Sudha Chakrapani

Sudha Chakrapani, PhD is the Chair of the Department of Pharmacology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, where she also holds the John H. Hord Professor chair. Additionally, she serves as Director of the Cryo-Electron Microscopy Core and the Cleveland Center for Membrane & Structural Biology.

• PhD from the University at Buffalo
• Postdoctoral training at the University of Chicago

Her research focuses on understanding ion channel function in fast synaptic neurotransmission using Cryo-EM, EPR spectroscopy, and electrophysiology. Key areas include the pentameric Ligand-Gated Ion Channel (pLGIC) superfamily, which regulates processes like gastrointestinal functions, neurological disorders, and pain transmission.

Recent publications highlight structural studies of 5-HT3A receptors and glycine receptors using Cryo-EM, uncovering mechanisms of agonist binding, channel activation, and drug modulation (e.g., setrons). These studies provide atomic-level insights for rational drug design targeting neurological and gastrointestinal diseases.

Her laboratory employs a multidisciplinary approach combining structural biology, biophysics, and pharmacological analysis to investigate ion channel dynamics and disease mechanisms related to epilepsy, chronic pain, and synaptic transmission disorders.

• Lead investigator in Cryo-EM core facility
• Collaborator in structural and computational biology (with Biggin, Sansom, Filizola)
• Develops novel therapeutic strategies for neurological disorders