William S. Messer, Jr.
استاد · Neurological and psychiatric disorders
University of Toledoمعرفی
William S. Messer, Jr., Ph.D., is a Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology at the University of Toledo's College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. After earning his BS in Biology from Springfield College and MS/PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Rochester, he joined the University of Toledo in 1985, advancing through the ranks to hold leadership roles including Chair of Pharmacology (2001-2013) and Vice President of Research (2013-2016) before returning to full-time faculty work.
- Education:
- BS, Springfield College – Biology
- MS & PhD, University of Rochester – Neuroscience
Dr. Messer’s research focuses on neurological and psychiatric disorders (Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, autism) and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. He developed the selective M1 agonist CDD-0102A for Alzheimer’s and founded Cognitive Pharmaceuticals Ltd. and Psyneurgy Pharmaceuticals LLC to translate his work into clinical applications.
His recent work explores allosteric modulators of muscarinic receptors, with publications spanning 2025-2006 on memory mechanisms, receptor binding, and computational chemistry. Key trends include neurodegenerative disease models, zebrafish/rat studies, and chemical synthesis of cholinergic ligands.
Scientific Awards & Grants:
- NIH subcontract (2017-2020): $90,096 direct costs for research on allosteric sites in muscarinic receptors.
- Rocket Fuel Fund grant (2018-2020): $50,000 for autism biomarker studies.
- Two issued U.S. patents (9,549,928 and 10,835,532) for muscarinic agonists enhancing cognitive flexibility and memory.
Dr. Messer served as Vice President of Research and Department Chair, and his grants support translational research in pharmaceutical development. His laboratory studies integrate pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, and behavioral neuroscience to address unmet clinical needs.
