Anthony Koleske

Anthony Koleske, PhD, is the Ensign Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry and Neuroscience at Yale University and Deputy Dean for Research at the Yale School of Medicine. His research focuses on biochemical mechanisms regulating neuronal dendrite and synapse development, with key contributions to understanding Abl family kinases' roles in cytoskeletal dynamics. He holds joint appointments in multiple departments, including Neuroscience and Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry.

Education: PhD from MIT (1993), B.S. from University of Wisconsin (1988). His postdoctoral work with David Baltimore at MIT explored Abl kinases' functions.

Research Interests: Synaptic maturation (e.g., laminin α5's role), actin stabilization via cortactin/Abl2 interactions, neurodevelopmental disorders linked to Trio gene mutations, and NMDA receptor dysfunction in Noonan Syndrome. His lab uses advanced microscopy, CRISPR, and biochemical assays to study these processes.

Awards: Jane Coffin Childs Fellowship, NARSAD Awards, American Heart Association grants, and leadership roles in NIH and AHA review panels. He has mentored over 70 trainees and led Yale's BBS PhD program (2014–2019).

Lab Focus: Koleske Lab investigates cytoskeletal proteins' roles in neural development and disease. Key projects include Trio mutations in schizophrenia/autism, Abl2's microtubule regulation, and laminin α5's synaptic stabilization. Collaborations span Yale's Neuroscience, Biophysics, and Cancer programs.