Pascal Kaeser

Pascal Kaeser is a Professor of Neurobiology at Harvard Medical School, leading the Kaeser Lab in the Department of Neurobiology. His research focuses on molecular mechanisms of neurotransmitter and neuromodulator release sites, with emphasis on synaptic plasticity and dopamine release.

Dr. Kaeser's research centers on:

• Architecture and plasticity of neurotransmitter release sites
• Molecular composition and function of active zones
• Mechanisms of dopamine and neuromodulator release
• Implications for neuro-psychiatric disorders

His lab employs molecular and biochemical methods, conditional gene targeting in mice, super-resolution and electron microscopy, and electrophysiological and optogenetic analyses to dissect synaptic mechanisms.

Analysis of recent publications (2023-2025) reveals dominant themes in dopamine release dynamics, active zone protein organization, and voltage-gated calcium channel targeting. Key trends include the role of specific proteins in synaptic vesicle priming, molecular basis of neuromodulation, and links between synaptic gene sets and disorders like schizophrenia.

The Kaeser Lab operates from the Armenise Building, Room 310, at Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA.