Henry A Lester

Dr. Henry A. Lester is a faculty researcher at the California Institute of Technology, leading a multidisciplinary research group focused on the biophysical mechanisms of ligand-gated ion channels, particularly the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. His work intersects biophysics, neuroscience, and genetics to explore nicotine addiction and neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's.

The lab investigates the "inside-out" neuropharmacology of nicotine, studying how nicotine binding to receptors triggers long-term cellular changes that perpetuate addiction. This research also explores delayed therapeutic effects of psychiatric drugs and potential neuroprotective roles of nicotine in Parkinson's disease.

• Techniques used: single-molecule imaging, mouse genetics, and computational modeling
• Key collaborations: interdisciplinary teams in biophysics and neuroscience