Patrick Griffin

Patrick Griffin is Professor and former Chair of the Department of Molecular Therapeutics at The Scripps Research Institute, with over 25 years of experience in protein structure research and drug discovery. His career spans both industry and academia, with significant contributions to structural proteomics and nuclear receptor pharmacology.

Dr. Griffin earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Virginia under Professor Donald F. Hunt, where he contributed to groundbreaking work in protein sequencing using tandem mass spectrometry. He completed postdoctoral training with Professor Leroy Hood at Caltech before holding leadership positions at Merck Research Laboratories and ExSAR Corporation.

His research program focuses on protein structure-function relationships, particularly mutational- and ligand-mediated alterations in protein structural plasticity. Using mutagenesis, HDX-MS, crystallography, proteomics and genomics, his laboratory investigates nuclear receptors (PPARs, RORs, REV-ERBs, LRH1, VDR), enzymes, and GPCRs. The lab has made significant contributions to understanding ligand activation mechanisms and developing functionally selective modulators for diseases including cancer, autoimmune disorders, obesity, and diabetes.

Analysis of Dr. Griffin's recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on nuclear receptor structural biology, particularly PPAR family members, with increasing integration of structural proteomics techniques to study therapeutic targets. His work shows a clear trajectory from basic structural understanding to therapeutic applications, with multiple discoveries translated into clinical candidates.

Dr. Griffin serves as PI or Co-PI on multiple NIH-funded projects including a U54 MLPCN Roadmap initiative, RC4 programs, and U19 NCDDDG grants. He maintains a 13-year collaboration with Eli Lilly and has co-founded biotech companies including Ember and Myosin Therapeutics based on his research findings.

His laboratory has developed advanced biophysical methods, particularly in HDX and XL-MS platforms for analyzing protein plasticity. The research group operates at the intersection of structural biology, chemical biology, and translational medicine, with strong industry partnerships facilitating the translation of basic discoveries into therapeutic candidates.