David L. Farrens

Dr. David L. Farrens is a Professor at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), where he leads a laboratory focused on biochemical and biophysical studies of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). His research primarily investigates rhodopsin and the cannabinoid receptor CB1, examining their interactions with signaling partners such as G-proteins, arrestins, and kinases. Dr. Farrens earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Nebraska in 1991 and completed postdoctoral work at MIT and UCLA.

• B.S., 1985 - University of Nebraska
• Ph.D., 1991 - University of Nebraska
• NRSA NIH Fellowship, 1993-1995

His research spans photobiology, spectroscopy, molecular pharmacology, and GPCR mechanisms. Key methodologies include fluorescence spectroscopy, cryo-EM, and proteoliposome analysis to study receptor activation and signal attenuation. Recent work explores detergent-free purification of functional GPCRs and allostery in CB1 receptor inactivation.

Dr. Farrens' publications highlight structural dynamics of GPCRs, with notable contributions to rhodopsin mutants, cannabinoid receptor complexes, and mitochondrial NAD+ sources. His awards include multiple Faculty Excellence in Teaching and Education honors at OHSU, NIH grants, and travel awards from the American Society for Photobiology and Royal Society of Chemistry.

He has served on NIH study sections (BDPE, MIST, BVS) and as an ad hoc reviewer, reflecting his expertise in posterior eye biology and integrative signal transduction. Collaborations span institutions like MIT, UCLA, and RIKEN, with a focus on advancing GPCR research through interdisciplinary techniques.