About
Dr. Ganesh Thakur is a Full Professor and Chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Northeastern University. He holds a PhD in Organic Chemistry from the Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, and has held roles from Senior Scientist to tenured Professor since 2004. His research focuses on cannabinoid receptor modulation, nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, and AI-driven drug discovery.
Education:
- PhD, Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai, India
- MS, Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mumbai
- BS, Chemistry, University of Mumbai
Research Interests:
Dr. Thakur pioneers small molecule therapeutics targeting cannabinoid receptors (CB1/CB2), nicotinic receptors (α4β2, α7, α9), and GIRK channels. His work addresses epilepsy, glaucoma, neurodegeneration, neuropathic pain, and substance use disorders. He has developed novel allosteric modulators with preclinical efficacy in pain, addiction, and neuroprotection.
Grants:
Active grants include NIH/NIGMS (Targeting α7 nAChR), Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CB1 PAMs for infantile spasms), and NIH/NHLBI (GIRK channel regulation).
Awards:
Recipient of 2023 Distinguished Mentor Award, Hind Rattan Award, and multiple RISE Awards for student mentorship. Notable honors include the 2018 Best Patent Award (US Patent #9,926,275 B2) and NIDA Early Career Award (2009).
Labs/Teams:
Leads the Cannabinoid and Nicotinic Receptor Research Group at Northeastern's Center for Drug Discovery, focusing on translational drug development for CNS disorders.
