Hugh Rosen

Hugh Rosen, MD, PhD, is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California since 2002. His research focuses on the chemical biology of immune regulation by signaling lipids, particularly sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptors, and the development of receptor therapeutics. He pioneered the discovery of ozanimod (ZEPOSIA®), an S1P receptor modulator approved for multiple sclerosis and ulcerative colitis, and co-developed compounds in clinical trials for depression and anxiety disorders.

Education: MB.ChB from the University of Cape Town and D.Phil. from the University of Oxford. Awards include the Wellcome Senior Research Fellowship (1990), Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 Scholarship (1983), and membership in prestigious societies such as the Henry Kunkel Society (2011).

Research highlights include defining S1P’s role in immune trafficking, cytokine storm mitigation in viral infections, and structural biology of lipid-binding GPCRs. His work bridges basic science and translational medicine, with patents on KOR antagonists and S1P receptor modulators.

• Key Contributions: Ozanimod (MS/UC), Navacaprant (MDD), NMRA-511 (anxiety)
• Editorial Roles: Molecular Pharmacology (2006–2014), J. Biol. Chem. (2007–2012)