GPCRNetzwerke

GPCRNetzwerke is a collaborative research network focused on G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), a large family of membrane proteins that initiate cellular signaling in response to diverse ligands. The network brings together researchers from biology, chemistry, pharmacology, structural biology, bioinformatics, and clinical science to advance understanding of GPCR function and to support therapeutic discovery. It coordinates activities across universities, research institutes, and industry partners, providing shared resources and data infrastructure to foster collaboration.

Core research areas include mapping GPCR signaling pathways, characterizing receptor pharmacology, and developing ligands with selective profiles. The network also emphasizes structural elucidation through cryo-electron microscopy and X-ray crystallography, as well as computational modeling, simulations, and AI-driven analyses. Topics of interest cover receptor regulation, allosteric modulation, biased signaling, receptor oligomerization, and tissue-specific receptor function. Emphasis is placed on data integration and standardized reporting to enable cross-study comparability.

Organization is coordinated by a steering committee and thematic working groups in biology, structure, chemistry, data science, and clinical translation. The network hosts regular workshops, collaborative projects, and training activities to engage early-career scientists.

Outputs include peer-reviewed publications, open datasets, shared protocols, drug discovery resources, and reference datasets for GPCR ligands and signaling readouts. GPCRNetzwerke also develops community standards, data repositories, and educational materials to support reproducibility and rapid dissemination of results.

Impact: The network aims to accelerate understanding of GPCR biology and the discovery of new therapeutics for neurological, metabolic, cardiovascular, and inflammatory diseases, while promoting collaboration, transparency, and cross-disciplinary training within the GPCR research community.