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- About Dr. GPCR Podcast | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
Explore the world of GPCRs with Dr. GPCR Podcast! Join industry leaders as they share insights, stories, and groundbreaking discoveries, enriching our understanding of GPCRs. Delve into the science behind these vital components shaping our collective knowledge. Welcome to the Dr. GPCR Podcast - The Voice of the Community Conversations with the world’s leading GPCR scientists. Exploring discoveries, careers, and ideas shaping human health. In each episode, we sit down with leading experts to explore their career journeys, groundbreaking discoveries, and the impact of their research on our shared understanding of GPCR biology. Launched at the height of the pandemic, the Dr. GPCR Podcast was created with three goals: Share discoveries – Highlight the latest advances in the GPCR field. Amplify voices – Provide scientists a platform to showcase their work. Inspire the future – Motivate the next generation to pursue GPCR research. At its core, Dr. GPCR’s mission is simple yet ambitious: to bring the GPCR community together - across borders and disciplines - to connect, exchange, and collaborate in order to improve human health through a deeper understanding of GPCR biology. Latest Podcast Episodes More podcast episodes Dr. GPCR Podcast Audience Survey We are currently planning our next season and need your help. This short survey will help us understand your needs to bring you exciting and informative content. We also know that you are busy, which is why we designed this short survey that should take you 5 minutes. Fill out this form Be our Guest In each episode, we chat with an expert about their career trajectory, discoveries, and how their research contributed to the shared pool of knowledge about GPCR biology. We’d love to have you on our podcast. To be a guest, fill out the form below, and we’ll be in touch in 48 hours. Fill out this form What others are saying about this podcast "You made it a very comfortable and engaging experience, and it felt like we were chatting over coffee — Yamina thoughtfully guided our chat throughout." Anita Nivedha I think it's really well done. I'm genuinely interested to see how it evolves and grows over time, as I feel it has the potential to develop into something even more impactful. Anonymous This came at just the most perfect time. I hadn't heard a scientific talk outside my lab since February and was starved to hear someone else talk passionately about GPCRs. I've listened to the episodes multiple times and it's just like being at a conference getting new ideas. I just couldn't be happier y'all created this podcast. Anonymous Great initiative, thanks. Carrier paths, choosing research topics, switching fields, late start, failures and successes. Anonymous I enjoy the breadth of questioning that goes beyond just the science, and reveals a bit about the scientists as individuals/mentors/people. Anonymous Really enjoyable science podcast! Dr. Yamina Berchiche interviews leading GPCR scientists on this vibrant, entertaining podcast. I really appreciate the way the podcast educates and mentors, particularly towards junior scientists but also to the community as a wholen Yamina is a great interviewer, getting insight and personal history from her guests. Am very grateful for Dr GPCR livening up the week in these difficult times! Sam @Pharmamechanic Listen and subscribe where you get your podcasts
- GPCR Masterclass Live Sessions | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
Explore upcoming GPCR Masterclass live sessions featuring expert discussions on GPCR pharmacology, receptor biology, and drug discovery. University / Live Masterclass Sessions In the room with the scientist, not watching from the audience. Live scientific exchanges with leading GPCR experts. Interactive, question-driven, frontier science. This isn't a lecture — it's a conversation with the people shaping GPCR discovery. Masterclass is included inDr. GPCR University Try it for 14 days Upcoming live sessions Your next Live Masterclass Session is waiting Each session focuses on a specific pharmacology or GPCR discovery topic, led by a recognized expert. Live Q&A means your questions get real answers. June 11, 2026 Dr. Jakob Höppner | Harvard University | MGH Subcellular Regulation of PTH1R Signaling Translational Pharmacology & Disease Models Details October 8, 2026 Dr. Marsha Pierce | Midewestern University Introduction to GLP-1 pharmacology Details June 18, 2026 Dr. Dmitry Veprintsev | U. of Nottingham Postponed | Biophysical approaches to study orphan GPCR ligand binding and signalling Details 1 1 ... 1 ... 1 What makes this different? Not a lecture. Not a webinar. A scientific exchange. The Masterclass was created because the most valuable insights in GPCR science aren't captured in papers or conference talks. Scientist-to-scientist discussion Extended Q&A allows deeper exploration than typical presentations. You're engaging directly with the expert — not submitting a question to a moderator. Beyond conference time limits Topics are explored in greater depth than standard conference talks allow. Sessions focus on scientific reasoning, data interpretation, and real discovery problems. Focused audience of specialists Sessions bring together GPCR researchers, pharmacologists, and discovery scientists. The conversation stays at the right level because everyone in the room speaks the same scientific language. Every session recorded Can't make it live? Every Masterclass is recorded and available on demand in the library. Revisit the science anytime — over 200 sessions and growing. On-demand library 200+ expert sessions, available anytime Full recordings of every Masterclass session. Revisit the science at your pace — filter by category, level, or instructor. Andrew Tobin How to Build Breakthrough GPCR Programs Sudarshan Rajagopal The Spatiotemporal Revolution in GPCR Biology Sam Hoare How Signaling Kinetics Shapes GPCR Drug Action Explore all Recorded Masterclasses → The scientists Learn directly from world leaders in GPCR research Andrew Tobin Marsha Pierce Terry Hébert Bryan Roth Matteo Pavan Terry Kenakin Jakob Höppner Samuel Hoare Yamina Berchiche Kenneth Jacobson Sudarshan Rajagopal What scientists say? From the people in the room 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 GPCR researcher 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 GPCR researcher The content had enough depth to satisfy the hunger for theory while being full of practical knowledge GPCR researcher 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 GPCR researcher Dr. Hoare's extensive and elaborative explanation of the topics at hand was excellent and very digestible. Thoroughly enjoyed learning from him GPCR researcher 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. GPCR researcher 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 GPCR researcher About the GPCR Masterclass What is a GPCR Masterclass? The GPCR Masterclass is a live scientific discussion with a leading expert in GPCR pharmacology, receptor biology, or drug discovery. Sessions focus on research questions, experimental interpretation, and emerging challenges in GPCR science. Are the sessions live or recorded? Masterclass sessions are conducted live with an invited expert. After the event, recordings are added to the Masterclass course library, where Premium Members can access them on demand. Who should join? The Masterclass is designed for GPCR researchers, pharmacologists, and drug discovery scientists working in academia, biotech, and pharmaceutical research. Can I watch sessions later if I miss the live event? Yes. All sessions are recorded and available in the Masterclass course library for Premium Members. Can I watch sessions later if I miss the live event? Yes. All sessions are recorded and available in the Masterclass course library for Premium Members. How do I fit this in my schedule? You can attend the live discussion or watch the recording later. The Masterclass library allows members to revisit sessions at any time. What makes the Masterclass different from reading papers or textbooks? The Masterclass focuses on scientific interpretation and discussion. Experts explain how they think about pharmacological data, experimental design, and discovery challenges—insight that is rarely captured in publications. What happens during the live discussion? Each session begins with a focused presentation from the guest expert, followed by moderated discussion and questions from participants. The format allows deeper exploration of pharmacology concepts than typical conference presentations. Masterclass is included in Dr. GPCR University Live sessions, 200+ on-demand recordings, plus premium intelligence, jobs, events, and a community of GPCR scientists — all in one place. See what it feels like for 14 days. Try University for 14 days — $50 Your professional home in GPCR science. $499/year after trial.
- YC-Blog (List) | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
Articles News Get in Touch Item List This is a Title 01 This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. Read More This is a Title 02 This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. Read More This is a Title 03 This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. Read More Menu • Home • Services • About Ready to collaborate? Let’s talk about how I support GPCR discovery, pharmacology strategy, and cross-functional execution across biotech, VC, and CRO teams. Get in touch ©2023-2025 All rights reserved by FindYooour, LLC & Dr. GPCR Corp Proudly created with Wix.com Connect • LinkedIn • Podcast • Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
- GPCR Webinars | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
Advanced GPCR webinars for pharmacologists and biotech scientists. Live Q&A. Deep mechanistic insight. Reserve your seat. University / Free & Live Webinar Live GPCR Webinars with the World's Leading Experts. Deep-dive sessions focused on real pharmacology, real drug discovery challenges, and real translational insight. Live Q&A with the scientists shaping the field. Live for those who can be there. On demand for everyone else. 👉 Sign Up for Notifications Get the live link before each session Strategic Partners 1,400+ Scientists in the Ecosystem 30+ Countries Represented 60–90 Scientists per Live Session Free Always. No Paywall. No Catch. Use It Tomorrow Practical takeaways, every session. Walk away with something you can apply in your next experiment, assay, or project decision. Together in the Room Scientists from around the world, in the same conversation. The chat, the Q&A, the shared curiosity — the community thinking together in real time. Free and Generous No paywall. No catch. The ecosystem gives this away because GPCR scientists deserve access to high-quality science. Sign up, show up, bring your questions. Direct Access Ask an expert a live question and get a real answer. That direct access doesn't exist at conferences — it exists here. No Borders Live for those who can be there. On demand for everyone else. The GPCR community doesn't stop at borders — and neither do we. Stay Ahead Learn about methods, tools, and approaches before they become widely known. Be ahead of colleagues who aren't in the ecosystem. What Makes These Webinars Different? Not a lecture. A scientific exchange. Built for the GPCR community, by the GPCR community. Every session is designed to move your science forward. Webinars Upcoming Live & On Demand Webinars Recombinant Antibodies for GPCRs: A Challenge to the Community Speakers Dr. Alexander Ball, MD Dr. Alexander Ball of GeneTex joins Dr. GPCR to walk through what the company is doing about it, and the challenge it comes with: A high-throughput recombinant antibody platform built for specificity at scale Prioritized validation: CRISPR KO/KD, endogenous expression, cell fractionation, comparable antibodies, application-specific testing VirDTM-GPCR arrays for cross-reactivity screening when feasible More than 300 recombinant mAbs against almost 200 human GPCRs, and growing Free samples for GPCR researchers who will test the antibodies in their own labs and give structured feedback Register Here 📅 June 25, 2026 at 3:00:00 PM Details Receptor Signaling Bias: A Valuable and Accessible Property of New Drug Candidates Speaker Dr. Terry Kenakin - UNC Chappel Hill | Terry's Pharmacology Corner Topics Covered The biological basis of receptor signaling bias and ligand-dependent conformations How to design functional assay panels that quantify bias rather than infer it Interpretation pitfalls and what assay system choice does to bias estimates Translating pathway-level data into lead selection and optimization decisions Why potency alone is not enough for candidate-level decisions 📅 May 28, 2026 at 3:00:00 PM Details Fluorescent Probes for GLP-1R and GIPR Imaging: From Cell Assays to In Vivo Systems Speakers Dr. Johannes Broichhagen - Junior Group Leader Dr. David Hodson Topics Covered: LUXendin probes for GLP-1R labeling across imaging modalities daLUXendin dual agonists for GLP-1R and GIPR visualization Nanodomain organization in pancreatic islets and neural sites Practical handling: reconstitution, dilution, and storage Applications from live cells to in vivo systems 📅 March 3, 2026 at 3:00:00 PM Details 1 1 ... 1 ... 1 First Dr. GPCR event? Welcome. This is what the community looks like — scientists from around the world, thinking through discovery challenges together. There's no paywall, no catch. Just real science and real exchange. If this is your first session, there's a lot more where this came from. Want to Go Deeper? This Is Just the Beginning If a free webinar is this good, imagine what the full ecosystem looks like. Dr. GPCR University brings you premium Masterclass sessions, 200+ recordings, weekly curated news, and a global community of GPCR scientists — all in one place. Webinar → Weekly News → 14-Day Trial → University Premium 👉 Sign Up for Notifications These sessions are part of a larger mission: building the most trusted home for GPCR scientists worldwide. Frequently Asked Questions Questions about the webinars What are GPCR webinars? GPCR webinars are free, live online scientific sessions focused on G protein-coupled receptor biology, pharmacology, signaling, and drug discovery. Each session explores mechanistic models, translational challenges, and real-world therapeutic implications through presentations and live Q&A. They're designed for scientists who want deep, data-driven discussion rather than surface-level overviews. Who should attend? Any scientist working with GPCRs — pharmacologists, medicinal chemists, cell biologists, translational researchers, discovery teams, postdocs, PIs, and industry scientists. Whether you're deep in receptor biology or evaluating assay tools, these sessions are built for you. Are the webinars free? Yes. Always. No paywall, no catch. Sign up with a free registration and you'll receive the live link before each session. Recordings are also freely available on demand afterward. Are the webinars live or pre-recorded? All webinars are live events with real-time Q&A — that's the point. After the live session, the full recording becomes available on demand so scientists in every time zone can access the same content and depth. How are these different from conference talks or academic seminars? The Q&A is the core, not an afterthought. These sessions are designed for interaction — scientists asking direct questions and getting real answers. There's no travel required, no registration fee, and you're in a room with researchers from dozens of countries who share your focus on GPCRs. What topics are typically covered? GPCR pharmacology, signaling, structural biology, allosteric modulation, biased agonism, assay design, drug discovery workflows, translational challenges, and the science behind emerging tools and methods. Every session is grounded in receptor biology with a focus on what's practical and applicable. Do I need prior knowledge of GPCR pharmacology? A working understanding of GPCR biology helps you get the most from each session. That said, the presenters are skilled at making complex science accessible, and the Q&A often covers foundational questions alongside advanced discussion. Where can I find more advanced GPCR training? If you want to go deeper, Dr. GPCR University offers premium Masterclass sessions with frontier science, unresolved questions, and extended scientific exchange — exclusively with independent scientists. The webinars are the open door; Masterclass is the room you earn access to. You can explore University with a 14-day trial. Be in the Room When the Science Moves Forward Sign up to get notifications about upcoming webinars. Bring your questions. 👉 Sign Up for Notifications
- University | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
Advance your GPCR research career with Dr. GPCR University. Access 20+ on-demand GPCR courses, 200+ expert talks, weekly news, and a global scientist network. Join Premium today. Dr. GPCR University Your professional home in GPCR science. University is your professional home in GPCR science — premium intelligence, live Masterclasses, job listings, events, and a community of scientists who have your back. Everything you need, in one place. See what it feels like — $49 for 14 days Already know this is home? Join University — $499/year 1,400+ GPCR scientists reached 200+ Expert talks available $499 Per year — less than $10/week What's inside? The rooms in your professional home University isn't a bundle of features — it's a place where your GPCR professional life is supported. Here's what's waiting for you inside. Live Masterclass Live scientific exchanges with leading GPCR experts. You're in the room with the scientist, asking your question — not watching from the audience. Explore Live Masterclass → Job Listings GPCR-specific job opportunities curated for the community. Your next role is already here — opportunities find you when you're inside the ecosystem. Masterclass On Demand Full recordings of every session, available anytime. Revisit the science at your pace — over 200 expert talks in the library and growing. Explore Masterclass on Demand → GPCR Events A calendar of relevant conferences, meetings, and events in the GPCR field. Your next conference is already here. Premium Weekly News The complete GPCR intelligence — classified publications, industry news, job listings, and events calendar. Know what's coming before it becomes consensus. See Weekly News → Ask the Ecosystem The question you've been sitting on — someone in this ecosystem has the answer. A discussion forum where members share insights and get answers from the community. Live Masterclass In the room with the scientist, not watching from the audience Live scientific exchanges where you engage directly with leading GPCR experts. The question you've been holding — this is where you ask it. Dr. Dmitry Veprintsev | U. of Nottingham Postponed | Biophysical approaches to study orphan GPCR ligand binding and signalling June 18, 2026 Dr. Marsha Pierce | Midewestern University Introduction to GLP-1 pharmacology October 8, 2026 Dr. Jakob Höppner | Harvard University | MGH Subcellular Regulation of PTH1R Signaling Translational Pharmacology & Disease Models June 11, 2026 Explore Live Masterclasses → Who it's for? Whether you're just starting out or 20 years in — this is your place University is designed for GPCR scientists at every career stage who want to stay sharp, connected, and supported. 🎓 Early-career researchers Find your footing in the field. Access the experts, the intelligence, and the community that accelerates your growth. 🔬 Discovery scientists Stay at the frontier. Live Masterclasses and Premium Weekly News keep you ahead of the field — not chasing it. 🏆 Senior investigators Your career stage doesn't matter. Your commitment to the science does. Connect, contribute, and stay current. Explore the Masterclass On Demand Watch Now How to Build Breakthrough GPCR Programs Andrew Tobin Watch Now How Signaling Kinetics Shapes GPCR Drug Action Sam Hoare Watch Now The Spatiotemporal Revolution in GPCR Biology Sudarshan Rajagopal Explore Masterclasses On Demand → The comparison A society membership costs more and gives you less Most GPCR scientists belong to at least one scientific society. Here's how that compares to University. Typical Scientific Society $150 – $500+/year A journal subscription A conference discount A newsletter Occasional networking events Dr. GPCR University $499/year — less than $10 a week Live Masterclasses with leading GPCR scientists 200+ on-demand expert sessions Premium Weekly News intelligence GPCR job board and events calendar Community forum & ecosystem access Intelligence Hub dashboard Grandfather guarantee — your rate never increases "The one membership that has your back." $50 for 14 days - Strat Now What others are saying Scientists inside the ecosystem 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 GPCR researcher The content had enough depth to satisfy the hunger for theory while being full of practical knowledge GPCR researcher Dr. Hoare's extensive and elaborative explanation of the topics at hand was excellent and very digestible. Thoroughly enjoyed learning from him GPCR researcher 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 GPCR researcher 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 GPCR researcher 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 GPCR researcher 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. GPCR researcher Common questions Thinking it over? Fair enough. Here are the concerns we hear most — and honest answers. "It's too expensive." At less than $10 a week, University gives you live access to leading GPCR scientists, 200+ on-demand talks, premium intelligence, a job board, events calendar, and a global community of peers. One insight, one connection, one 'aha' moment — can save months of research time. "I'm not sure I'll use it often." Even one Masterclass or one new collaboration can make a difference. Members often find value in ways they didn't expect — from expert feedback to career-changing introductions. That's why we offer a 14-day trial, so you can experience it first. "I already get what I need from papers." Papers inform. University helps you understand and apply that knowledge — through expert context, structured scientific exchanges, and real interaction with peers from academia and industry. "Will this really help my career?" Yes. Members grow visibility, confidence, and connections that open doors. It’s not just about learning — it’s about being seen, supported, and part of something bigger . Frequently asked questions What is Dr. GPCR University? Dr. GPCR University is an educational platform that provides in-depth learning and training resources on G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). At Dr.GPCR University, you’ll find: Courses: Dive deep into curated educational content designed by experts in GPCR research. Our courses provide comprehensive, on-demand learning to help you expand your knowledge and stay current in the field. Symposia Engage with leading scientists through our symposia, featuring in-depth discussions on cutting-edge research and breakthroughs in GPCR science. Each session brings together a community of experts to share insights and advancements. Summit A global gathering of researchers and professionals showcasing the latest developments in GPCR research. Participate in presentations, networking opportunities, and collaborative sessions. Virtual Café Listen to casual, interactive discussions with experts in the field. How do I register for Dr. GPCR University Masterclasses? To register for any course, you must have a FREE Ecosystem member account. We carefully screen anyone signing up to ensure they are real humans working on GPCRs, so you might not receive confirmation immediately. When signing up for the first time, try to complete as much information as possible about yourself. Who are the Dr. GPCR University Masterclasses designed for? The classes are designed for researchers, students, and professionals in biology, pharmacology, and biochemistry, but anyone interested in GPCR research is welcome to join. What topics are covered in the masterclasses? Masterclasses cover a variety of track including but not limited to pharmacology foundations, agonists, antagonists & core mechanisms , allosteric modulation & kinetics, advanced quantitative approaches and innovation & strategic application Can I register my team for a Dr. GPCR University Masterclasses? To register as a team, one of you must be a Premium Member. This person must email hello@drgpcr.org indicating how many people will register for the course, the names of the participants, and their emails. We will contact each person individually to help them set up a FREE Ecosystem Membership. They will be asked to join a private group to keep updated with the latest announcements about the course. Are the masterclasses on-demand or live? Dr. GPCR University offers both on-demand and live classes led by experts in the field. On-demand classes are only available for Premium Members. Do I need prior knowledge of GPCRs to join the masterclasses? Some classes may require basic knowledge of GPCRs, but many are designed to accommodate beginners as well as advanced learners. What kind of certification will I receive upon completing a masterclass? Participants will receive a certificate of completion from Dr. GPCR University, which can be used to showcase your expertise and enhance your professional credentials. Can I access the course material after completing the course? Yes, if you are a premium member. Move in. Look around. See if it's home. For 14 days, this is what it feels like to have everything in one place — intelligence, learning, community, and opportunities. Your first Masterclass is waiting. See what it feels like Already know this is home? Join University — $499/year Your 14-day trial is $50. If University feels like home, it's $499/year — less than $10 a week. Grandfather guarantee: your rate never increases. No surprise charges.
- GPCR Masterclass: Advanced Pharmacology & Drug Discovery | Dr. GPCR
Advance your GPCR research with expert-led Masterclasses on pharmacology, efficacy, signaling, and drug discovery. Built for serious scientists. University / Masterclass On Demand Every Masterclass session. Anytime. At your pace. The full recording library of GPCR Masterclass sessions — revisit the science, catch what you missed, and explore topics at the depth they deserve. On-demand recordings are included inDr. GPCR University Try it for 14 days Recording library Explore the Masterclass library Full recordings of every Masterclass session. Filter by category, level, or instructor to find exactly what you need. Filter by Category Filter by Level Filter by Instructor Watch Now Andrew Tobin How to Build Breakthrough GPCR Programs Watch Now Terry Hebert GPCR Signaling in iPSC-Derived Cardiac Disease Models Watch Now Terry Kenakin Assessing Bias: The Practical Approach Watch Now Sudarshan Rajagopal The Spatiotemporal Revolution in GPCR Biology Watch Now Bryan Roth GPCR Molecular Glues: Biased Modulation at the Receptor–Transducer Interface Watch Now Terry Kenakin Unconventional GPCR Ligands Watch Now Sam Hoare How Signaling Kinetics Shapes GPCR Drug Action Watch Now Kenneth A. Jacobson, Matteo Pavan Structure-Based Design of Modulators of Purinergic GPCRs Watch Now Terry Kenakin Designing with Time: GPCR Ligand Kinetics 1 2 3 1 ... 1 2 3 ... 3 Topics covered Deep dives across the full scope of GPCR science Sessions span the entire landscape of GPCR pharmacology, from foundational principles to frontier research. Research Strategy Allosteric Modulation Allosteric Modulation & Kinetics Biased Signaling & Allosteric Modulation Structure-Based Drug Design Translational Pharmacology & Disease Models Advanced Quantitative Approaches Translational Pharmacology Innovation & Strategic Application The scientists Learn from world leaders in GPCR research Every session is led by a recognized expert with decades of experience in GPCR pharmacology and drug discovery. Andrew Tobin University of Glasgow Jakob Höppner Endocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School Marsha Pierce Midwestern University Samuel Hoare Pharmechanics LLC Terry Hébert McGill University Yamina Berchiche Dr. GPCR & Yamina's Corner Bryan Roth UNC Chapel Hill Medical School Kenneth Jacobson NIH Matteo Pavan NIH Sudarshan Rajagopal Duke University School of Medicine Terry Kenakin Terry's Corner How it works? Your library. Your pace. 1 Browse or search Filter by scientific category, instructor, or level. Find the session that matches what you're working on right now. 2 Watch at your pace Full recordings with no time limits. Pause, rewind, revisit. The science is here whenever you need it. 3 Go deeper Join the next live Masterclass to ask your questions directly. The recordings are the foundation — the live sessions are where you go further. Want to be in the room live? Live Masterclass sessions run regularly with interactive Q&A. See what's coming up next. See live sessions → What others are saying 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 GPCR researcher 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 GPCR researcher The content had enough depth to satisfy the hunger for theory while being full of practical knowledge GPCR researcher 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 GPCR researcher Dr. Hoare's extensive and elaborative explanation of the topics at hand was excellent and very digestible. Thoroughly enjoyed learning from him GPCR researcher 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. GPCR researcher About the GPCR Masterclass What is a GPCR Masterclass? The GPCR Masterclass is a live scientific discussion with a leading expert in GPCR pharmacology, receptor biology, or drug discovery. Sessions focus on research questions, experimental interpretation, and emerging challenges in GPCR science. Are the sessions live or recorded? Masterclass sessions are conducted live with an invited expert. After the event, recordings are added to the Masterclass course library, where Premium Members can access them on demand. Who should join? The Masterclass is designed for GPCR researchers, pharmacologists, and drug discovery scientists working in academia, biotech, and pharmaceutical research. Can I watch sessions later if I miss the live event? Yes. All sessions are recorded and available in the Masterclass course library for Premium Members. Can I watch sessions later if I miss the live event? Yes. All sessions are recorded and available in the Masterclass course library for Premium Members. How do I fit this in my schedule? You can attend the live discussion or watch the recording later. The Masterclass library allows members to revisit sessions at any time. What makes the Masterclass different from reading papers or textbooks? The Masterclass focuses on scientific interpretation and discussion. Experts explain how they think about pharmacological data, experimental design, and discovery challenges—insight that is rarely captured in publications. What happens during the live discussion? Each session begins with a focused presentation from the guest expert, followed by moderated discussion and questions from participants. The format allows deeper exploration of pharmacology concepts than typical conference presentations. 200+ sessions are waiting for you inside University The full on-demand library, plus live Masterclasses, premium intelligence, jobs, events, and a community of GPCR scientists — all in one place. See what it feels like... Try University for 14 days — $50
- Univeristy Lecturers Details | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
Explore detailed information about our GPCR-focused University Courses. Learn about course content, instructors, and how to advance your expertise in drug discovery. Empower. Connect. Transform. Become part of the Dr. GPCR University Instructor community—where teaching is more than sharing knowledge; it’s about uplifting scientists and advancing GPCR discovery, together. Connecting scientists through knowledge, passion, and purpose. About Dr. GPCR University Dr. GPCR University is a global platform where scientists share their knowledge, inspire discovery, and advance GPCR research together. Our on-demand courses connect experts, students, and industry professionals through authentic, instructor-led learning—built by scientists, for scientists. Each contribution brings new perspectives and tools to advance the field. Instructors are recognized and compensated for their work, ensuring that every shared insight creates impact, visibility, and lasting value across the GPCR community. Course Formats You Can Teach At Dr. GPCR University , every instructor brings a unique voice, style, and rhythm to teaching. Our flexible course formats are designed to fit your time, depth, and teaching goals — whether you’re sharing a focused insight or leading a full exploration of GPCR science. You can also co-lead Full-Length Courses with up to three fellow instructors to share the workload and enrich the learning experience. 🧭 Full-Length Course Structure: 4 × 1-hour sessions Purpose: Deep, multi-session learning experience Best for: Comprehensive topics that require exploration and discussion ⚡ Short Course Structure: 1 session (2–4 hours of content) Purpose: Concise yet thorough coverage of key concepts Best for: Core methods, applied principles, or emerging topics 🔍 Mini Course Structure: 1 short lesson (1–2 hours of content) Purpose: Focused insights into a single theme Best for: Quick takeaways or specialized topics No matter the format, your course helps scientists learn, connect, and keep GPCR science moving forward — one discovery at a time. Instructor Benefits At Dr. GPCR University , we believe those who teach move science forward. As an instructor, you’re not just sharing knowledge — you’re shaping the next generation of GPCR scientists. We make sure your time, expertise, and contribution are recognized and supported every step of the way. 🌟 By teaching with us, you gain: ✔ Premium Membership for you and your team for one year (no credit card required) ✔ A global platform to share your expertise and reach scientists worldwide ✔ Full support with technical setup, editing, and course promotion — so you can focus on teaching We handle logistics so you can focus on what truly matters: delivering meaningful, high-quality education. To ensure lasting impact, each course becomes part of the Dr. GPCR University ecosystem — maintained, updated, and accessible to learners in the long term. Your name and expertise remain at the heart of the course, continuing to inspire scientists long after the sessions end. Together, we’re shaping the future of GPCR education — one course, one scientist, one discovery at a time. What You’ll Need to Provide to Teach a Course Welcome — we’re thrilled to have you join Dr. GPCR University . You bring the expertise; we’ll handle the setup, editing, and promotion. Here’s everything you’ll prepare to bring your course to life: 🧩 Step 1: Email us Start by emailing it us at Hello@DrGPCR.org . We will then have a short call and send you the our Instructor Intake Form — it’s how we build your profile and course page. You’ll be asked for: Instructor info – name, email, affiliation, short bio, photo, and optional social media handles. Course details – title, format (short talk / mini-course / series), audience, main objectives, expected learning outcomes, key topics (≈ 250 words), recommended readings, and any co-instructors. Preferences & agreement – communication style, access to the Premium area, and acknowledgment of the instructor agreement (you’ll receive the full version right after submission). 🧱 Step 2: Plan Your Course Structure Decide how your course will flow — number of modules, duration, and teaching style. (See Course Formats above for ideas.) 🕙 Scheduling note: Courses are typically hosted Thursdays at 10 AM EST — a sweet spot for our global community. We’ll confirm your date together once your proposal is approved. 📝 Step 3: Prepare Your Content Create your teaching materials — slides, visuals, readings, or anything that helps learners grasp your message. Don’t worry — we’ll support you with templates and review tips along the way. 🎥 Step 4: Record a Short Video Chat You’ll have a quick recorded conversation with Dr. Yamina Berchiche about your course — what it covers, why it matters, and what students can expect. It’s relaxed, engaging, and helps introduce you to the community. 💬 Step 5: Join Your Private Course Group Once live, you’ll connect with your students in a private discussion space — perfect for questions, insights, and follow-ups. 💫 Step 6: Teach & Inspire Share your expertise with scientists around the world. Enjoy the experience, the visibility, and the impact — and receive recognition and compensation for your contribution. (See Instructor Benefits for details.) ✨ Your ideas, your voice, and your course will help shape the next chapter of GPCR discovery. Share Your Expertise with the World We’re here to support you from idea to impact. Start your journey as a Dr. GPCR University Instructor and help move GPCR science forward. Email us at Hello@DrGPCR.org Live Masterclass Sessions Previous Instructors Andrew Tobin Marsha Pierce Terry Hébert Bryan Roth Matteo Pavan Terry Kenakin Jakob Höppner Samuel Hoare Yamina Berchiche Kenneth Jacobson Sudarshan Rajagopal Dr. GPCR Courses Reviews 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 GPCR researcher 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 GPCR researcher The content had enough depth to satisfy the hunger for theory while being full of practical knowledge GPCR researcher 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 GPCR researcher Dr. Hoare's extensive and elaborative explanation of the topics at hand was excellent and very digestible. Thoroughly enjoyed learning from him GPCR researcher 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. GPCR researcher 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 GPCR researcher Contact Contact us First name* Last name Email* Write a message Submit
- how-to-build-breakthrough-gpcr-programs | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
Strategic approaches to building GPCR research programs that translate fundamental discoveries into clinical impact and drug development. < Back How to Build Breakthrough GPCR Programs June 4, 2026 10 AM - 11:30 AM EST 🔒 Watch Recordings - Join Premium Access the full library of recorded Masterclass sessions. Get Live Updates Be notified when new live Masterclasses are scheduled. Introduction Building GPCR research programs that achieve both fundamental discovery and clinical translation requires strategic thinking from day one. This session addresses the structural and strategic decisions that determine whether breakthrough science reaches patients: securing funding aligned with translational potential, defining research directions that balance risk and impact, identifying discoveries worth pursuing to clinical endpoints, and navigating the pathway from academic research to drug development and spin-out companies. Andrew Tobin draws from his experience leading translational GPCR programs and co-founding Keltic Pharma to illustrate each strategic element. Intended for GPCR scientists, postdocs, and research leaders planning translational research programs. Instructor Andrew Tobin directs translational GPCR research focused on generating new medicines for brain disorders, severe asthma, and inflammatory gut disease. As co-founder and CEO of Keltic Pharma Therapeutics, he leads a biotechnology company developing a novel drug-discovery platform and working toward a radical cure for malaria. He also serves as Director of the Advanced Research Centre at the University of Glasgow, a £130M collaborative initiative housing over 550 researchers designed to redefine interdisciplinary research. His recent work on muscarinic acetylcholine receptor modulation and structure-guided design of M1 receptor agonists exemplifies the strategic approach to translational GPCR science that defines this Masterclass session. Upcoming Live Sessions
- Beatriz Blanco-Redondo: Adhesion GPCR Discovery in Drosophila | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
Beatriz Blanco-Redondo on characterizing unknown adhesion GPCRs in Drosophila - receptor discovery, nocifensive behavior, and human disease links. << Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Beatriz Blanco-Redondo: Adhesion GPCR Discovery in Drosophila Adhesion GPCRs are among the least characterized receptor families in the human genome - and in Drosophila melanogaster, three of the five known adhesion GPCRs had no documented function, expression pattern, or signaling profile when Beatriz Blanco-Redondo's group began working on them. The receptors were named after condiments - ketchup, mayo, and remulate - not out of irreverence, but because no functional data yet existed to guide any other kind of nomenclature. Blanco-Redondo, group leader at the University of Leipzig, uses CRISPR engineering, epitope tagging, and in vivo behavioral assays to build the first systematic characterization of these receptors from the ground up. Her primary focus is remulate - a neuronal adhesion GPCR with a human ortholog linked to vascular malformations and blood-brain barrier dysfunction in vertebrate models. The fly system makes it tractable: new lines in weeks, knockouts in months, and behavioral readouts that connect receptor loss to nocifensive phenotypes in larvae. For Blanco-Redondo, the pull toward this work is not abstract. Remulate is the receptor she secured funding to study, the one her first PhD student built an entire project around, and the one that still does not have a complete localization map. This conversation covers what it looks like to do receptor biology when you are writing the first chapter - with no antibodies, no prior literature, and no established toolkit to fall back on. About the Guest Beatriz Blanco-Redondo is a group leader in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Leipzig, where she studies adhesion GPCRs in Drosophila melanogaster. Her research focuses on characterizing the localization, signaling, and in vivo function of previously unknown adhesion receptors in the fly nervous system and gut. She trained in protein biochemistry and neuroscience, completing her PhD in Germany and her postdoctoral work at Columbia University, where she worked on ALS models using mouse systems. Since returning to Europe, her research has centered on receptor biology at the intersection of basic discovery and translational relevance. Scientific Themes of the Conversation First-contact receptor characterization - what it means to study a GPCR with no prior functional data Genetic tools for adhesion GPCR research in Drosophila - CRISPR, epitope tagging, and knockout strategies The logic of model organism selection - speed, genetic tractability, and translational value Nocifensive behavior as a readout for neuronal receptor function in larvae Human ortholog connections - from fly adhesion GPCRs to vertebrate vascular and neurological disease Career decisions in academic science - uncertainty, reentry, and the conditions that keep scientists in the lab Key Insights from the Conversation 1. Three adhesion GPCRs in Drosophila were functionally unknown until recently When Blanco-Redondo's group began this work, five adhesion GPCRs were known in the fly - but only two had any functional characterization. The other three had no documented expression pattern, signaling data, or phenotype. The approach was systematic: generate knockouts, introduce epitope tags, observe what breaks, and build the picture from scratch. There was no shortcut available because there was no prior literature to build on. 2. Naming receptors after condiments signals where the field actually stands Ketchup, mayo, and remulate were named in the absence of functional data that would normally guide nomenclature. It is a small detail, but it marks something real about the state of adhesion GPCR biology in insects: these receptors exist in a space where the biology precedes the vocabulary. The playfulness of the naming reflects the honesty of the situation. 3. Remulate connects fly neuroscience to human vascular and neurological pathology In the peripheral nervous system of Drosophila larvae, loss of remulate disrupts nocifensive behavior - the animal's response to aversive stimuli. The human ortholog has been associated with vascular malformations and blood-brain barrier dysfunction in vertebrate models. That thread, from a behavioral assay in a fly larva to a clinical phenotype in mice, is what gives the model system its translational justification. 4. Antibody limitations drive the methodological design Because the antibody landscape for adhesion GPCRs is sparse - and largely underdeveloped for fly receptors - Blanco-Redondo's group relies on CRISPR-introduced epitope tags to track receptor localization in vivo. This is not a workaround. It is a deliberate strategy that delivers spatial resolution that antibody-based approaches cannot offer for these targets at this stage of the field. 5. Drosophila generations close the experimental feedback loop A new fly line is ready in one to two weeks. A knockout can be generated and validated in two to three months. For receptor biology that requires iterative genetic manipulation - knocking out, tagging, rescuing, observing - this compression of experimental time changes which questions are tractable within a single grant period. It is not incidental to the science; it is part of the scientific logic. 6. Reconsidering a career is not the same as leaving science Blanco-Redondo describes a period after returning from New York when she was genuinely uncertain about continuing in the lab. The decision to stay came from a specific opportunity, a specific mentor, and a specific set of questions she hadn't yet answered. It did not resolve into a clean narrative. It was uncertain, and she says so plainly. 7. Negative results need infrastructure, not just tolerance Blanco-Redondo and Yamina discuss the cost of unpublished negative data - particularly for PhD students working within three-year funding windows. The argument is not sentimental. If a failed approach were citable, it would shorten the path for the next researcher attempting the same thing. Some journals are beginning to accept negative data, and both agree this matters structurally. Episode Timeline Timestamps are AI-generated from the transcript and may not reflect the final edited episode precisely. Verify against the published video before use. 00:00 - Sponsor intro: GeneTex and Eurofins DiscoverX 00:29 - Introduction of Beatriz Blanco-Redondo; icebreaker 01:15 - Career path: from Spain to Germany, and the decision to go further 05:57 - Dr. GPCR University mid-roll 06:17 - Life in New York; comparing research cultures across continents 08:30 - How adhesion GPCRs entered the picture, and the shift toward receptor biology 11:49 - Research program in Leipzig: three unknown adhesion GPCRs in Drosophila 13:57 - Naming remulate, ketchup, and mayo; why remulate became the primary focus 15:47 - Lab methods: CRISPR, epitope tagging, colony generation timelines 17:29 - Behavioral and phenotypic readouts; nocifensive responses in larvae 18:48 - The human ortholog of remulate and connections to vascular and neurological disease 22:58 - What first-contact receptor characterization actually looks like 26:02 - Career turning points; uncertainty on returning from the US 33:25 - Advice for scientists working on adhesion GPCRs and difficult model systems 35:26 - The case for publishing negative results; pressure on PhD timelines 40:54 - Upcoming GPCR conferences in Leipzig and Dusseldorf Selected Quotes "It's like there's nothing known at all about this receptor. And then you come into play and piece by piece you try to put the pieces together - it's like a puzzle. And then at the end, you can discover what a receptor that was there in the fly - nobody ever checked what it's doing." "When I moved back from the US, I was not sure I wanted to continue in science. Thanks to Toby, that gave me a position here, and I could stay. Yeah, I'm still here - so it means that I enjoy it." "You come from disease and then you're working on a receptor and you want to study what happens there. But then to see all the possibilities that this offers - that was also great." "Don't give up, because it's your passion, it's your job. We love what we do. And we have a lot of friends who don't like what they are doing. And this is very important." Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>
- Steve McCloskey | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Steve McCloskey About Steve McCloskey Steve McCloskey is an Alumni from the first class of Nanoengineering at the University of California, San Diego. Steve’s work is focused on emerging technologies applied to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). During his time at UC San Diego Steve worked directly with the founding Chair of the Nanoengineering Department, Ken Vecchio helping set the foundation for the Nanoengineering Materials Research Center and developing thermodynamic processing methods for Iron-based Superelastic alloys. After graduating from UCSD he founded Nanome Inc to build Virtual Reality solutions for Scientists and Engineers working at the nanoscale, specifically protein engineering and small molecule drug development. Steve McCloskey on the web Website LinkedIn Twitter ResearchGate Medium Orchid Dr. GPCR Ecosystem Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>
- Dr. John Janetzko | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Dr. John Janetzko About Dr. John Janetzko "I received my Honors BSc in Chemistry from the University of Toronto in 2011, with a focus on synthetic organic and inorganic chemistry. Following this, I pursued graduate studies in Chemistry at Harvard University. At Harvard, I worked in the labs of Drs. Daniel Kahne and Suzanne Walker studying the structure and function of the essential human enzyme, O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT). My Ph.D. work focused on understanding the mechanism of an enigmatic moonlighting function of OGT that had been described only a year earlier. Over the course of my graduate work, I gained experience with structural mass spectrometry and protein crystallography, which shaped my interest in understanding how protein dynamics are linked to function. To further develop these ideas, I joined the lab of Dr. Brian Kobilka at Stanford University at the end of 2017 for postdoctoral work. There, I’ve been working towards understanding the molecular basis of G protein-coupled receptor desensitization and trafficking. My postdoc work has made use of several techniques including various mass spectrometry approaches, single particle cryo-EM and single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy. In July 2024 I will join the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics. Besides research, I am passionate about teaching, science communication and making research more inclusive and welcoming. Outside of the lab, I am an avid bike racer, an occasional cycling coach, and I enjoy spending time with my wife, son, and Bernedoodle." Dr. John Janetzko on the web Stanford University Stanford Medicine Google Scholar Personal Website ResearchGate LinkedIn Twitter Dr. GPCR AI Summary AI-generated content may be inaccurate or misleading. Always check for accuracy. Quick recap In their conversation, Yamina and John discussed crafting social media posts for John's scientific content. They also shared their respective backgrounds and future plans, with John planning to start his own lab at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. John shared his journey into science, from his interest in creative fields to his involvement in the Chemistry Olympiad and subsequent academic pursuits. The conversation also touched on the challenges of applying for academic positions in the US, the importance of adaptability in one's career, and the potential benefits of networking and mentorship. Next steps • Yamina will share ideas on supporting John's new academic position after the recording stops. • John will prioritize getting feedback from people outside his lab to structure his job seminars. Summary Social Media Post Crafting for GPCRs Yamina and John discussed crafting social media posts for John's scientific content. Yamina emphasized that the content should be kept in a PG-13 context and be scientifically related to GPCRs. John expressed his comfort in sharing his stories and agreed to follow Yamina's guidelines. They also discussed their respective backgrounds and John's future plans to start his own lab at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. John shared his journey into science and his initial interest in creative fields. John's Chemistry Olympiad Journey John shared his experiences in high school, where he developed a keen interest in advanced physics and math curriculum. He participated in various academic competitions, including math, physics, and chemistry contests. John explained that he was drawn to chemistry because it allowed him to build things in his mind and design them. He discovered the National Chemistry Olympiad and was selected to attend a provincial training camp at the University of Toronto. This led to his participation in the National Training Program in Quebec City and his selection to represent Canada at the Chemistry Olympiad in Moscow, Russia. John also mentioned his university application process, which was less stressful than the US system. Yamina shared her own experiences with applying to universities in Canada and the US. John's Chemistry Olympiad and GPCR Journey John shared his experience with the Chemistry Olympiad program, highlighting its rigorousness and advanced content that exceeds typical high school curriculums. He also reflected on his journey from his early involvement in a university chemistry lab to his current interest in graduate school, inspired by the innovative approach of using chemistry to understand and build tools for biology. Yamina sought clarification on John's involvement with GPCRs, but the transcript ended before he could respond. John's Scientific Journey and Lab Collaboration John discussed his scientific journey, starting with a project in Suzanne Walker's lab focusing on the essential mammalian protein O-GlcNAc transferase. He then moved to Dan's lab where he met Suzanne and her project. Towards the end of his PhD, John became interested in understanding how proteins operate as large macromolecular machines and decided to work on memory proteins. He chose Brian's lab due to his interest in studying conformational changes. John shared his experience of reaching out to and securing a position in Brian's lab. He detailed his initial email contact, the subsequent Skype meeting, and the in-person visit that led to his acceptance of the position. John also discussed the potential complications that arose when his then-girlfriend, now wife, was applying for residencies. Ultimately, John did join the lab after his girlfriend successfully matched at Stanford. John explained the collaborative culture in Brian's lab, where individuals are encouraged to pursue projects aligned with their interests. He shared his experience working on a project involving receptor kinases and collaborating with other postdocs in the lab to develop assays and improve the biochemistry of certain targets. The conversation emphasized the importance of diverse backgrounds and skill sets in tackling complex challenges and finding solutions. Academia vs. Industry: Career Progression Discussion Yamina and John had a detailed discussion about the prospects of staying in academia versus transitioning to biotech or industry. John shared his thoughts about the great science happening in other sectors and how the decision largely depended on the opportunities presented. Yamina agreed and sought advice from John on career progression in academia. John suggested building milestones and landmarks into a postdoc, such as applying for funding opportunities, and getting diverse feedback to effectively present work. The conversation ended with Yamina asking when a postdoc should start considering their next steps in their career. Academic Position Applications and Transition Preparation John and Yamina discussed the extensive process of applying for academic positions in the US. John suggested starting preparations a year to two years ahead due to the time needed to develop ideas, write proposals, and get feedback. They also highlighted the need for mentorship and networking in finding job opportunities. Yamina questioned whether universities adequately prepare postdocs for the transition to industry or academia, suggesting a detailed manual or guide might be helpful. Both agreed on the importance of adaptability, as unexpected situations like the Covid-19 pandemic can affect the job searching process. John shared his experiences, stating that he submitted approximately 35 to 40 applications and that the interview process is time-consuming. Career Choices and Support in Academia John shared his positive experiences from job interviews and forming friendships with colleagues at various institutions. He also discussed the challenges of choosing between job offers, including considering his wife's career, her family's location in Denver, and other factors like monetary package and colleagues. John emphasized that negotiating salary is often not possible due to strict regulations. Yamina suggested having round tables to discuss these topics. John then reflected on his career, sharing key moments of realization in his scientific work and his upcoming transition out of his lab. The conversation concluded with both John and Yamina expressing a desire to support the academic community in various ways. Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>
- Dr. Neil Grimsey | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Dr. Neil Grimsey About Dr. Neil Grimsey " During my postdoctoral studies at USCD, I discovered a novel GPCR-dependent atypical kinase activation mechanism that drives vascular edema and inflammation. These studies shaped my future goals as an Assistant Professor in the College of Pharmacy at the University of Georgia Athens. My group studies the spatiotemporal dynamics of atypical inflammation and the control of disease progression. We have developed an array of fluorescent biosensors to map kinase activity in living cells and are exploring innovative techniques to delineate the molecular dynamics of atypical p38 and suppress kinase activation. To further define the role of atypical p38 signaling responses we are studying how atypical p38 controls the onset and pathogenesis of acute lung injury, retinal vasculopathies, and infections. " Dr. Neil Grimsey on the web LinkedIn University of Georgia Google Scholar X (Twitter) Dr. GPCR Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>
- Dr. Sudarshan Rajagopal | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Dr. Sudarshan Rajagopal About Dr. Sudarshan Rajagopal Dr. Sudarshan Rajagopal obtained his B.S. in Chemistry from The University of Chicago in 1998. He 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 Ph.D. 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 beta-arrestin-biased receptors. After completing his training in clinical cardiology, he started as an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine. The main focus of his lab’s research is on the mechanisms underlying biased agonism at chemokine receptors and how that contributes to inflammation. The chemokine system is relatively unique in having multiple receptors and multiple ligands that display considerable promiscuity for one another. 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. Dr. Sudarshan Rajagopal on the web LinkedIn Website Google Scholar LinkedIn Dr. GPCR Ecosystem Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>
- This is a Title 02 | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
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- Paul Insel: Unbiased Discovery and the GPCRs We've Been Missing | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
Dr. Paul Insel explains how unbiased GPCR expression profiling uncovered overlooked receptors in cancer — and why the field may need to rethink which GPCRs matter most. << Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Paul Insel: Unbiased Discovery and the GPCRs We've Been Missing The GPCR field has produced thousands of studies on a small number of well-characterized receptors. But what if the ones that matter most in human disease are the ones we haven't prioritized? Dr. Paul Insel's lab at UC San Diego has pursued this question using unbiased expression profiling — GPCR arrays, RNA-seq, and single-cell analysis — to catalog which receptors are actually highly expressed across human tissues and disease states. In pancreatic cancer, proton-sensing GPCRs such as GPR68 are dramatically upregulated in cancer-associated fibroblasts, creating feedback loops between the tumor microenvironment and stroma that may drive disease progression. Across 45 cancer types, numerous GPCRs show elevated expression without corresponding mutations — a pattern the mutation-centric oncology paradigm has largely missed. For Dr. Insel, this shift began with a single dataset — a postdoc's unbiased expression profile showing the most abundant receptor in a normal human cell type had almost no literature behind it. Listeners will gain perspective on how asking broader questions about receptor biology can reshape drug discovery priorities. About the Guest Dr. Paul Insel is Distinguished Professor of Pharmacology and Medicine at the University of California, San Diego. His research spans four decades of GPCR signaling, from cyclic AMP and adrenergic receptor biology to purinergic receptors and, most recently, proton-sensing GPCRs in the tumor microenvironment. His lab combines bioinformatic analysis of GPCR expression across human cancers with wet-lab validation in animal models, particularly in pancreatic cancer. Dr. Insel also directs UCSD's MD-PhD Medical Scientist Training Program, a role he has held for over 30 years. Scientific Themes of the Conversation Unbiased receptor discovery — Why hypothesis-free expression profiling reveals GPCRs that decades of targeted research missed GPCRs in the tumor microenvironment — Proton-sensing receptors, cancer-associated fibroblasts, and the role of low pH in tumor signaling Drug repurposing through receptor mapping — Identifying already-approved drugs that target overexpressed GPCRs in cancer Reductionism vs. native cell biology — The limits of studying purified components and the case for understanding receptors in intact cellular environments Biased signaling in practice — Why the promise of biased agonism is more complicated than the field hoped Breadth as a scientific strategy — How reading across disciplines and resisting premature narrowing drives discovery Key Insights from the Conversation 1. The biggest discoveries came from asking what was being overlooked Dr. Insel's late-career pivot began with a deceptively simple question: are we studying the right GPCRs? When his lab ran unbiased expression profiles on normal human cells, the most highly expressed receptor — PAR1 — had almost no functional literature behind it. Nature had placed it at the top; science had barely looked. 2. Proton-sensing GPCRs create a feedback loop in pancreatic cancer GPR68 is dramatically upregulated in cancer-associated fibroblasts — not the cancer cells themselves. The tumor signals fibroblasts to raise GPR68 expression, and the low pH of the tumor microenvironment then activates that receptor, which signals back to promote cancer survival. It is a positive feedback loop that exploits the acidic environment tumors naturally create. 3. GPCRs are overexpressed across dozens of cancers — without mutations A large bioinformatic study from Dr. Insel's lab examined GPCR expression across 45 human cancer types and found widespread over expression without corresponding increases in copy number or mutation frequency. This challenges the mutation-centric framework that dominates oncology and suggests GPCRs may contribute to pathophysiology through expression changes alone. 4. The field's reductionism may be hiding how receptors actually work Dr. Insel has long argued that purifying receptors, depleting GTP, and stabilizing conformations through mutations teaches us about components — not about how cells actually use them. He compares the biochemist's approach to smashing a television with a wrecking ball and trying to reassemble the pieces to understand how it works. 5. Biased signaling is real but harder to exploit than expected GPR68 couples to both Gq and Gs, and the functional effects in cancer-associated fibroblasts appear to run primarily through Gs. In principle, biased antagonists could selectively block the disease-relevant pathway. But Dr. Insel is cautious — signaling bias operates on a conformational continuum, and clinical translation has not yet matched the elegance of the concept. 6. A career redirected by a dinner and an empty schedule In 1975, Dr. Insel was the only unmarried scientist at a dinner with Al Gilman. The group needed someone to visit Gilman's lab to learn radioligand binding — and he was the one with nothing else to do. That accidental assignment launched a career in GPCR signaling that has now spanned over four decades. 7. The "unknown unknowns" should change how we fund and train scientists Dr. Insel believes the training system pushes young researchers to narrow too early, at the cost of the cross-disciplinary thinking that leads to real discoveries. His own career has been shaped by reading broadly and importing ideas from other fields — a strategy he sees as increasingly essential as GPCR biology intersects with cancer, immunology, and systems biology. Episode Timeline 00:00 Introduction and context 01:08 Dr. Insel's path from medicine to molecular pharmacology 05:15 The origin story — dinner with Al Gilman and the start of a GPCR career 09:06 Evolving receptor loves: from adrenergic to purinergic to proton-sensing GPCRs 13:19 Proton-sensing GPCRs: what they are and why they matter 16:18 GPR68 and the feedback loop in pancreatic cancer 19:46 Challenges of targeting GPCRs in oncology — funding, skepticism, and the mutation paradigm 25:05 AI, in silico screening, and the limits of computational drug discovery without structures 31:33 Biased signaling: promise, complexity, and caution 35:00 The case against reductionism — why native cell biology matters 38:05 Advice for young scientists: think broadly, resist narrowing too fast 42:14 Aha moments — the data that changed the direction of a lab 47:30 The future of the GPCR superfamily and the work still to be done Selected Quotes "I said, which receptors are the highest expressed? And the answer was PAR1, the thrombin receptor. So I did what anyone would do — I looked up what's known about it. And the answer was nothing." "We don't know what we don't know. And I think that's been a real driver for how I've approached the last several years of my scientific effort." "If you ask a biochemist how does a television work, he would probably take a wrecking ball to it and then try to piece all the little parts back together." "Nature decided, for reasons that none of us will ever probably know for sure, that GPCRs should be the largest receptor membrane family. And there's still a lot to be learned." 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 Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>
- Vaithish Velazhahan | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Vaithish Velazhahan About Vaithish Velazhahan Vaithish obtained dual bachelor’s degrees with honors in Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology from Kansas State University, USA. His undergraduate thesis work on studying the biochemical mechanisms of flavonoids in cancer using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) led to a Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship. He then received a prestigious Gates Cambridge Scholarship to study for a Ph.D. at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology and the University of Cambridge, where he is currently a final year Ph.D. candidate. His Ph.D. work has been focused on understanding the structure and activation of Class D fungal GPCRs. He has developed novel tools and methodologies to study fungal GPCRs which allowed the determination of the first structures of the prototypical fungal GPCR Ste2. This work has led to two first-authored manuscripts published in the journal Nature. Vaithish has been recognized with the MRC LMB's Max Perutz Prize for outstanding Ph.D. work and has been elected a Research Fellow at Gonville and Caius College, which is one of the most prestigious positions at the University of Cambridge. Vaithish Velazhahan on the web Twitter GatesCambridge PubMed Dr. GPCR Ecosystem Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>
- Dr. Mark Connor | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Dr. Mark Connor About Dr. Mark Connor Undergraduate BSc with Honours in Pharmacology from University of Sydney (1987, snake neurotoxins), Ph.D. from Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington (1992, mentor Charley Chavkin , sigma receptors). Postdoc with Graeme Henderson (Bristol, opioids and Ca signaling) and Mac Christie (Sydney, opioids in neurons, novel spider toxins). Grant-funded independent research positions from 2001 at University of Sydney (opioids and sensory neurons), Vollum Institute Portland (visiting scientist with Ed McCleskey, sensory neuron properties); Pain Management Research Institute (more opioids, cannabinoids and T-type Ca channels) and Brain and Mind Research Institute (Sydney). 2009, appointed Professor of Pharmacology at Macquarie University. Focus on study of drugs and toxins on GPCR (opioid, cannabinoid receptor) and ion channel (K, Ca, TRP channel) function; mostly electrophysiology and fluorescence-based reporters, but can grind and bind. Currently pursuing molecular pharmacology of phytocannabinoids and novel synthetic cannabinoids, with a focus on efficacy and novel targets. Interested in orthosteric and allosteric interactions, and still looking for some bias ... anywhere ... these days human only. Dr. Mark Connor on the web Researchers Twitter Google Scholar Dr. GPCR Ecosystem Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>
- A Brief History of allosteric modulation with Dr. Arthur Christopoulos | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) A Brief History of allosteric modulation with Dr. Arthur Christopoulos About Dr. Arthur Christopoulos " Arthur Christopoulos is the Professor of Analytical Pharmacology and the Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Australia. His research focuses on novel paradigms of drug action at GPCRs, particularly allosteric modulation and biased agonism, and incorporates computational and mathematical modelling, structural and chemical biology, molecular and cellular pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, and preclinical models of behaviour and disease. His work has been applied to studies encompassing neurological and psychiatric disorders, cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, chronic pain and addiction. He has received substantial, long-term support from international and national competitive, charitable and commercial sources, as well as being academic co-founder of three GPCR-focussed biotechnology companies. Professor Christopoulos has over 360 publications, including in leading international journals such as Nature,Science and Cell, and has delivered over 180 invited presentations. He has served on the Editorial Board of 8 international journals and was a Councillor of the International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (IUPHAR). He has also been the recipient of multiple awards, including the John J. Abel Award and the Goodman and Gilman Award from the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics; the Rand Medal from the Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists; the British Pharmacological Society’s Gaddum Memorial Award; the IUPHAR Sir James Black Analytical Pharmacology Lecturer; the GSK Award for Research Excellence and a Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) from the University of Athens. Since 2014, Clarivate Analytics have annually named him a Highly Cited Researcher in ‘Pharmacology & Toxicology’, and in 2021 also named him a Highly Cited Researcher in the additional category of ‘Biology & Biochemistry’. In 2017, he was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences, in 2018 as a Fellow of the British Pharmacological Society, and in 2021 he was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science for his seminal contributions to drug discovery. In 2023, he was elected a Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia. " Dr. Arthur Christopoulos on the web Monash University Wikipedia Google Scholar LinkedIn Dr. GPCR AI Summary Quick recap Yamina and Arthur discussed Arthur's career journey in pharmacology, including his mentors and significant discoveries related to allosteric receptors. They explored the evolution of the field, allosteric modulation concepts, and potential therapeutic approaches involving autoantibodies and allosteric modulators. Additionally, they covered the importance of target product profiles, reproducibility in experiments, and collaborative efforts such as a potential book on GPCR history. Next steps - Arthur will continue to collaborate with other researchers and drug companies to advance the understanding and application of allosteric modulation. - Arthur will work on designing ligands for specific receptors, aiming to create biased agonists for therapeutic use. Summary Arthur's Career Journey and Allosteric Receptors Yamina and Arthur discussed Arthur's career journey and his contributions to the field of pharmacology, with a focus on allosteric receptors and their modulation. Arthur highlighted his mentors' influence, such as Fred Mitchelson and Nigel Burch, and significant discoveries like the concept of synthetic allosteric modulators by Bruns and Fergus. He also discussed the evolution of the field, from biochemical radioligand binding assays to cell-based functional assays, and the influence of Terry Kenakin and chemical programs on his later work. The conversation ended with Arthur's ongoing research and his development of a new operational model. Yamina emphasized the importance of understanding the historical context of the field and the significance of Arthur's contributions. Allosteric Modulation and Hybrid Molecules Arthur and Yamina discussed the development of an operational model for allosteric modulation, emphasizing the balance between mechanism and empiricism. Arthur shared his career journey, including his collaboration with Patrick Sexton and Jim Burch, and the discovery of hybrid molecules with functional selectivity. They also discussed the re-emergence of interest in certain programs, the importance of connections across receptor families, and the potential of hybrid molecules. Arthur's strategy of consulting drug companies and targeting their posters at conferences was also shared with Yamina. Pharmaceutical Industry Experiences and GPCR History Arthur shared his experiences in the pharmaceutical industry, highlighting the differences between big pharma and biotech. They discussed strategies for analyzing large compound screening data, emphasizing robust assays and addressing issues like shifting curves. Arthur recounted a 2004 visit to a pharma company using replicates in assays. Yamina proposed compiling a book on GPCR history through collaborative interviews, considering a symposium to align terminology. For their upcoming project, Yamina favored a conversational approach, while Arthur suggested a kickoff meeting, with Yamina planning chapters and interviews. Bias Mitigation in Symposium Ideas Arthur and Yamina discussed the concept of bias in the context of the history of the Symposium idea. They reviewed significant early papers related to the topic, including work by Brian Roth, Terry Kenakin, Bill Clarke, and Kelly Burke. They also discussed their own research on chemokine receptors and the importance of understanding the natural environment in drug discovery. Lastly, they touched on a project with Nicola Smith that challenged their previous theories. Allosteric Modulation and Drug Discovery Yamina and Arthur delved into the complexities of protein-protein interactions, specifically allosteric modulation. They discussed various modulatory elements, such as RAMPs, G proteins, and GRKs, with Arthur recounting his initial collaboration with Patrick Sexton on RAMPs and amylin receptors. They also delved into the different signaling of Class B receptors and the potential for modulation at various levels. The discussion underscored the potential of allosteric modulators as drugs, despite challenges in the past due to a lack of understanding about the principles involved. They highlighted the importance of fine-tuning the approach to suit different diseases and interdisciplinary collaboration. The discussion also emphasized the need for a disease-specific approach, considering the clinical context and dialing in the desired effect, as well as the significance of rational drug design principles. Allosteric Modulation and Autoantibodies Discussion Arthur and Yamina discussed the potential of autoantibodies and allosteric modulation in the context of disease and therapeutic approaches. Arthur explained the concept of endogenous allosteric ligands and the possibility of using a neutral allosteric ligand as a preferred therapeutic approach, emphasizing the importance of looking for low level cooperativity factors. They also discussed the potential of certain drugs, like flumazenil, as 'nails' or compounds that could be developed into medicines. The conversation highlighted the importance of establishing the correct disease context, setting up appropriate assays, and understanding the models for their work. They both agreed on the necessity of understanding the target product for an allosteric modulator and working backwards from there. TPP, Allosteric Modulators, and Reproducibility Yamina and Arthur discussed the concept of a target product profile (TPP) in drug development, with Arthur explaining its application in other contexts as well. Yamina appreciated Arthur's expertise and indicated she would be creating an outline for an episode on allosteric modulators. They highlighted the importance of reproducibility in scientific experiments, sharing personal experiences and anecdotes. They also discussed their upcoming trips to the GPCR Colloquium in California and current research in their fields. Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>
- Dr. Roger Sunahara | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Dr. Roger Sunahara About Dr. Roger Sunahara Professor Sunahara received his graduate training with Dr. Philip Seeman in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Toronto. He later joined the laboratory of eminent biochemical pharmacologist, Dr. Alfred G. Gilman, at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School as a post-doctoral fellow. His training has provided a strong foundation and appreciation for the applications of pharmacology, biochemistry and structural biology to delineate mechanisms of action. Professor Sunahara started his independent research career in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Michigan Medical School, where he climbed the academic ladder. In 2015 Professor Sunahara moved his laboratory to the Department of Pharmacology at the University of California in San Diego. His main area of research focuses on the structural and pharmacological bases for hormone-mediated activation of G proteins by G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). The Sunahara lab utilizes biochemical, biophysical and pharmacological methodologies to study GPCR-G protein interactions. These approaches were invaluable to resolve the crystal structure of the beta2-adrenergic receptor (beta2AR)-G protein complex, team effort with long time collaborator Brian Kobilka . The structure was first snapshot of the agonist- and G protein-bound GPCR, providing valuable models for agonist-mediated activation of G proteins. We continue to utilize these data to better understand the basis for receptor-G protein specificity and agonist efficacy. Our mission is to understand the mechanism and structural bases for ligand binding and efficacy to help optimize the design and engineering of more efficacious therapeutics. This is an important perspective in the pursuit of receptor subtype-specific ligands, a major aspect to achieve safer, on-target therapeutics. One example of our recent work surrounds a structure-based effort to develop ligands that specifically target the beta2AR above all other adrenergic receptor isoforms. Our goal is to develop safer beta2AR-selective ligands for the treatment of asthma and acute rescue therapy for anaphylaxis. We also study non-canonical sites, those outside of the native hormone, or orthosteric, binding sites. We have identified several GPCR ligands that allosterically modulate orthosteric ligand binding and target sites that are often located in regions that display higher sequence variability among receptor subtypes. Again, our intention is to target specific receptor subtypes. The structural work on the GPCR-G protein complexes have also revealed some unprecedented conformational changes in G protein structure. Some of these changes are associated with G protein activation while the functional consequences of other structural changes remain elusive. More recently we have have been heavily engaged in studies to address the functional role of these dramatic conformational changes and the relationship to disease. Some of these studies resolved a major question regarding the signaling differences in G protein splice forms, specifically the short and long forms of the stimulatory G protein, Galpha-s(s) and Galpha-s(l), respectively. We demonstrated that Galpha-s(l), but not Galpha-s(s), regulates extracellularly regulated kinases (ERK), and that this long isoform is tied to a devastating blood disorder, myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). We speculate that these aberrations in Galpha-s(l), specifically, may be involved in other pathologies such as cancer. The Sunahara lab has also been developing protein-based therapeutics using structure-guided design and validation. A notable therapeutic is an enzyme that hydrolyzes cocaine. Through structural and computational approaches the Sunahara lab and collaborators developed a thermostable form of the enzyme that has recently progressed through Phase II clinical trials as an antidote for cocaine overdose. The laboratory continues to engineer the enzyme to optimize its potential as a treatment for cocaine abuse, a debilitating disease that would require long-term and sustained therapeutic actions. Dr. Roger Sunahara on the web UCSD Profile Google Scholar ResearchGate LinkedIn Dr. GPCR Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>
- Retreat | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
Get ready to connect, collaborate, and innovate at the Dr. GPCR Retreat — an immersive event uniting scientists, biotech leaders, and innovators in GPCR research. Dr. GPCR Retreat - Coming Soon - Please tell us your thoughts about scientific gatherings by filling out this short survey
- Dr. Stephen Ferguson | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Dr. Stephen Ferguson About Dr. Stephen Ferguson Dr. Stephen Ferguson is a Professor in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Ottawa. He did B.Sc. in biology at McGill University and received his Ph.D. under the mentorship of Dr. Brian Collier in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics at McGill University (1994). He did his postdoctoral training with Dr. Marc G. Caron at Duke University (1994-1997), where he and his colleagues investigated the role of G protein-coupled receptor kinases and beta-arrestin in regulating G protein-coupled receptor endocytosis, trafficking, and signaling. He has held four Canada Research Chairs since 2001 and was previously a Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada MacDonald Scholar (1998-2003) and Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario Career Investigator (2003-2016). He was a recipient of Canada's Top 40 under 40 award in 2004 and received Queen Elizabeth II, Diamond Jubilee Medal, in 2012. He has also received both Junior (2001) and Senior (2005) investigator awards from the Pharmacological Society of Canada. Most recently, in 2021, he was elected as a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Science (FCAHS). His research career has focused on the investigation of the regulation of G protein-coupled receptors signaling mechanisms in health and disease. He currently holds multiple research grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) for his research investigating the role of metabotropic glutamate receptor signaling in Huntington’s and Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Stephen Ferguson on the web Carlton University Canada Research Chairs Twitter ResearchGate LinkedIn Dr. GPCR Ecosystem Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>
- Terms and Conditions | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
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- Dr. Nicholas Holliday | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Dr. Nicholas Holliday About Dr. Nicholas Holliday After an undergraduate degree at the University of Cambridge, Nick carried out his Ph.D. at King’s College London, supported by an AJ Clark Ph.D. studentship from the British Pharmacological Society. It was these studies and subsequent postdoctoral work that led to Nick's interest in peptide messengers regulating appetite, metabolism, and the immune system, and the molecular mechanisms underlying the signaling and regulation of their GPCRs. Nick joined the University of Nottingham in 2006, where he is now Associate Professor, establishing a lab focused on G protein-coupled receptor kinetics, signaling, and trafficking and on using novel imaging techniques, such as fluorescent ligands and complementation methods, to investigate the underlying mechanisms. Since 2019, Nick has combined his university role with the leadership of Excellerate Bioscience as Chief Scientific Officer, a contract research organization specializing in molecular and cellular pharmacology. Excellerate is involved in several pre-clinical drug discovery projects for both GPCR and non-GPCR targets, using its expertise in pharmacology to deliver high-quality target validation, lead optimization, and mechanism of action studies for our clients. Dr. Nicholas Holliday on the web LinkedIn ORCID University of Nottingham Twitter Excellerate Bio Dr. GPCR Ecosystem Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>
- Martin Audet | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Martin Audet About Dr. Martin Audet Structural biologist, pharmacologist, and a professor of pharmacology at Université de Sherbrooke. He is the head of the AudetLab located at the Institute of Pharmacology of Sherbrooke and is an emerging leader in the structural biology of G Protein-Coupled Receptors and passive transporters. Strong education with a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in biochemistry under the supervision of Michel Bouvier at Université de Montréal, followed by a Postdoctoral Fellow at Scripps Research in San Diego and the University of Southern California in Los Angeles as a member of Raymond Stevens group. Dr. Martin Audet on the web LinkedIn Twitter Sherbrooke University Google Scholar Dr. GPCR Ecosystem Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>
- Dr. Evi Kostenis | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Dr. Evi Kostenis About Dr. Evi Kostenis "Pharmacist by training - PhD in Pharmacology - Postdoc at the NIH with Dr. Juergen Wess - Postdoc and Group leader in Aventis, now Sanofi, Frankfurt, Germany - Head of in vitro Pharmacology at 7TM Pharma in Denmark; Full professor, department chair and director of the institute for pharmaceutical Biology at the University of Bonn. Research interests: Signaling mechanisms involving GPCRs and heterotrimeric G proteins" Dr. Evi Kostenis on the web University of Bonn ResearchGate LinkedIn Dr. GPCR Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>
- Dr. Kaavya Krishna Kumar | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Dr. Kaavya Krishna Kumar About Dr. Kaavya Krishna Kumar "I am a postdoc in Prof. Brian Kobilka's lab at Stanford University, USA. I work on understanding the activation mechanism of different Families of GPCRs." Dr. Kaavya Krishna Kumar on the web Journal of Biology Chemistry Stanford University Google Scholar LinkedIn Dr. GPCR Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>
- Dr. Juan José Fung | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Dr. Juan José Fung About Dr. Juan José Fung Dr. Juan José Fung is a Principal Scientist at GPCR Therapeutics, Inc , a drug discovery company focused on targeting GPCR heteromers in cancer, headquartered in Seoul, Korea, with an R&D facility in the SF Bay Area. Dr. Fung received his Ph.D. from the Stanford University School of Medicine under the mentorship of Dr. Brian Kobilka , studying the dimerization of GPCRs. Dr. Fung continued his Postdoctoral training in Dr. Kobilka’s lab contributing to the elucidation of high-resolution structures of various GPCRs. Dr. Fung has spent significant time in the industry studying membrane proteins, antibodies, and HTS methods for drug discovery. His current work is mainly focused on screening and assay development to bridge the gap between in vitro and in vivo GPCR pharmacology. Dr. Juan José Fung on the web LinkedIn GPCR Therapeutics Dr. GPCR Ecosystem Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>
- Dr. Khaled Abdelrahman, Victoria Rasmussen and Madelyn Moore | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
<< Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Dr. Khaled Abdelrahman, Victoria Rasmussen and Madelyn Moore About Dr. 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. " Dr. Khaled Abdelrahman on the web Twitter PubMed Google Scholar Dr. GPCR About Victoria Rasmussen "Victoria Rasmussen is a graduate fellow in Dr. Thomas Sakmar’s laboratory at The Rockefeller University, where she study’s the signaling and degradation of G protein-coupled receptors. She completed her undergraduate education at Providence College, receiving a B.S. in Biology and a B.A. in psychology. During her time at Providence College, she received the Walsh Grant Fellowship to develop novel methods of synthesizing 2 -imidazoline scaffolds to be used as proteasome modulators in the laboratory of Travis Bethel. Victoria started her Ph.D. at the Tri-Institutional Ph.D. program in Chemical Biology, where she joined the lab of Thomas Sakmar at The Rockefeller University. She is currently working to understand the signaling and degradation of GPCRs in disease states to help test the feasibility of using protein-targeted degradation as a therapeutic strategy. " Victoria Rasmussen on the web Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical Biology Rockefeller University LinkedIn Dr. GPCR About Madelyn Moore "Madelyn (Maddi) earned her B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Minnesota-Duluth in 2020. In her time as an undergraduate, Maddi was a researcher in Dr. Amanda Klein's lab where she helped to investigate the role of various ATP-sensitive potassium channels in pain and opioid tolerance. From there, she went on to be a research technologist in Dr. Richard Vile's lab at Mayo Clinic where she aided the evaluation of tumor-specific oncolytic viruses. Maddi is currently a second year Ph.D. student in the Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics (MPaT) Graduate Program at the University of Minnesota. Advised by Dr. Lauren Slosky, she is working to understand the mechanism by which a new class of biased allosteric modulators for the neurotensin receptor 1 (NTSR1) act to attenuate the behavioral effects of methamphetamine." Madelyn Moore on the web MPaT PubMed LinkedIn Dr. GPCR Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>
- Lauren Solano: Mapping Careers Beyond the Bench | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
Career coach Lauren Solano on the skills PhDs undersell, the careers they don't know exist, and the introspection exercise that maps functions to scientific training. << Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Lauren Solano: Mapping Careers Beyond the Bench This episode steps outside the usual GPCR research conversation to examine the career architecture around it. Lauren Solano, CEO and co-founder of Propel Careers, has spent more than a decade coaching PhDs and postdocs and recruiting for biotech and life sciences companies — a vantage point that makes her uncommonly clear about the gap between how scientists describe themselves and how the market reads them. The discussion explores how to translate scientific training into career options that are often invisible to bench scientists, ranging from medical science liaison and clinical research roles to business development, scientific communications, venture capital, and consulting. Solano unpacks the specific transferable skills PhDs consistently undersell — collaboration, leadership, proactive ownership, communicating across technical audiences — and introduces concrete tools for self-assessment and exploration, including the "loved it, loathed it" exercise and a permission-granted approach to informational interviewing. For Solano, the stakes are personal: she didn't know the career she now has was even possible in 2008, which is precisely why she maps the option space for the scientists she coaches today. About the Guest Lauren Solano is CEO and co-founder of Propel Careers, a Boston-based firm that coaches scientists and recruits for biotech and life sciences companies. She trained as a scientist and spent her first decade in preclinical and early clinical drug discovery before pursuing an MBA in 2007 and co-founding Propel in 2009. Her practice centers on helping PhDs and postdocs translate technical training into career paths they often don't realize are open to them. Each year she delivers roughly a hundred talks at universities and research institutions on resumes, negotiation, informational interviewing, and the mechanics of biotech hiring. Scientific Themes of the Conversation The gap between scientific training and the career vocabulary scientists need Transferable skills in the PhD toolkit — and why they go unlisted Informational interviewing as a research method for career planning The limits and real signals of "company culture" in biotech COVID-era shifts in scientist hiring and career reflection Title-function mismatches in life sciences job descriptions Key Insights from the Conversation 1. The "loved it, loathed it" exercise as a career compass Over any given week, note which tasks you enjoyed and which you dreaded. Separate that list from what you're good at — the overlap reveals which career functions, not titles, are worth exploring next. 2. Function over title Job titles in biotech are often creative and inconsistent — a medical science liaison might be called a "clinical information specialist." Scientists navigating a career change are better served mapping careers by tasks and functions first, and treating titles as secondary metadata. 3. PhDs consistently undersell their transferable skills After thousands of conversations with scientists, Solano has found that collaboration, leadership, proactive ownership, and translating technical content across audiences are not universal traits. PhDs tend to have them in unusual concentration — and tend to leave them off their resumes because they assume everyone else has them too. 4. Informational interviews are already permitted Graduate students and postdocs often feel uneasy reaching out to people in other careers, as if the exploration hasn't been earned. Solano reframes this directly: because training ends, career exploration is required, and most people will give fifteen minutes if asked well. 5. "Company culture" is meaningless until you can point at behaviors Every company claims a strong culture. What matters is whether office layout, mentorship practices, and daily behaviors support the claim. The sharper question is what the company does , not what it says. 6. Safety at work is a concrete culture signal Would an employee feel comfortable telling a manager their child is sick, or would they invent another reason? Whether people feel safe at work is a harder measure of culture than any mission statement. 7. Post-pandemic career decisions are about alignment, not just advancement Solano observes that many scientists are using the moment to ask whether their current work matches who they are — not to chase the next rung, but to reset toward impact. Episode Timeline 00:00 Intro and Dr. GPCR Summit preview 01:30 Meet Lauren Solano and Propel Careers 03:11 The path from bench science to career coaching 07:56 Loved it, loathed it — the introspection exercise 10:29 Career options PhDs rarely consider 11:49 Transferable skills scientists undervalue 14:16 The informational interview — permission granted 23:57 The COVID shift in biotech hiring 26:14 Assessing real company culture 31:34 Master resumes and the title trap Timestamps were generated using AI for readability. Selected Quotes "If you had asked me in 2008 if I would be a recruiter slash career coach, I didn't even know that was possible because it hadn't even occurred to me that that is something that would have been a fit." "None of you should be ever worried or afraid or feel awkward reaching out to people for informational interviews because you are supposed to think about your future and learn about different things." "I can tell you in speaking with thousands of PhDs, not everyone is collaborative. Not everyone likes to do novel areas of research. Not everyone is amazing at communicating both to technical audiences and non-technical audiences. So don't undersell your experiences." "Life is frail, right? So if we're not making a difference, if we're not impacting something, why are we doing it?" About this episode In this special Dr. GPCR podcast episode, we sat down to chat with Lauren Celano to talk about career options for Ph.D.’s. Working in a lab allows scientists to gain amazing hard and soft skills, which opens the doors to several great careers that many have not even considered, yet. Lauren has a science background and is passionate about helping talented scientists find their dream position. She is also a speaker, connector, recruiter, and coach. Lauren Celano on the web LinkedIn Propel Careers Email: Lauren@propelcareers.com Dr. GPCR Ecosystem Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>
- Tore Bengtsson: Rethinking β₂-Adrenergic Signaling in Metabolic Disease | Dr. GPCR Ecosystem
A conversation with Dr. Tore Bengtsson on β₂-adrenergic receptor signaling, muscle metabolism, and how GPCR pharmacology can lead to new therapies for metabolic disease. << Back to podcast list Strategic Partner(s) Tore Bengtsson: Rethinking β₂-Adrenergic Signaling in Metabolic Disease Scientific Abstract This conversation with Dr. Tore Bengtsson , professor of physiology at Stockholm University, explores how β-adrenergic receptor signaling can be reimagined to address metabolic disease, muscle physiology, and energy balance. Dr. Bengtsson’s research spans sympathetic nervous system signaling, brown adipose tissue biology, and skeletal muscle metabolism—fields deeply connected to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic health. A central theme of the discussion is the pharmacology of the β₂-adrenergic receptor , a GPCR traditionally associated with bronchodilation but increasingly recognized for its broader physiological roles. Dr. Bengtsson describes how classical β₂ agonists stimulate muscle growth and metabolic changes but are limited by receptor desensitization. His work focuses on developing novel β₂-adrenergic ligands that selectively engage signaling pathways without triggering rapid desensitization, enabling sustained metabolic effects. The conversation also examines how GPCR signaling is far more complex than a single downstream pathway. Instead, receptors integrate multiple signaling outputs, temporal dynamics, and interactions with other pathways to shape physiological outcomes. Dr. Bengtsson discusses how understanding this signaling complexity opens opportunities to design drugs that promote beneficial metabolic responses such as muscle growth and increased energy expenditure. Listeners gain insight into how basic GPCR pharmacology can translate into therapeutic strategies targeting metabolism, aging, and metabolic disease. About the Guest Dr. Tore Bengtsson is a professor of physiology at Stockholm University whose research focuses on sympathetic nervous system signaling, metabolic regulation, and skeletal muscle physiology. His work investigates how β-adrenergic receptors regulate energy metabolism, muscle growth, and glucose homeostasis. Dr. Bengtsson began his research career studying brown adipose tissue under the mentorship of Dr. Barbara Cannon and Dr. Jan Nedergaard, pioneers in thermogenesis research. His laboratory now explores how β₂-adrenergic receptor signaling can be manipulated to influence metabolism and muscle physiology. He is also an entrepreneur and founder of biotechnology companies translating GPCR pharmacology into therapeutic development. Scientific Themes of the Conversation β-adrenergic receptor pharmacology and signaling bias Sympathetic nervous system control of metabolism Brown adipose tissue and thermogenesis Skeletal muscle metabolism and glucose homeostasis GPCR signaling complexity and pathway selectivity Translating receptor pharmacology into metabolic therapeutics Key Insights from the Conversation A Childhood Physiological Experiment Sparked a Scientific Career Dr. Bengtsson recounts a formative experience when his father pushed him into icy water as a child to demonstrate survival in cold conditions. The intense physiological response—an adrenaline surge and rapid adaptation to cold—sparked his lifelong fascination with sympathetic nervous system signaling and stress physiology. Stress Is Not Always Negative A recurring theme in the discussion is that physiological stress is often misunderstood. Short bursts of stress—whether exercise, cold exposure, or sympathetic activation—can trigger adaptive responses that improve metabolic function and resilience. Muscle Is Central to Metabolic Health While brown fat has received considerable attention, Dr. Bengtsson emphasizes the dominant role of skeletal muscle in metabolic regulation. Approximately 75% of glucose disposal occurs in muscle, making muscle physiology central to metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes. Classical β₂ Agonists Have a Fundamental Limitation Traditional β₂-adrenergic agonists can stimulate muscle growth and fat loss but lose effectiveness over time due to receptor desensitization. This pharmacological limitation prevents their long-term use for metabolic therapies. GPCRs Do Not Produce a Single Signal Dr. Bengtsson highlights that GPCR signaling is inherently multidimensional. Activation of a receptor can generate multiple signaling pathways, and different ligands can bias signaling toward specific outcomes. Understanding this complexity is essential for modern drug discovery. Absence of a Signal Can Be a Discovery One of Dr. Bengtsson’s key scientific breakthroughs came from an unexpected experimental result: glucose uptake without detectable cAMP signaling. Rather than dismissing the result as an error, this observation led to the realization that β₂ signaling could be separated into distinct pathways. Scientific Discovery Requires Intellectual Independence Dr. Bengtsson advises young scientists to shift from passively following instructions to actively questioning experiments and interpretations. True scientific thinking begins when researchers take intellectual ownership of the questions they pursue. Episode Timeline 00:00 Introduction and research focus of Dr. Bengtsson 03:00 A childhood experiment that sparked interest in physiology 07:00 Cold exposure, sympathetic signaling, and brown fat research 10:00 β₂-adrenergic receptors and muscle physiology 15:00 Exercise, metabolism, and pharmacological modulation of muscle growth 17:30 Early research on brown adipose tissue and thermogenesis 22:30 Translating academic discoveries into biotech companies 25:00 GPCR signaling complexity and biased signaling 36:00 A key experimental observation leading to a new drug concept 38:30 Advice for young scientists and intellectual independence Selected Quotes “You will not know what happens before you do the experiment.” “People think a receptor produces one signal. In reality, a receptor produces many signals.” “Sometimes the most important discovery is when a signal is missing.” “You have to move from being told what to do to thinking for yourself.” Full Transcript (Formatted for readability — full transcript preserved) Yamina Berchiche: Hello, everyone. This is Yamina from Dr. GPCR. And today I'm very excited to have with me Dr. Tore Bengtsson. Dr. Bengtsson: Tore Bengtsson. And you got it right. Yamina Berchiche: I'm happy to have you on. For those who don't know, we've been chasing each other and postponing this conversation several times. I'm very excited that we're finally able to do it today. Dr. Bengtsson: Thank you. I'm very happy to be here. Yamina Berchiche: Let's start at the beginning. Could you introduce yourself and tell us about your research? Dr. Bengtsson: I'm a professor in physiology at Stockholm University. I've been working with pre-diabetes, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and the mechanisms behind these diseases for about 25 years. I'm especially interested in β-adrenergic receptors because I believe they regulate far more physiological processes than people typically assume. I'm also an entrepreneur. I've started several companies. One is Sigrid Therapeutics, which focuses on digestion and metabolic regulation. Another company, Atrogi, is based on our research on β₂-adrenergic receptors and the development of new drugs. We’ve already completed Phase I clinical trials and are preparing for Phase II. Yamina Berchiche: If you were not a scientist, what would you be doing? Dr. Bengtsson: I think I might have been a historian or a writer. I like storytelling. I'm very interested in Viking runes and ancient rune stones in Scandinavia. I can actually read runic inscriptions, and I find it fascinating to interpret what these stones tell us about history. Yamina Berchiche: How did you become a scientist? Dr. Bengtsson: I'll tell you a story I don't share very often. When I was about ten years old, I lived on an island in the Stockholm archipelago. My father and I went ice skating frequently during the winter. One summer he asked me: “What happens if you fall through the ice?” I said I didn't know. He replied: “We should test it.” Months later, during winter, he cut a hole in the ice. I asked what he was doing. He said he was catching a big fish. Suddenly he pushed me into the icy water. I went under, looked up at the hole in the ice, and quickly swam out. I remember the intense adrenaline surge. My body reacted instantly. I wasn't even cold at first. Walking home later I started to freeze, but in that moment I experienced a powerful physiological response. That event sparked my lifelong fascination with sympathetic nervous system activation. Yamina Berchiche: So your father pushed you into science quite literally. Dr. Bengtsson: Yes — and into physiology. Yamina Berchiche: And that connects directly to your later work on brown fat and sympathetic signaling. Dr. Bengtsson: Exactly. I've spent many years studying brown adipose tissue and how sympathetic activation stimulates thermogenesis. Later I became increasingly interested in skeletal muscle metabolism and how β₂-adrenergic signaling affects muscle growth and glucose metabolism. Yamina Berchiche: Could you talk about how β₂-adrenergic signaling relates to muscle growth? Dr. Bengtsson: For many years it's been known that β₂ agonists can stimulate muscle growth and reduce fat. This has been observed in athletes and even in livestock production. But traditional β₂ agonists lose effectiveness over time because the receptor becomes desensitized. The body adapts, requiring higher doses. That makes them unsuitable as long-term therapeutic drugs. So about 15–20 years ago I began working on the idea that we need a new type of β₂ agonist—one that activates the receptor differently and avoids desensitization. That’s what we’ve now achieved with new compounds that stimulate the receptor in a novel way. Yamina Berchiche: You mentioned something very important earlier: GPCRs don’t produce a single signal. Dr. Bengtsson: Yes. Traditionally people thought receptor activation leads to one downstream pathway. But GPCRs activate multiple signaling pathways simultaneously. Different ligands can bias signaling toward different pathways. That means we can design compounds that favor beneficial physiological responses while avoiding unwanted effects. That is exactly what makes GPCR pharmacology so fascinating and powerful. Yamina Berchiche: You mentioned an important experimental moment that led to your drug concept. Dr. Bengtsson: Yes. A doctoral student ran an experiment measuring glucose uptake. The compound produced strong glucose uptake but almost no cAMP signaling. She thought the experiment had failed. But I realized this might be something important: glucose uptake without cAMP. And that turned out to be correct. That observation opened the door to separating signaling pathways and designing new β₂ ligands. Yamina Berchiche: What advice would you give to young scientists? Dr. Bengtsson: Young scientists often follow instructions without asking why. Real science begins when you take control of the question. You must move from being told what to do to thinking independently. You have to be in the driver's seat of your own thinking. Yamina Berchiche: That’s a powerful message. Dr. Bengtsson: And another lesson I learned from my wife: success often depends not just on knowledge but on understanding how other people think. Science is not just experiments. It's communication, persuasion, and collaboration. Yamina Berchiche: Dr. Bengtsson, thank you very much for the conversation. Dr. Bengtsson: Thank you. This was great. Yamina Berchiche: Bye. Dr. Bengtsson: Bye-bye. Upcoming Live Expert Sessions ➚ 🔒Explore the Full Masterclass ➚ Unlock the Full Dr. GPCR Learning Ecosystem ✔ Full Masterclass library ✔ Terry's Pharmacology Corner ✔ Advanced GPCR courses ✔ Scientific discussions → Become Premium Enjoying the Dr. GPCR Podcast? Leave a Review. Leave a quick review to help more scientists find the show—and help us keep improving every episode. It takes <60 seconds and makes a big difference. ★ Review on Apple Podcasts ★ Rate on Spotify ✉️ Send feedback to the team Thanks for listening to this podcast episode Follow us on your favorite Podcast Player << Previous Podcast Episode Next Podcast Episode >>





















