Medicine Islet Biology Lab University of Birmingham 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 >>

Home → Flash News → Disrupting VIPR2 dimerisation halts breast cancer spread—could TM3-4 peptides be the next breakthrough in targeted cancer therapy? 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/gpcrs-in-oncology-and-immunology/dimerisation-of-the-vip-receptor-vipr2-is-essential-to-its-binding-vip-and-g%CE%B1i-proteins%2C-and-to-its-functions-in-breast-cancer-cells #gpcr#drgpcr Published on May 12, 2025 Category GPCR Weekly News Disrupting VIPR2 dimerisation halts breast cancer spread—could TM3-4 peptides be the next breakthrough in targeted cancer therapy? 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/gpcrs-in-oncology-and-immunology/dimerisation-of-the-vip-receptor-vipr2-is-essential-to-its-binding-vip-and-g%CE%B1i-proteins%2C-and-to-its-functions-in-breast-cancer-cells #gpcr#drgpcr Previous Next Recent Articles

<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Dr. Paul Insel About this episode In 1975, Dr. Paul Insel was at the FASEB experimental biology meeting in Atlantic City. During dinner with colleagues and Alfred Gillman , co-recipient of the 1994 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discovery of G-proteins and their role in signal transduction in cells, Paul was designated to go to Gillman’s lab . That summer, he used radioligand binding methods to dissect receptor function from the adenylyl cyclase activated by ligands, including adrenaline. From that point on, Paul was hooked and has since studied receptor function in human physiology, receptor molecular pharmacology in cells, and animal models, and as he puts it has now he’s "gone full circle" back to studying GPCRs important in human pathophysiology. Today, Paul and his team focus on previously unrecognized receptors with the hopes to use these as novel drug targets. Dr. Paul Insel on the web Insel Laboratory Institute of Engineering in Medicine UC San Diego UCSD Profiles Google 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 >>

GPCR Courses Expert knowledge, flexible courses - career-ready skills —build skills that translate at the bench and in the boardroom. 👇 Start Learning! The Practical Assessment of Signaling Bias Signaling bias is an inherent feature of pharmacology, influencing receptor behavior even when unnoticed. Different ligands stabilize distinct receptor states, leading to diverse signaling outcomes. Measuring and understanding bias helps design drugs that maximize therapeutic benefits while minimizing side effects. Terry Kenakin 🔒 Premium Content Watch recording Strategic Project Management for scientists Gain practical project management skills explicitly designed for research and innovation. Learn to plan, execute, and manage scientific projects while balancing timelines, resources, and team coordination. Master strategic planning, risk assessment, and collaboration tools to boost efficiency and project success. Yamina Berchiche 🔒 Premium Content Watch recording Applying Pharmacology to Drug Discovery Class 1 - Fundamentals of Pharmacology Class 2 - Characterizing Agonists Class 3 - Characterizing Antagonists Class 4 - Characterizing Allosteric Modulators Terry Kenakin 🔒 Premium Content Watch recording Advanced data analysis for GPCR pharmacology Class 1 - Concentration-response analysis: Become a CRC super-user Class 2 - Quantifying agonist pharmacology and biased agonism Class 3 - Antagonist pharmacology and binding assay analysis Class 4 - New dimensions of activity: Allosteric modulators and kinetics Sam Hoar 🔒 Premium Content Watch recording Principles of Pharmacology in Drug Discovery II Advanced Methods for the Optimization of Candidate Selection Lecture 1: The Eyes to See- The Importance of Pharmacologic Assays Lecture 2: Drug Disposition in Physiological Tissues as a Therapeutic Variable Lecture 3: The Application of GPCR Ligand Kinetics to Candidate Design Lecture 4: Unconventional GPCR Ligands as Drugs Lecture 5: Unique Exploitable GPCR-Ligand Behaviors for Therapeutic Benefit Terry Kenakin 🔒 Premium Content Watch recording Principles of Pharmacology in Drug Discovery I Techniques for Effective Lead Optimization of Candidate Molecules Lecture 1: GPCR Project Initiation and Design for Discovery of New Molecules Lecture 2: Drug Affinity: Measurement of Antagonism (Binding and Function) / Classifying Antagonists Lecture 3: Agonists and Efficacy: A New World of GPCR Efficacies / Biased Signaling Lecture 4: Allosteric Modulators: NAMs, PAMs, Special Properties, Methods to quantify the allosteric effect Terry Kenakin 🔒 Premium Content Watch recording What others are saying about the courses Dr. Hoare is very experienced in the field. What came as a pleasant surprise was how didactical and well-thought-out his course was—highly recommended. The really unexpected was that the Q&A sessions reached the highest level—beyond excellent. I am a convert! I will keep Dr. GPCR and the offered resources in my work sphere Anonymous Thank you for bringing this course with Dr. Kenakin. I wish Dr. GPCR the best for the sake of promoting more educational opportunities that are sorely needed in the field Anonymous The content had enough depth to satisfy the hunger for theory while being full of practical knowledge Anonymous The best pharmacology teacher teaming up with the best GPCR community platform to help train and inspire the next generation of scientists. Also super-valuable for those of us learning how to teach pharmacology Anonymous Dr. Hoare's extensive and elaborative explanation of the topics at hand was excellent and very digestible. Thoroughly enjoyed learning from him Anonymous Dr. Kenakin is a leading expert in the field. Aside from his vast experience in drug development, not to mention his extensive publication record, Dr. Kenakin is a masterful teacher and communicator. Anonymous The course was very practical and easily translatable to experiments that we could do in our own labs. It was clear that Dr. Hoare is very in touch with the technical and human challenges we encounter in our work Anonymous

Home → Flash News → 📢 All 2025 Dr.GPCR Courses Are Open for Registration! Which one will you choose? 🚀 Whether you're diving into GPCR drug discovery, pharmacology, or advanced modeling, there's a course for you. 💡 Bonus: Premium Members enjoy 25% off on all courses! 🔗 Explore & register today: https://www.ecosystem.drgpcr.com/gpcr-courses #GPCR #DrGPCR #Biotech #DrugDiscovery #Pharmacology Published on March 4, 2025 Category GPCR Weekly News 📢 All 2025 Dr.GPCR Courses Are Open for Registration! Which one will you choose? 🚀 Whether you're diving into GPCR drug discovery, pharmacology, or advanced modeling, there's a course for you. 💡 Bonus: Premium Members enjoy 25% off on all courses! 🔗 Explore & register today: https://www.ecosystem.drgpcr.com/gpcr-courses #GPCR #DrGPCR #Biotech #DrugDiscovery #Pharmacology Previous Next Recent Articles

Full Agenda Adhesion GPCR workshop 2024 CINVESTAV, Mexico City, Mexico October 23-25 Download PDF Program HERE < Back to Full Agenda Session IV AGPCRs signaling in the nervous system BAI1/ADGRB1-mediated Regulation of Mitochondrial Morphology in Axons Joseph Duman Bai1 Is A Novel Neuronal Substrate Of The Psychiatric Risk Kinase TNIK Simeon R. Mihaylov Intricacies Of Complex Assembly And Ligand Interaction In The Adhesion GPCR Latrophilin/Cirl Anne Bormann BAI1/ADGRB1-mediated Regulation of Mitochondrial Morphology in Axons Joseph Duman Abstract Only available for AGPCR 24 Attendees Authors & Affiliations "Tolias, Kimberley F., Departments of Neuroscience and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030" About Joseph Duman "Joseph Duman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at Baylor College of Medicine, where he studies BAI1's role in the brain and the radiobiology of treatments for brain cancer. He trained at the University of California at Berkeley with John Forte and the University of Washington with Bertil Hille, before joining Kim Tolias' lab at Baylor College of Medicine." Joseph Duman on the web Baylor College of Medicine Kimberley Tolias Lab Bai1 Is A Novel Neuronal Substrate Of The Psychiatric Risk Kinase TNIK Simeon R. Mihaylov Abstract Only available for AGPCR 24 Attendees Authors & Affiliations "Flynn, Helen R.2, Sampedro-Castaneda, Marisol1, Claxton, Suzanne1, Skehel, Mark2, Ultanir, Sila K.1 1Kinases and Brain Development Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, UK 2Proteomics Science Technology Platform, The Francis Crick Institute, UK" About Simeon R. Mihaylov " I am a postdoctoral researcher in the kinases and brain development laboratory led by Dr Sila Ultanir at the Francis Crick Institute in London, England. I undertook my BSc in Biochemistry and Genetics at the University of Sheffield followed up by obtaining a PhD in molecular neuroscience at the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience. I then moved to King's College London, where my interest and passion for kinases in brain health and disease developed. I initially worked on mTOR in the pathogenesis of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex and then moved to the Francis Crick Institute working on the psychiatric risk kinase TNIK. I also work on multiple other kinases in our laboratory implicated in various neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. My expertise includes biochemical approaches, proteomics and transcriptomics to name a few. I have recently also developed a strong interest in adhesion GPCRs and in particular, Bai1. " Simeon R. Mihaylov on the web Crick LinkedIn X (Twitter) Google Scholar Intricacies Of Complex Assembly And Ligand Interaction In The Adhesion GPCR Latrophilin/Cirl Anne Bormann Abstract Only available for AGPCR 24 Attendees Authors & Affiliations "Körner, Marek Benjamin; Dahse, Anne-Kristin; Ljaschenko, Dmitrij; Scholz, Nicole (Rudolf Schönheimer Institute of Biochemistry, Division of General Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig University)" About Anne Bormann "I am a biochemist by training and studied at Leipzig University from 2015 to 2020. During my Bachelor's in 2018, I sought practical lab experience and found a position as a student assistant in Dr. Nicole Scholz's lab. My main topics were protein biochemistry, Drosophila husbandry, and genetics. I was fortunate that Nicole offered me an opportunity to do my Master's and later on a PhD thesis in her group. Since then, I have broadened my horizons with many more techniques in vivo and in vitro, with a main emphasis on the Adhesion GPCR Latrophilin/Cirl. Currently, I am in the final stages of my PhD, and I am looking forward to new projects and ideas." Anne Bormann on the web Rudolf-Schönheimer-Institut für Biochemie Scholz Lab < Previous Session Next Session >

<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Dr. Kenneth A. Jacobson About Dr. Kenneth A. Jacobson Kenneth A. Jacobson received his BA in Liberal Arts from Reed College in 1976 and his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of California, San Diego in 1981. He completed postdoctoral training at the Weizmann Institute. In 1983, he joined the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) at the National Institutes of Health, in Bethesda, MD. He is currently the Senior Investigator and Chief of the Molecular Recognition Section, Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry. He adapts interdisciplinary approaches (synthesis, modeling, pharmacology) to study G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and purinergic signaling and now has four compounds in clinical trials. He has published more than 800 scientific publications, with an H-index of 115. His numerous awards include: 2008 Sato Award; 2009 Medicinal Chemistry Hall of Fame (American Chemical Soc.); 2014 Goodman and Gilman Award; 2017 Tu Youyou Award; 2017 Smissman Award; 2023 Hershberg Award. Dr. Kenneth A. Jacobson on the web NIDDK Web of Science Google Scholar 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. GPCR Board 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 About Dr. Maria Waldhoer "I am a pharmacologist with a ~30 years background in academia and industry, working both in big pharma and biotech settings. My experience in basic research at several universities worldwide and early R&D at Novo Nordisk A/S allowed me to shape a swiss start-up company from a scientifc idea to a thriving Biotech focusing on Systems Biology & AI to accelerate the quest for novel & safer drugs on GPCRs. After a well needed break from the grind, I am now a scientific/business consultant for clients both in Academia and in the Life sciences and Healthcare industry. I am a recent convert and strong advocate for integrating mindfulness and mental wellbeing into demanding work routines." Dr. Maria Waldhoer on the web LinkedIn T witter Pubmed Dr. GPCR About Dr. JoAnn Trejo "Dr. JoAnn Trejo earned her Ph.D. at UC San Diego. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at UC San Francisco under the guidance of Professor Shaun Coughlin where she worked on the newly discovered protease-activated GPCRs. Dr. Trejo joined the faculty in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of North Carolina in 2000 and then moved to UC San Diego School Medicine, Department of Pharmacology in 2008, where she quickly rose through the ranks to tenured professor in 2012. In 2014, she was appointed Vice-Chair of the Department of Pharmacology. The long-term goal of Dr. Trejo’s research program is to gain a thorough and mechanistic understanding of processes that control cell signaling by protease-activated receptors (PARs) and the impact on vascular inflammation and cancer progression. PARs are GPCRs that are activated through an atypical irreversible proteolytic mechanism. The precise control of PAR signaling is critical for proper temporal and spatial dynamics of signaling and appropriate cellular responses. Discovering new aspects of PAR signaling is important for increasing the fundamental knowledge of GPCR biology and for the identification of drug targets and future drug development. Dr. Trejo’s research has focused on PAR1, which has important functions in hemostasis, thrombosis, inflammation, and cancer and is an important drug target. She has made numerous important discoveries related to the mechanisms that control PAR1 signaling and closely related family members and published extensively on this topic. Dr. Trejo has been continuously funded by the NIH for >20 years and was a recipient of the prestigious American Heart Association Established Investigator Award. Her laboratory is the recognized expert on protease-activated receptors, particularly PAR1, and over the years she has discovered novel aspects of GPCR biology, acquired critical expertise, and rigorous approaches to examine PAR1 function using human cultured cells and mouse models. Dr. Trejo has presented her studies at 52 national/international meetings and 66 academic seminars across the U.S." Dr. JoAnn Trejo on the web UC San Diego Trejo Lab Wikipedia LinkedIn Google Scholar Orcid Twitter UC San Diego School of Medicine Researchgate Dr. GPCR About Anne Marie Quinn "Anne Marie Quinn has a long and varied work experience in the biocomputing and bioinformatics fields. From 1987 to 1994, they were the Director of Biocomputing at The Salk Institute, where they managed institute-wide network and biocomputing services, served on the Steering Committee of the San Diego Supercomputer Center, and provided consultation for genetic sequence analysis, molecular modeling and database searching. In 1994, they became a Bioinformatics Scientist at CuraGen Corporation. From 1995 to 2002, they worked at Yale University School of Medicine as the Bioinformatics Core Facility Manager, where they managed a technical support team providing scientific data analysis and database development services, contributed analytic support resulting in authorship of numerous scientific publications and new funding, and developed and co-taught a new course in bioinformatics for graduate students. From 2002 to 2006, they were a Senior Application Scientist at Accelrys, where they were the technical point of contact for customers assessing features of software products for drug discovery and genomic analysis, delivered technical presentations and software demonstrations to prospective customers worldwide, and developed web-based case notes, marketing seminars and product literature for scientific software. Finally, since 2006, they have been the Chief Executive Officer at Montana Molecular, LLC. Anne Marie Quinn attended Yale University from 1998 to 2000, where they earned a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree in Biostatistics and Bioinformatics. Prior to that, they obtained a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree from California State University, Long Beach in 1982." Anne Marie Quinn on the web Google Scholar The Org 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. Richard Premont About Dr. Richard Premont "Dr. Premont obtained his B.S. in Biology and Chemistry at the California Institute of Technology in 1985, and M.Ph . and Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences (Pharmacology) at Mount Sinai School of Medicine (City University of New York) in 1990 and 1992, working with Ravi Iyengar on regulation/desensitization of the liver glucagon receptor and glucagon-stimulated adenylyl cyclase system. In 1992, he won a Helen Hay Whitney Foundation fellowship to support his post-doctoral work with Robert Lefkowitz and Marc Caron at Duke University. His initial project to identify and clone taste receptors was unsuccessful, but led to the identification of GRK5 and continued focus on GRKs (particularly GRKs 4,5,6) and arrestins as GPCR regulators and as mediators of distinct signaling pathways through partners including GIT1. In 1999, obtained an independent faculty position at Duke in Gastroenterology, where he remained until 2018 studying GPCRs and their signaling pathways in the liver and in liver disease. In 2018, he moved to Harrington Discovery Institute and Case Western Reserve University, where he studies GPCR regulation by S-nitrosylation. My research focus is on understanding how distinct cellular signaling pathways interact and are coordinated to produce integrated physiological responses, and how dysregulation of this coordination results in pathophysiology. For this, we have worked in three main areas: the regulation of G protein-coupled receptor signaling particularly by the G protein-coupled receptor kinase (GRK) – beta-arrestin system, the coordination of heterotrimeric G protein, small GTP-binding protein and protein kinase pathways by GIT/PIX scaffolding complexes during cellular signaling, and characterizing the role of protein S-nitrosylation as a signaling post-translational modification in mediating and regulating cellular signaling pathways, particularly in conjunction with better characterized signaling systems. In our work, we utilize methods including structural biology and proteomics, molecular biology and biochemical enzymology, primary and model cell culture, and transgenic, knockout, knock-in and conditional models of mouse physiology and behavior." Dr. Richard Premont on the web Google Scholar LinkedIn Dr. GPCR 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. Brian Arey About this episode Brian Arey is Senior Director of Mechanistic Pharmacology within Leads Discovery and Optimization at Bristol-Myers Squibb Co . in Lawrenceville, NJ. He obtained both his MS and Ph.D. in Neuroendocrine Physiology at Florida State University before completing his postdoctoral training at Northwestern University. He then moved to work in the pharmaceutical industry where he has held positions of increasing responsibility. He currently leads a team that provides a mechanistic understanding of small molecule drug candidates across the entire portfolio of BMS. Brian has contributed to the discovery or development of 5 marketed drugs through his work spanning molecular, biochemical, cellular, and in vivo assessment of drug candidates in many different physiological systems. Dr. Arey’s laboratory discovered the first described synthetic agonists and antagonists of the FSHR and has been an early champion of signaling bias as a physiological mechanism of gonadotropin action. He continues to pioneer in drug discovery studying GPCRs and other target classes. His recently published book on signaling bias, Biased Signaling in Physiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics is available on Amazon . I sat down with Brian to chat about GPCRs, working in the industry, and being a leader. This is part 1 of our conversation. Dr. Brian Arey on the web LinkedIn ResearchGate 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. David E. Gloriam About this episode David Gloriam is a Professor in Computational Receptor Biology at the University of Copenhagen where he leads a research cluster for GPCR function and drug discovery and a Pharmaceutical Data Science unit. His group runs the GPCRdb database where ~4,000 researchers each month retrieve reference data and access online tools for analysis, visualization, and experiment design. David obtained his Ph.D. from Uppsala University in Sweden where he worked on the bioinformatic identification of 24 novel human G protein-coupled receptors. He later identified physiological hormones of such under characterized ‘orphan’ receptors and functional probes for a range of receptors. He completed two postdocs in the UK at the EMBL-European Bioinformatics Institute and GlaxoSmithKline . In 2018 he joined the University of Copenhagen, where he has received an ERC Starting Grant, Lundbeck Foundation Fellowship, and Novo Nordisk Foundation Ascending Investigator awards. Dr. Gloriam is a corresponding member of the Nomenclature Committee of the International Union of Pharmacology (IUPHAR). He is one of the coordinators of recommendations to describe ligand bias towards signaling probes and safer drugs. His group recently developed an online resource of biased ligands and pathway effects to advance the biased signaling field. Join me a learn more about David’s work, his career trajectory, and GPCRdb. Dr. David E. Gloriam on the web LinkedIn ResearchGate Twitter Google Scholar Computation Receptor Biology- Gloriam Group GPCRdb 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) Chloe Hicks About Chloe Hicks Chloe Hicks will graduate from Duke University this spring with a B.S degree in Biology with a concentration in Pharmacology. She has been an undergraduate student member in the Rajagopal Lab since January 2021 and has contributed to multiple projects exploring the underlying mechanisms of biased signaling at chemokine receptor 3 (CXCR3). These previous endeavors involved exploring the effect of subcellular location on the signaling profile of CXCR3’s three endogenous biased ligands, elucidating the role of site-specific receptor phosphorylation in the differential signaling outputs of biased agonists, and demonstrating the ligand specificity behind GRK recruitment to endosomes upon receptor internalization. She is currently working on her senior thesis which involves identifying the non-canonical signaling effectors involved in the activation of Atypical Chemokine Receptor 3 (ACKR3), a receptor which does not couple to G protein and has been shown to maintain its activation in the absence of β-arrestin. Chloe Hicks on the web ORCID 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. Terry Hébert About this episode Dr. Terry Hébert is a Professor within the Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics at McGill University. Much of his work is based on GPCR signaling in the context to cardiovascular diseases. In this special episode of the Dr.GPCR podcast , we re-connected with Dr. Terry Hebert to chat about how he and his team has been adapting to the new reality of working remotely. Terry tells us about the importance of adapting, communicating, and being mindful of those around us. Dr. Terry Hébert on the web Terry Hébert | Institute of Health Sciences Education Hébert Lab LinkedIn Hébert Lab The GPCR Consortium 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 >>

Michelle describes how reading those early papers on lipid-rich domains and GPCR–G protein compartmentalization reframed her view of receptor pharmacology. Home → Flash News → where signaling happens inside a cell Why does it matter where signaling happens inside a cell? Published on November 13, 2025 Category Dr.GPCR Podcast Why does it matter where signaling happens inside a cell? This moment cuts straight to the heart of how many of us fell in love with GPCR biology — that realization that signaling isn’t random. It’s structured, organized, and spatially constrained. Michelle describes how reading those early papers on lipid-rich domains and GPCR–G protein compartmentalization reframed her view of receptor pharmacology. This shift — from thinking about “pathways” to understanding localized signaling architecture — is what drove her to build a research career around spatial control of GPCR signaling. This isn’t just academic. The way signals are organized defines specificity, drug response, and potential for targeted therapies. If you work with GPCRs, this perspective changes how you design experiments and interpret data. 🎧 Watch this insight — or listen to the full conversation with Michelle.🔗 Full episode: https://www.ecosystem.drgpcr.com/dr-gpcr-podcast/leadership-luck-and-gpcr-signaling ✨ Join Premium: https://www.ecosystem.drgpcr.com/gpcr-university-pricing #GPCR #DrGPCR Previous Next Recent Articles

<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Dr. Richard Premont About Dr. Richard Premont "Dr. Premont obtained his B.S. in Biology and Chemistry at the California Institute of Technology in 1985, and M.Ph . and Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences (Pharmacology) at Mount Sinai School of Medicine (City University of New York) in 1990 and 1992, working with Ravi Iyengar on regulation/desensitization of the liver glucagon receptor and glucagon-stimulated adenylyl cyclase system. In 1992, he won a Helen Hay Whitney Foundation fellowship to support his post-doctoral work with Robert Lefkowitz and Marc Caron at Duke University. His initial project to identify and clone taste receptors was unsuccessful, but led to the identification of GRK5 and continued focus on GRKs (particularly GRKs 4,5,6) and arrestins as GPCR regulators and as mediators of distinct signaling pathways through partners including GIT1. In 1999, obtained an independent faculty position at Duke in Gastroenterology, where he remained until 2018 studying GPCRs and their signaling pathways in the liver and in liver disease. In 2018, he moved to Harrington Discovery Institute and Case Western Reserve University, where he studies GPCR regulation by S-nitrosylation. My research focus is on understanding how distinct cellular signaling pathways interact and are coordinated to produce integrated physiological responses, and how dysregulation of this coordination results in pathophysiology. For this, we have worked in three main areas: the regulation of G protein-coupled receptor signaling particularly by the G protein-coupled receptor kinase (GRK) – beta-arrestin system, the coordination of heterotrimeric G protein, small GTP-binding protein and protein kinase pathways by GIT/PIX scaffolding complexes during cellular signaling, and characterizing the role of protein S-nitrosylation as a signaling post-translational modification in mediating and regulating cellular signaling pathways, particularly in conjunction with better characterized signaling systems. In our work, we utilize methods including structural biology and proteomics, molecular biology and biochemical enzymology, primary and model cell culture, and transgenic, knockout, knock-in and conditional models of mouse physiology and behavior." Dr. Richard Premont on the web Google Scholar LinkedIn Dr. GPCR 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 >>

Home → Flash News → Deepen your understanding of signaling bias with Dr. Terry Kenakin's guidance by registering for the latest workshop at Dr.GPCR University 🙌 Register and get hands-on exercises as well as theoretical background for the techniques. ✳️Spots are limited—register now! ⬇️ ➡️https://www.ecosystem.drgpcr.com/event-details-registration/the-practical-assessment-of-signaling-bias #gpcr #drgpcr Published on February 5, 2025 Category Dr. GPCR Courses Deepen your understanding of signaling bias with Dr. Terry Kenakin's guidance by registering for the latest workshop at Dr.GPCR University 🙌 Register and get hands-on exercises as well as theoretical background for the techniques.✳️Spots are limited—register now! ⬇️ ➡️ https:// www.ecosystem.drgpcr.com/event-details-registration/the-practical-assessment-of-signaling-bias #gpcr #drgpcr Previous Next Recent Articles

Home → Flash News → Dr. GPCR University is officially back! 🎆 Join Dr. Terry Kenakin for "The Practical Assessment of Signaling Bias" workshop! 🚀 Learn the practical issues with detecting, measuring, and quantifying GPCR ligand-biased signaling. ✳️Early Bird discounts for Premium Members! ➡️Register today at https://www.ecosystem.drgpcr.com/event-details-registration/the-practical-assessment-of-signaling-bias #gpcr #drgpcr Published on January 20, 2025 Category GPCR University Dr. GPCR University is officially back! 🎆 Join Dr. Terry Kenakin for "The Practical Assessment of Signaling Bias" workshop! 🚀 Learn the practical issues with detecting, measuring, and quantifying GPCR ligand-biased signaling. ✳️Early Bird discounts for Premium Members! ➡️Register today at https://www.ecosystem.drgpcr.com/event-details-registration/the-practical-assessment-of-signaling-bias #gpcr #drgpcr Previous Next Recent Articles

<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Dr. Christel Menet About Dr. Christel Menet "I did my Ph.D. in Manchester UK with Prof Jonathan Clayden in organic chemistry. I then started my career at Evotec before moving to Domain Therapeutics (called Faust pharmaceutical at the time). After 2 years, I joined Galapagos where I spent almost 11 years and became head of medicinal chemistry. 6 years ago I decided to take on a new challenge by taking the position of CSO at Confo Therapeutics . I was the 6th employee and today we are more than 60 :) I have fun every day, and I love working with GPCRs. they are such great targets." Dr. Christel Menet on the web Hyphen Projects GPCRS Drug Discovery Confo Therapeutics 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 >>

<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Dr. Amynah Pradhan About this episode In this episode of the Dr. GPCR podcast , we meet with Dr. Amynah Pradhan. She is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Amynah did her undergrad research measuring IP3 in airway smooth muscle cells and completed a Ph.D. at McGill University in Canada with Dr. Paul Clarck , where she studied opioid receptors. Her next career step took her to AstraZeneca as a postdoctoral trainee, where she studied animal models of pain and sensory neuron sensitive-receptor. She then returned to academia and worked on opioids as a postdoctoral trainee with Dr. Brigitte Kieffer , where she studied ligand-directed signaling at the delta-opioid receptor. Her career path-defining moment came from a third postdoctoral experience with Dr. Chris Evans at UCLA. Amynah studied how arrestins regulate ligand-directed signaling at delta-opioid receptors, and it is their collaboration with a headache physician-scientist Dr. Andrew Charles that who specialized in animal models of migraine and delta-opioid receptors as a therapeutic target to treat headache. Dr. Amynah Pradhan on the web Lab page LinkedIn Twitter 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 >>

Home → Flash News → 🚀 New Learning Opportunities at Dr.GPCR University! Expand your GPCR expertise with exclusive workshops, interactive courses, and an on-demand library—all in one place! ✅ Register for upcoming sessions ✅ Access expert-led content anytime ✅ Enjoy premium benefits & exclusive resources 📢 Don’t miss out—start your learning journey today! 🔗 https://www.ecosystem.drgpcr.com/gpcr-courses #GPCR #DrGPCR #LifelongLearning #drugdiscovery #pharmacology Published on February 25, 2025 Category GPCR Weekly News 🚀 New Learning Opportunities at Dr.GPCR University! Expand your GPCR expertise with exclusive workshops, interactive courses, and an on-demand library—all in one place! ✅ Register for upcoming sessions ✅ Access expert-led content anytime ✅ Enjoy premium benefits & exclusive resources 📢 Don’t miss out—start your learning journey today! 🔗 https://www.ecosystem.drgpcr.com/gpcr-courses #GPCR #DrGPCR #LifelongLearning #drugdiscovery #pharmacology Previous Next Recent Articles

<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Dr. Gunnar Schulte About Dr. Gunnar Schulte Gunnar Schulte is a Professor in receptor pharmacology and research group leader for the section Receptor Biology and Signaling at the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology. He has a background in biochemistry from the Free University in Berlin/Germany and a Ph.D. in molecular pharmacology (supervisor: Bertil B Fredholm; 1998-2002) from Karolinska Institutet. As a postdoc, he trained first with Ernest Arenas (Karolinska Institutet, Molecular Neurobiology; 2003-2005) and later with Roger J Summers (Monash University, Melbourne Australia, GPCR pharmacology; 2006) before starting his independent research team "Receptor Biology & Signalling" in 2008. Gunnar Schulte is also the scientific secretary of the Swedish Society for Medical Research (SSMF) and a member of the editorial board/editorial advisory board of Molecular Pharmacology, British Journal of Pharmacology, Pharmacological Reviews, and The Journal of Biological Chemistry. General Research Interest: The focus in the Schulte lab is on Frizzled signaling and pharmacology aiming to understand the role of WNT/Frizzled signaling in biology, physiology, and disease. Most importantly my research team tries to understand underlying mechanisms of WNT-receptor interaction, the relevance of receptor dynamics, and receptor complex composition for signal initiation and specification. The ultimate aim is to use the new knowledge to find, create and optimize Frizzled-targeting small molecule drugs to improve future therapies of human disease. Dr. Gunnar Schulte on the web Schulte Lab LinkedIn Google Scholar Orcid YouTube Dr. GPCR Ecosystem 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. Michael Feigin About Dr. Michael Feigin "Dr. Michael Feigin is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, and Director of Graduate Studies of Experimental Therapeutics at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, NY. He earned his Ph.D. under Dr. Craig Malbon at SUNY Stony Brook studying the role of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) and their regulators in the Wnt signaling pathway. Mike then joined the lab of Dr. Senthil Muthuswamy at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and probed the roles of polarity proteins (Feigin, et al., Cancer Research, 2014) and GPCRs (Feigin, et al., PNAS, 2014) in breast cancer pathogenesis, using mouse models, three-dimensional cell culture and computational approaches to drug target discovery. When Dr. Muthuswamy moved to the University of Toronto, Mike joined the laboratory of Dr. David Tuveson at CSHL where he participated in the development of an organoid system for the culture of normal and malignant pancreatic tissue, allowing advances in sequencing, target discovery and biomarker development. He also continued his interest in computational analysis of cancer drivers by co-developing GECCO, an algorithm for the identification of noncoding mutations driving gene expression in pancreatic cancer (Feigin and Garvin, et al., Nature Genetics, 2017). Mike's lab has two main areas of interest: 1) alternative polyadenylation as a targetable driver of pancreatic cancer, and 2) dysregulation of the pancreatic tumor microenvironment by commonly prescribed anti-anxiety drugs." Dr. Michael Feigin on the web Roswell Park Feigin Lab Google Scholar LinkedIn Twitter Dr. GPCR AI Summary AI-generated content may be inaccurate or misleading. Always check for accuracy. Quick recap Yamina and Mike engaged in a conversation about their scientific research experiences. Mike shared his journey from his Ph.D. struggles to his current role as a professor, emphasizing the importance of resilience and creativity. They also discussed his research on cell polarity and its role in cancer progression, his work on G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) in breast cancer, and his interest in pancreatic cancer. The discussion also covered the challenges they face in studying GPCRs due to their low expression levels and the difficulty of localizing these receptors in tissues. Next steps • Mike will consider using Twitter to post job positions in his lab. Summary Science Roles and Resilience Yamina and Mike had a conversation about their roles and experiences in the field of science. Yamina introduced herself and Mike shared his educational background and his journey to becoming a professor. Mike also spoke about his initial struggles during his Ph.D., such as a difficult model system and a lack of experimental results. He explained that he overcame these challenges by reading extensively and contemplating alternative plans. The conversation also highlighted the importance of resilience and creativity in scientific research. Science Journey and Postdoc Decision Mike discussed his journey into science and his decision to pursue a postdoc at Cold Spring Harbor. He shared that his interest in science originated from a young age and his desire to gain more knowledge about cancer biology led him to transition into using mouse models. Yamina asked about his move from in vitro to in vivo work, and Mike explained that he wanted to use better models to understand cancer signaling pathways. They also shared their personal experiences and interest in the field of biology. Towards the end, Mike mentioned that he stayed at Cold Spring Harbor even after his mentor left for Toronto. Mike's Research on Cell Polarity and GPCRs in Cancer Mike shared his research on cell polarity and its role in cancer progression, particularly focusing on the potential of disrupted cell polarity as a driver of tumorigenesis. He also discussed his work on G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) in breast cancer, identifying GPR161 as a potential drug target due to its high expression in triple negative breast cancer. Mike then transitioned to pancreatic cancer, questioning why genes are dysregulated in cancer, which led him to explore different aspects of gene regulation and its relation to cancer progression. Yamina acknowledged the difficulty in identifying GPCRs expressed in cancer cells but not in normal ones, and commended Mike's innovative approach to the question. Career Trajectory and Faculty Position Yamina and Mike discussed Mike's career trajectory and his decision to pursue a faculty position. Mike expressed his initial reluctance due to a lack of confidence and fear of not being ready. However, he decided to undertake another postdoc to gain more experience and confidence. He also highlighted the importance of publishing strong papers and having a clear vision for his lab. Yamina emphasized the importance of thorough preparation and planning before applying for faculty positions. They also discussed the challenges of the two-body problem, where both partners need to find suitable positions. Mike shared his strategy of developing preliminary projects and gathering data to strengthen his application. Teamwork and Flexibility in Scientific Research Mike shared about his recent promotion and the way he has managed his team, encouraging them to come up with their own ideas and then guiding them. Yamina congratulated Mike on his promotion and discussed the importance of flexibility in scientific research, even when starting with a clear plan. Mike also mentioned how his team collaborates closely, with weekly roundtable discussions where everyone shares their progress and issues. The conversation ended with Yamina expressing interest in learning more about Mike's two main research areas in his lab. GPCR Targeted Drugs and Gene Regulation in Cancer Cells Mike presented research on the effect of GPCR-targeted drugs on cancer-associated fibroblasts and discussed their work on gene regulation in fibroblasts. He highlighted their interest in non-coding mutations in promoters and the 3'UTR region important for gene regulation. Mike also shared about a drug that targets an enzyme involved in mRNA cleaving, which has been found to stop cancer cells from growing and invading. He also discussed the impact of disrupting histone processing on rapidly proliferating cells, such as cancer cells, and suggested a therapeutic index for a drug called JTE-6.7. Yamina asked about the typical role of the enzyme and the challenges in delivering a molecule to target this enzyme and only cancer cells. Cytokine Inhibition, Collaboration, and Anti-Anxiety Drug Research Mike discussed the ongoing research on a drug that inhibits cytokine synthesis, its potential in killing cancer cells, and the team's efforts to understand its resistance mechanisms. He also touched upon a collaboration with Todd Ricky's group at UPenn to explore the GPCR side of the lab, which led to the discovery of potential tumor suppressors and oncogenes in melanoma. Furthermore, Mike mentioned a qualifying exam where students proposed new projects, highlighting Abby Cornwell's project on the effects of anti-anxiety drugs on pancreatic cancer patients, and the team's research on the potential issues with certain anti-anxiety drugs. The team found that these drugs could interact with GPR68, which is highly expressed in cancer-associated fibroblasts and is crucial for their function, leading to complications in cancer patients. The team is now examining other anti-anxiety drugs and common patient medications in the context of pancreatic cancer. GPCRs and Cancer Immune Modulation Yamina and Mike had a discussion about their research on GPCRs, specifically focusing on GPR68 and its role in the tumor microenvironment. They also touched upon the potential of GPCR modulation in stimulating the immune system to fight cancer. Mike shared his team's current focus on alprazolam, an anti-anxiety medication that has unexpected effects in the tumor microenvironment. They also discussed the challenges they face in studying GPCRs due to their low expression levels and the difficulty of localizing these receptors in tissues. Mike expressed a need for better tools to study GPCR localization in tissues. Scientific Journey and Drug Discovery Challenges Mike shared significant moments in his scientific journey, including the discovery of RGS proteins and its impact on his research approach. He also discussed his experiments and discoveries about GPR161 in mammary epithelial cells, the effect of alprazolam on tumors, and the potential dangers of drug interactions. Yamina proposed further exploration of dosage and length of treatment in a mouse model and suggested using a biosensor-based assay to examine dose-response curves. The conversation highlighted the complexities and challenges of drug prescription and the potential for alternative treatments. Science Journeys and Career Advice Yamina and Mike discussed their experiences in the field of science. Mike advised junior scientists to focus on projects they are passionate about, emphasizing that ownership and full investment in a project can make dealing with challenges easier. Yamina shared her personal journey, describing how she took her project in a different direction and felt a sense of ownership. Mike reflected on his early years as a postdoc, admitting that he lacked focus and didn't see the direct impact of his work on patients. He highlighted the importance of re-evaluating one's work and its potential implications. Towards the end, Yamina asked about job opportunities in Mike's lab, to which Mike responded that potential candidates can find him on Twitter. 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. Nariman Balenga About Dr. Nariman Balenga "I received my Master’s degree from the University of Tehran, Iran, in 2005 by studying the suitability of nanoparticles as porters of DNA vaccination against allergens in mice. Then I pursued my education in the lab of Dr. Maria Waldhoer at the Medical University of Graz, Austria, and received my Ph.D. in Molecular Medicine in 2010 after studying the orphan atypical cannabinoid receptor, GPR55 and its crosstalk with CB1R and CB2R in endothelial cells and neutrophils. I followed my interest in allergy and GPCRs by joining the lab of Dr. Kirk Druey at NIAID/NIH, where I characterized the role of RGS4 and RGS5 in airway hyperresponsiveness and lung fibrosis in acute and chronic mouse models of allergic asthma. I was fascinated by the multitude of processes that are regulated/dysregulated by GPCRs and RGS proteins in the lungs of patients with asthma. At the height of curiosity, a seemingly naïve idea at the dinner table led to a side project by which I characterized the impact of a fungal allergenic source on the function of airway smooth muscle cells. A fungal serine protease allergen with GPCR-modulating features was discovered as a new biomarker and target in patients with severe asthma. In 2015 I joined the University of Maryland School of Medicine as an Assistant Professor. I studied the function of RGS5, calcium-sensing receptor, and an orphan adhesion GPCR, GPR64/ADGRG2 in parathyroid glands of patients with hyperparathyroidism and their impact on body calcium homeostasis and bone resorption in relevant transgenic mice. In 2021, I joined the Ferring Research Institute of Ferring Pharmaceuticals in San Diego as a scientist." Dr. Nariman Balenga on the web Researchgate Linkedin.com 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 >>

Can models predict drug outcomes? Jens Carlsson shares how GPCR modeling is moving from explanation to real prediction in drug discovery. << Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Model. Predict. Discover. with Dr. Jens Carlsson What if models didn’t just explain the past — but could truly predict what comes next? In this episode, Dr. Jens Carlsson reveals how computational modeling is evolving from explanation to real prediction—and how that shift accelerates real-world discovery. Dr. Jens Carlsson, Professor of Computational Biochemistry at Uppsala University, joins Dr. Yamina Berchiche to share his unconventional journey from aspiring engineer to GPCR modeler. With a deep focus on structure-based drug design, Jens discusses how his lab bridges simulation and experiment—and why understanding the limits of prediction is just as critical as the predictions themselves. From virtual screening of billions of molecules to leveraging AlphaFold for structure prediction, Jens shares the cutting-edge tools his lab uses—and the collaborative mindset required to turn models into testable hypotheses. Along the way, he reflects on key career moments, the role of mentorship, and how curiosity continues to drive his work across both academic and industry settings. Why This Matters Computational models are moving beyond interpretation into real-world prediction of ligand-receptor interactions. Bridging computation, chemistry, and pharmacology is key to speeding up drug discovery. AI and machine learning are opening new doors—but only if scientists know their tools’ limits. What You’ll Learn Why Jens Carlsson believes modeling should predict , not just explain How his team uses structure-based modeling to identify novel GPCR ligands The value of failure—and how it shaped his path as a scientist Why collaborations between modelers and experimentalists are more vital than ever How AlphaFold is shaking up structural biology—and where it still falls short Advice for junior scientists: what really matters when building a research career Who Should Listen GPCR scientists and pharmacologists Computational chemists and structural biologists Early-career researchers exploring drug discovery Biotech leaders and R&D strategists Anyone interested in predictive modeling, AI in biology, or structure-function relationships About Jens Carlsson Jens Carlsson is a Professor of Computational Biochemistry at Uppsala University, where his research group uses structure-based modeling to investigate GPCRs. His team focuses on understanding how ligands modulate receptor function and how those insights can drive drug discovery. By combining molecular docking, molecular dynamics, and machine learning, Jens works at the intersection of computation and pharmacology, often in close collaboration with experimental labs. Trained initially as a biotechnology engineer, Jens discovered his true calling during an internship where his modeling skills stood out, mainly because his bench skills didn’t. That moment launched a career built around using computational tools to answer big biological questions. His journey took him from Sweden to Scripps Research and UCSF, where he was first introduced to GPCRs and mentored by pioneers like Brian Shoichet and Ken Jacobson. Jens is passionate about prediction over explanation: building models that can guide experiments, not just interpret them. Outside academia, he advises companies through a consulting arm focused on ligand design strategy. With a reputation for collaborative science, Jens is a strong advocate for bringing together chemists, modelers, and biologists to accelerate discovery and train the next generation of GPCR researchers. Jens Carlsson on the web Carlsson Group Uppsala University LinkedIn Hit play now to hear how prediction is reshaping GPCR science, and what that means for the future of drug discovery. 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 This is a Title 01 This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. Want to view and manage all your collections? Click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left. Here, you can make changes to your content, add new fields, create dynamic pages and more. You can create as many collections as you need. Your collection is already set up for you with fields and content. Add your own, or import content from a CSV file. Add fields for any type of content you want to display, such as rich text, images, videos and more. You can also collect and store information from your site visitors using input elements like custom forms and fields. Be sure to click Sync after making changes in a collection, so visitors can see your newest content on your live site. Preview your site to check that all your elements are displaying content from the right collection fields. Previous Next News Get in Touch Menu • Home • Services • About Menu • Home • Services • About Menu • Home • Services • About Menu • Home • Services • About Menu • Home • Services • About

<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Translating computational approaches to GPCR biologists with Dr. Riccardo Capelli About Dr. Riccardo Capelli Dr. Riccardo Capelli is an assistant professor in Applied Physics at the Department of Biosciences, University of Milan. He earned his PhD in Physics at the same university, focusing on in silico structural vaccinology and advancing free energy calculation techniques. He then held a postdoctoral position at Forschungszentrum Jülich (Germany), where he worked on calculating ligand binding kinetics using classical molecular dynamics. This was followed by a postdoctoral role at the Polytechnic University of Turin (Italy), where he developed coarse-grained models for self-assembling systems. Now in a tenure-track position, his research spans the development of computational methods such as structure-based models and enhanced sampling techniques, as well as their application to biomolecular systems, mainly on GPCRs activation and dynamics. Dr. Ricardo Capelli on the web Google Scholar ResearchGate Bysky App : @ riccardocapelli.bsky.social Twitter X : @ ric_capelli Computational Structural Biology 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 >>

Home → Flash News → Did you know that cell types can affect the GPCR-mediated signalling cascade? Check out this paper to know how different cell types affect the A2BR-mediated calcium signalling system. 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/receptor-activation-and-signaling/a2b-adenosine-receptor-triggered-intracellular-calcium-mobilization%3A-cell-type-dependent-involvement-of-gi%2C-gq%2C-gs-proteins-and-protein-kinase-c #gpcr #drgpcr Published on January 14, 2025 Category GPCR Weekly News Did you know that cell types can affect the GPCR-mediated signalling cascade? Check out this paper to know how different cell types affect the A2BR-mediated calcium signalling system. 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/receptor-activation-and-signaling/a2b-adenosine-receptor-triggered-intracellular-calcium-mobilization%3A-cell-type-dependent-involvement-of-gi%2C-gq%2C-gs-proteins-and-protein-kinase-c #gpcr #drgpcr Previous Next Recent Articles

Home → Flash News → 🚀 Ready to dive into the world of GPCR drug development? Join Dr. Terry Kenakin for the 4-week course “Development of GPCR Ligands as Therapeutic Drugs”! Get exclusive access to expert lectures, recordings, reading materials, and even a private call with Dr. Kenakin himself! Don’t miss this chance to level up your knowledge. 🔹 Spots are limited—save yours now! 👉 https://www.ecosystem.drgpcr.com/event-details-registration/development-of-gpcr-ligands-as-therapeutic-drugs #gpcr #drgpcr #pharmacolgy #drugdiscovery #research Published on February 26, 2025 Category Dr. GPCR Courses 🚀 Ready to dive into the world of GPCR drug development? Join Dr. Terry Kenakin for the 4-week course “Development of GPCR Ligands as Therapeutic Drugs”! Get exclusive access to expert lectures, recordings, reading materials, and even a private call with Dr. Kenakin himself! Don’t miss this chance to level up your knowledge. 🔹 Spots are limited—save yours now! 👉 https://www.ecosystem.drgpcr.com/event-details-registration/development-of-gpcr-ligands-as-therapeutic-drugs #gpcr #drgpcr #pharmacolgy #drugdiscovery #research Previous Next Recent Articles

Home → Flash News → Did you know that certain ergot derivatives can produce wash-resistant signalling through the 5-HT2B receptor persisting for many hours without losing potency or efficacy? By using signalling assays, radioligand binding assay, and microscopy, Gaidarov et al. suggested that this phenomenon results from persistently/irreversibly internalised signalling receptor complexes. 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/receptor-activation-and-signaling/mechanisms-of-constitutive-and-agonist-induced-5-ht2b-internalization%2C-persistent-endosomal-signaling-and-paradoxical-regulation-of-agonist-pharmacology #gpcr#drgpcr Published on May 19, 2025 Category GPCR Weekly News Did you know that certain ergot derivatives can produce wash-resistant signalling through the 5-HT2B receptor persisting for many hours without losing potency or efficacy? By using signalling assays, radioligand binding assay, and microscopy, Gaidarov et al. suggested that this phenomenon results from persistently/irreversibly internalised signalling receptor complexes. 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/receptor-activation-and-signaling/mechanisms-of-constitutive-and-agonist-induced-5-ht2b-internalization%2C-persistent-endosomal-signaling-and-paradoxical-regulation-of-agonist-pharmacology #gpcr#drgpcr Previous Next Recent Articles