David L. Paul

David L. Paul is a Professor of Neurobiology at Harvard Medical School, focusing on the molecular structure and function of gap junctions and connexin proteins. His research elucidates their roles in cellular communication, particularly in neurons and Schwann cells, with implications for neurodegenerative disorders like X-linked Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMTX) disease. He discovered mutations in the Cx32 connexin gene linked to CMTX, a peripheral neuropathy affecting nerve conduction.

His work explores how Cx32 facilitates nutrient and signaling molecule transport within Schwann cells, proposing intra-cellular gap junctions as critical for myelination. Current studies involve knock-in mouse models to investigate CMTX pathogenesis and connexin function in neural support mechanisms. Despite no listed awards or advisees in the provided text, his contributions bridge molecular mechanisms and clinical neuropathology.