Richard Morimoto

Richard Morimoto is the Bill and Gayle Cook Professor of Biology and Director of the Rice Institute for Biomedical Research at Northwestern University, where he leads research in proteostasis and cellular stress responses. He earned his Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the University of Chicago in 1978 and conducted postdoctoral research at Harvard University. His work has pioneered understanding of protein homeostasis in aging and neurodegenerative diseases.

Research Focus

Dr. Morimoto's laboratory investigates:

• Regulation of the heat shock response and molecular chaperones
• Proteostasis collapse in aging using C. elegans and human neuronal models
• Mechanisms of protein misfolding in Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's diseases
• Transcellular chaperone signaling and organismal stress resilience

Publication Trends

Recent articles (2022-2025) predominantly explore proteostasis mechanisms, with emphases on: protein aggregation in neurodegeneration, autophagy pathways, stress-responsive signaling, and therapeutic strategies targeting protein misfolding. Computational analyses of proteome stability and novel disease models feature prominently.

Awards and Honors

• Commandeur, Ordre des Palmes Académiques (France)
• Elected Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
• NIH MERIT Award
• Honorary Doctorate, Abo Akademi University
• Royal Society Wolfson Visiting Professorship

Leadership and Training

Dr. Morimoto directs the multi-institutional Proteostasis Consortium and mentors graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. His lab develops outreach programs including the French-American Science Festival and high school internships to promote science education.

Laboratory Focus

The Morimoto Lab employs C. elegans genetics, human iPSC-derived neurons, and proteomic approaches to define how proteostasis networks maintain cellular health. Current projects investigate tissue-specific stress responses and develop small-molecule interventions for neurodegenerative disorders.