Felix E. Schweizer

Felix E. Schweizer is a Professor in the Department of Neurobiology at the David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA. He serves as Director of the Neurosciences Interdepartmental Program and Vice-Chair for Education in the Department of Neurobiology, with affiliations to the Neuroscience GPB Home Area, Vestibular Neuroscience Laboratory, Brain Research Institute, Cell & Developmental Biology GPB Home Area, and Molecular, Cellular & Integrative Physiology GPB Home Area. His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of neuronal communication and synaptic regulation.

• PhD in Biochemistry, University of Basel (1989)
• Postdoctoral fellowships: Stanford University (1990–1994), Duke University (1994–1998)

Dr. Schweizer’s laboratory investigates how protein ubiquitination modulates neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission, utilizing multiplexed SILAC with Dr. James Wohlschlegel to identify dynamically regulated synaptic proteins. Collaborations with Dr. David Krantz (Drosophila models) and Dr. Larry Hoffman (vestibular system studies) explore disease mechanisms and gravity-induced synaptic changes through electrophysiology, serial EM, and EM tomography.

The lab employs cultured neurons, brain slices, and in vivo models to analyze neurotransmitter release dynamics. Current projects include defining the synaptic transfer function in the vestibular system and characterizing structural-physiological correlations under altered gravitational loads.

His affiliations span multiple interdisciplinary programs and research institutes at UCLA, reflecting his integrative approach to neurobiology research.