Welcome to the Smrcka Lab

Our laboratory studies mechanisms for cellular communication via G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). The GPCR superfamily includes receptors for adrenaline, serotonin, acetylcholine taste molecules, smell, and even light! They are the largest family of cell surface receptors and 30-40% of marketed drugs target GPCRs. Our laboratory uses a wide variety of methods to study the involvement of these receptors in physiology and disease. We provide a dynamic environment where trainees can gain experience in a wide repertoire of methods applied to important biological problems. Learn more »

THE LATEST:

February 2022: Nathalie Momplaisir and Joseph Loomis win ASPET travel awards. Congratulations!

January 2022: Naincy’s paper describing an exciting new approach to identifying new GPCR signaling pathways was just published. https://www.science.org/stoken/author-tokens/ST-282/full

2021: Hoa Phan’s paper on the role of PLCbeta signaling in Uveal Melanoma is published in Science Signaling. Great work Hoa! https://www.science.org/stoken/author-tokens/ST-283/full

December 2021: Congratulations to Joseph Loomis who received a Predoctoral Fellowship from the American Heart Association!

November 2021: Naincy Chandan, Ph.D. starts her new position at Genentech! Good Luck Naincy!

October 2021: Naincy Chandan defends her thesis! Congratulations Dr. Chandan!!

April 2021: Congratulations to Nathalie who passed her qualifying exam in Pharmacology!

March 2021: Tyler is awarded an American Heart Association Pre-doctoral fellowship. Congratulations!!

March 2021: Congratulations to Joe who passed his qualifying exam in Chemical Biology.

March 2021: Congratulations to Nathalie who was selected to receive a 2021 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.

July 2020: Congratulations Wenhui for receiving the Pharmacology Charles Edmunds Fellowship!

June 2020: Gissell passed her qualifying exam. Congratulations!!

April 2020: Isaac’s paper was published in Structure.