Paul Schimmel

Paul Schimmel is a Professor in the Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology at Scripps Research. His research focuses on the roles of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases beyond translation, including their secreted functions in immunity, metabolism, and disease. He has contributed significantly to understanding how these enzymes regulate cellular processes like inflammation, RNA splicing, and homeostasis. Schimmel earned his Ph.D. from MIT and A.B. from Ohio Wesleyan University, with a career spanning over five decades. He holds joint appointments in Chemistry and has been recognized with numerous awards, including membership in the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Inventors. His lab, the Scripps Laboratories for tRNA Synthetase Research, investigates novel therapeutic applications of these enzymes.

• Affiliations: Scripps Research, Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology
• Education: Ph.D. (Biophysical Chemistry), MIT (1966); A.B. (Pre-Medicine), Ohio Wesleyan University (1962)

Research Interests

Schimmel’s work decodes the genetic code’s evolution and explores how tRNA synthetases function outside translation. Key areas include:

• Secreted synthetases as cytokines in inflammation and immunity
• Nuclear roles of synthetases in RNA processing and transcription
• Development of therapeutics targeting non-translational functions
• Mechanisms of mitochondrial tRNA recognition and aminoacylation

Publications

Recent work highlights synthetases’ roles in metabolic regulation, RNA splicing, and platelet production. Studies include structural insights into mitochondrial tRNA recognition and translational fidelity mechanisms.

Awards

• National Academy of Sciences (1990)
• Institute of Medicine (2005)
• Frank H. Westheimer Medal (2012)
• ARCS Scientist of the Year (2020)

Lab & Collaborations

His lab collaborates on projects involving structural biology, biochemistry, and translational medicine. Current members include researchers like Taisuke Kanaji and Haissi Cui, focusing on synthetase-based therapeutics and molecular mechanisms of disease.