Randy D. Blakely

Randy D. Blakely, Ph.D., is the Executive Director of the FAU Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute and a Professor of Biomedical Science at Florida Atlantic University's Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine. He holds the David J. S. Nicholson Distinguished Professorship in Neuroscience and directs the university's Neuroscience Graduate Program. A molecular neuroscientist, Blakely is renowned for his work on neurotransmitter transporters—key targets for drugs like antidepressants and cocaine—and their genetic links to disorders such as autism, ADHD, and neurodegenerative diseases.

His research integrates genetics, biochemistry, and neurophysiology to study transporter regulation across species (C. elegans, mice, humans). Key interests include serotonin/dopamine transporter mutations, neurodevelopmental disorders, and circuit-level neural signaling. Blakely employs transgenic models, high-throughput screening, and in vivo imaging to dissect molecular pathways and develop therapeutics.

Publications emphasize transporter structure-function, genetic variants, and neuropsychiatric phenotypes, with recent work exploring dopamine/opioid interactions, glial metabolism, and COVID-19 neuroinflammation. His lab also investigates early-life stress impacts and sex-specific neural responses.

Awards & Honors:

• Julius Axelrod Award (ASPET, 2008)
• Fellow, National Academy of Inventors (2017)
• Neuroscience Educator Award (Society for Neuroscience, 2022)
• Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (2009)

Grants & Leadership: Blakely leads multiple NIH-funded projects (e.g., NIMH R01 MH094527, NIA R21 AG074846) and directs the $6M+ ASCEND program. He chairs the NIMH Board of Scientific Counselors and serves on advisory boards for the Brain Foundation and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Lab & Training: The Blakely Lab uses C. elegans and mouse models to study transporter biology and neural circuits. He has trained 30+ graduate students and 40+ postdocs, emphasizing genetic screens, optical imaging, and behavioral assays. Current projects target Alzheimer’s risk factors (MBLAC1) and serotonin/dopamine dysregulation.