Daniel Minor

Daniel Minor, PhD, is a Professor at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), affiliated with the School of Medicine and the Cardiovascular Research Institute. His research focuses on the structural and functional mechanisms of ion channels and membrane proteins, particularly voltage-gated calcium and potassium channels, with implications for pharmacology and disease.

His research interests span Structural Biology, Ion Channels, Membrane Protein Biochemistry, Neuropharmacology, and Molecular Biophysics. Using techniques such as cryo-EM and X-ray crystallography, his lab investigates how ion channels are assembled, regulated, and modulated by drugs and toxins. His work has major implications for understanding channelopathies, developing chemogenetic tools, and designing novel therapeutics.

The recent publications reveal a strong trend in elucidating high-resolution structures of ion channels, their interactions with chaperones, toxins, and drugs (e.g., gabapentin), and the development of covalent activators for K2P channels. His research bridges fundamental biophysics with translational applications in pain, neurology, and cardiovascular disease.

• Scientific Awards: Not specified in the provided text.

Daniel Minor leads an active research lab, mentoring students and collaborators. His lab has received support for structural studies of ion channels, including K2P and CaV channels. He has contributed to major methodological advances in membrane protein expression, purification, and structural analysis. His team collaborates widely across disciplines, including chemistry, physiology, and computational biology.

The Minor Lab is a hub for innovation in membrane protein research, focusing on structural mechanisms of electrical signaling, toxin resistance, and pharmacological modulation. The lab combines biochemical, biophysical, and structural approaches to dissect the molecular foundations of ion channel function.