Robert Levenson

Dr. Robert Levenson is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics at Penn State College of Medicine. He co-directs the MD/PhD Medical Scientist Training Program and is a senior member of the University of Pennsylvania Center for Translational Research on the Clinical Neurobiology of Drug Addiction.

• Research Focus: Molecular regulation of GPCR signaling, schizophrenia, and substance abuse, with key work on μ-opioid receptors, dopamine receptor dynamics, and Wntless protein interactions.
• Awards:
  • Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (2017)
  • Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching (2023)
• Recent Publications:
  • Investigated alternative splicing of Wntless and its impact on protein interactions (2019)
  • Studied D2 receptor and Wntless expression in heroin addiction models (2015)
  • Explored C-terminal modifications in dopamine receptor function (2015)
• Grants: Led NIH-funded projects on medical scientist training, heroin addiction treatments, and μ-opioid receptor interactions.