Drug Discovery and Receptors

Pharmacology is the science of drugs; receptors are the macromolecules (generally proteins) on which drugs and endogenous signaling molecules, like hormones, neurotransmitters, and inflammatory mediators, act. They represent the largest single family of drug targets so understanding receptors and how they work is a major focus of pharmacology and toxicology.

At MSU we identify specific receptors and signaling mechanisms involved in disease processes such as hypertension and heart disease, inflammation and fibrosis, cancer, epilepsy, stroke, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson. With this knowledge and our new Assay Development/Drug Repurposing Core, we aim to discover novel therapeutic agents for important unmet medical needs that target receptors and intracellular signaling mechanisms.