White University of Washington W logo above the words University of Washington Pharmacology on a light gray background.
W logo
A traffic light with red, yellow, and green lights is in front of a microscopic image of cells with blue nuclei and red-orange networks.

INTRACELLULAR
SIGNALING

Cells respond to their environment through the relay of chemical and electrical signals. Members of our department use molecular, genetic, and pharmacological tools to dissect these intracellular and organellar communication networks.

BROWSE OUR RESEARCH
DRUG DISCOVERY &
PRECISION MEDICINE GENE ARCHITECTURE
& ACTION INTRACELLULAR
SIGNALING MOLECULAR BASIS
OF DISEASE NEUROBIOLOGY
& BEHAVIOR PROTEIN
STRUCTURE
A man wearing glasses, a white shirt, and a patterned tie smiles in front of a dark background displaying a colorful, abstract network or data visualization with yellow and blue points.

Gene Expression Changes by Morphine Withdrawal

Dr. John Neumaier

Numerous gene expression changes occur rapidly and dramatically after withdrawal from chronic Morphine use.

READ MORE about Gene Expression Changes by Morphine Withdrawal
A smiling woman with glasses is shown in front of a colorful microscopic image featuring bright green, orange, and yellow structures on a black background.

The Membrane is the Message

Dr. Sandra Bajjalieh

The Bajjalieh Lab studies how the rare phospholipids regulate cellular functions such as exocytosis.

READ MORE about The Membrane is the Message
A person with wavy brown hair smiles in the foreground, with a colorful neural network image featuring bright green, pink, and blue lines and shapes in the background.

GPCRS in Neural Circuits & Affective Behavior

Dr. Michael Bruchas

We develop pharmacological, optogenetic, genetic, imaging, and behavioral, approaches to study GPCR signaling in the nervous system.

READ MORE about GPCRS in Neural Circuits & Affective Behavior
A woman stands in front of a background showing fluorescently colored cell structures and a large illustrated pink mitochondrion.

Signaling to the Powerhouse

Dr. Yasemin Sancak

The Sancak Lab studies how cells communicate with their mitochondria using calcium ion transport.

READ MORE about Signaling to the Powerhouse
A woman with long dark hair and a pink top smiles in front of a colorful, abstract background resembling glowing neural networks on a dark backdrop.

Mapping Novel Kinase Substrates

Dr. Smita Yadav

The Yadav lab uses chemical genetics to discover the direct substrates of kinases in neurological disorders.

READ MORE about Mapping Novel Kinase Substrates