Olaf Andersen

Olaf Andersen is a Professor at Weill Cornell Medicine, specializing in the biophysical properties of ion channels and membrane protein regulation. He joined the faculty in 1973 and became Professor of Physiology and Biophysics in 1982. His research focuses on bilayer-mediated regulation of membrane proteins by bioactive molecules, with applications to drug development and cellular physiology.

• Education: MD from University of Copenhagen (1971)
• Leadership: Directed the Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program (1996-2021)

Research Highlights: Developed electrophysiological methods to study ion permeation kinetics and structural equivalences in ion channels. Utilizes gramicidin channels as model systems to quantify drug-induced changes in lipid bilayer properties, linking bilayer modification to cytotoxicity risks.

Scientific Contributions: Established principles for predicting drug cytotoxicity based on membrane interactions, advanced understanding of amphipathic drug effects on cellular function, and developed theoretical frameworks for bilayer energetics.

• Awards:
  • Member of The Royal Danish Academy of Sciences (1996)
  • K. S. Cole Medal (1999)
  • Biophysical Society Distinguished Service Award (2011)

Program Affiliations: Associated with the Physiology, Biophysics & Systems Biology PhD Program and the Biochemistry & Structural Biology program at Weill Cornell Graduate School.