Robert Messing

Robert Messing is a Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Texas at Austin, where he also serves as Chair and Director of the Waggoner Center for Alcohol & Addiction Research. He holds the M. June and J. Virgil Waggoner Chair in Molecular Biology. Previously, he was Vice Provost for Biomedical Sciences (2013-15) and Associate Dean for Research Development (2015-17) at UT Austin's Dell Medical School, and held faculty and leadership roles at UCSF from 1986-2013.

• 1979-1984: MD (Stanford), Neurology Residency (UCSF)
• 1984-1986: Postdoctoral Fellowship in Neuroscience (UCSF)
• 1986-2013: Faculty Member (UCSF)
• 2013-present: University of Texas at Austin

Messing's research focuses on molecular and circuit neuroadaptations to drugs of abuse, particularly alcohol. His lab investigates signaling proteins like protein kinase C isoforms (PKCε, PKCδ), PDE4, and TLR3, using genetic models, behavioral pharmacology, and systems biology approaches to identify therapeutic targets for addiction and chronic pain.

His scientific achievements include the Civitatis Award, and his work has led to clinical trials of PDE4 inhibitors for alcohol use disorder. The lab employs multidisciplinary methods including gene targeting, RNA interference, optogenetics, and computational drug repurposing strategies.