John McCorvy

Dr. John McCorvy is an Associate Professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin with joint appointments in the Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy and the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. He is an active member of both the Neuroscience Research Center and Cancer Center, where his research bridges structural biology, medicinal chemistry, and neuropharmacology.

Dr. McCorvy's research focuses on serotonin receptor pharmacology, particularly the 5-HT₂ family, with emphasis on understanding the molecular mechanisms of psychedelic drug action. His laboratory investigates G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling, biased agonism, and structure-based drug design to develop novel therapeutics for mental health disorders. His work has led to significant advances in understanding how psychedelic compounds interact with serotonin receptors at the atomic level and how this knowledge can be leveraged to create next-generation therapeutics with improved safety profiles.

With over 85 publications spanning high-impact journals including Nature, Science, and Cell, Dr. McCorvy has established himself as a leader in GPCR pharmacology and psychedelic science. His recent work has focused on identifying specific signaling pathways associated with the therapeutic potential of psychedelics while minimizing hallucinogenic effects.

• Outstanding Graduate School Educator, Medical College of Wisconsin (2020-2022)
• Neuroscience Research Center Excellence Award (2019)
• Postdoctoral Scholar Award, UNC Pharmacology Department (2016)
• Best Poster Prize, Great Lakes GPCR Retreat (2015)

As a principal investigator, Dr. McCorvy currently leads multiple NIH-funded projects totaling over $5 million in direct funding, including R01 grants from NIMH, NIGMS, and NIDA. He mentors several PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, with a strong track record of student success including national presentations and peer-reviewed publications. His lab maintains active collaborations with both academic institutions and industry partners working in the psychedelic therapeutics space.

Dr. McCorvy's laboratory employs a multidisciplinary approach combining structural biology, computational modeling, medicinal chemistry, and pharmacological characterization to advance our understanding of serotonin receptor function and develop novel therapeutic strategies for mental health disorders.