Michaela Jansen

Michaela Jansen is a Professor and Associate Dean for Medical Education and Accreditation at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, affiliated with the Department of Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics and Center for Membrane Protein Research. Her research focuses on structure-function studies of neurotransmitter receptors (nAChR, 5HT3, GABA) and proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT), with clinical relevance to neurological disorders and cancer chemotherapy.

Research interests include:

• Neurotransmitter receptor pharmacology
• Membrane protein structure and dynamics
• Drug target discovery
• Chaperone protein interactions
• Electrophysiology and spectroscopy methods
• X-ray crystallography

Article trends demonstrate expertise in:

• Ligand-gated ion channels
• Nanodisc technology applications
• Cys-loop receptor family
• Antidepressant binding mechanisms
• Protein assembly determinants
• Structural biology of transporters

Scientific recognition includes a Nature News and Views feature. She has trained numerous researchers, with alumni placed at institutions including Columbia University, Einstein College, Vanderbilt University, and pharmaceutical companies like Moderna and Sanofi.

Research funding from NINDS, CH Foundation, and South Plains Foundation supports work in the Jansen Lab, which has produced 34+ publications and developed novel methods for membrane protein analysis.