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 ยป
THE LATEST:
January 2023: Our collaborative work with Alina Morales and the Arun Anantharam lab showing the role of the Epac-PLCe signaling module in receptor stimulated exocytosis is published in the Journal of General Physiology.
December 2022: Doug Atchison’s work in collaboration with the Bitzer and Ganesh Labs demonstrating PLCe deficiency increases susceptibility to aortic aneurisms is published in the American Journal of Physiology Heart and Circulatory Physiology.
December 2022: Gissell Sanchez’s work, in collaboration with the Ingram and Jutkiewicz labs, on crosstalk between opioid receptors and Gq signaling is published in Molecular Pharmacology. Congratulations Gisselle on being a “Highlighted Trainee Author”.
August 2022: Joseph Loomis was awarded an NIH F31 predoctoral fellowship. Congratulations!
July 2022: Wei’s review on sub cellular beta-adrenergic receptor is published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology.
June 2022: Hoa’s paper about a novel splice variant of Gas is published in JBC.
April 2022: Nathalie wins the ASPET Dolores Shockley Best Poster Award.
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.
