Synapses are the primary points of communication between cells of the nervous system.
Our laboratory is interested in synaptic receptors and ion channels. We study the molecular events that constitute agonist binding, receptor activation and ion permeation. Our research combines the approaches of pharmacology, enzymology, structural and molecular biology, electrophysiology, and mathematical modeling. Our primary goal is to understand the molecular operation of these membrane proteins in the context of their physiological roles. We also study the biophysical basis of ion channel diseases.