Teru Nakagawa

Teru Nakagawa is an Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He specializes in structural biology, particularly using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to study membrane proteins and their interactions with lipids. His research focuses on elucidating the biological significance of lipid-associated membrane proteins, which has implications for understanding cellular physiology and disease mechanisms.

Dr. Nakagawa has received notable awards including the Stanley Cohen Innovation Fund (2021), NARSAD Young and Independent Investigator Awards, and the Kazato Prize in Electron Microscopy. His work on high-resolution structures of membrane proteins, such as the 2019 Science paper on glutamate receptors, demonstrates his expertise in cryo-EM and structural biology.

His current project, supported by the Cohen Fund, investigates the functional and structural roles of lipids in membrane protein biology—a frontier that could revolutionize understanding of membrane protein behavior in health and disease. Dr. Nakagawa’s research bridges foundational biomedical science and translational applications, with potential impacts on drug development and disease treatment strategies.