Joseph Moskal

Joseph Moskal is a Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Neurological Surgery at Northwestern University's McCormick School of Engineering. He serves as Director of the Falk Center for Molecular Therapeutics, focusing on pharmacogenomics, drug discovery, and brain tumor therapeutics. His research spans neuroplasticity, NMDA receptor modulation, and translational medicine. Moskal's work addresses mood disorders, neurological diseases, and cancer through molecular and cellular mechanisms. Key projects include developing novel therapeutics for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and autism, alongside peptide-based treatments for neuropsychiatric conditions.

His research interests also include emotional state detection, synaptic plasticity, and drug efficacy optimization. Notable contributions involve NMDA receptor modulators like zelquistinel and rapastinel, which exhibit rapid antidepressant effects. Moskal's studies often utilize rodent models and primate systems to validate translational biomarkers and assess cognitive outcomes.