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Scripps Research Joint Appointments

Translational Research Institute

Research Focus

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent the largest and most versatile family of cell surface receptors. The ubiquitous cell surface distribution and involvement of these proteins in virtually all biological processes accounts for the fact that the largest percentage of currently marketed therapeutic drugs target GPCRs. Work in our laboratory is focused on the development of biochemical and cell-based functional assays to monitor GPCR activity using both high throughput and high content technologies.  In collaboration with other disciplines such as chemistry, DMPK and in vivo pharmacology we aim to identify and develop small molecule modulators of GPCRs for the therapeutic treatment of metabolic and CNS disorders.

Education

B.S., University of N. London, UK , 1989
Ph.D., University of Dundee, UK , 1993

Professional Experience

1993 - 1994 Postdoctoral Fellow, Glasgow University, UK
1995 - 2000 Senior Postdoctoral Fellow, Duke University
2000 - 2005 Pharmaceutical Industry

Awards & Professional Activities

Member; Society for Biomolecular Sciences

Selected References

Williams C. cAMP detection methods in HTS: selecting the best from the rest. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2004 Feb;3(2):125-35. Review.

Berglund MM, Schober DA, Statnick MA, McDonald PH, Gehlert DR. The use of bioluminescence resonance energy transfer 2 to study neuropeptide Y receptor agonist-induced beta-arrestin 2 interaction. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2003 Jul;306(1):147-56.

McDonald PH, Lefkowitz RJ. Beta-Arrestins: new roles in regulating heptahelical receptors' functions. Cell Signal. 2001 Oct;13(10):683-9. Review.

McDonald PH, Chow CW, Miller WE, Laporte SA, Field ME, Lin FT, Davis RJ, Lefkowitz RJ. Beta-arrestin 2: a receptor-regulated MAPK scaffold for the activation of JNK3. Science. 2000 Nov 24;290(5496):1574-7.