Dr. David Lynch

Biography

David R. Lynch, MD, PhD, is a Professor of Neurology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. His research primarily focuses on NMDA receptors, which play a critical role in excitotoxicity, a unique pathophysiological mechanism involved in cerebral ischemia and neuronal damage during prolonged seizures. He employs molecular biology techniques to elucidate how NMDA receptor antagonists may act as neuroprotective agents in both animal models and clinical trials, despite potential side effects such as psychosis. Dr. Lynch’s work suggests that multiple types of NMDA receptors exist in the brain, each with distinct pathways contributing to excitotoxic processes. His studies include developing therapeutic agents targeting specific NMDA receptor subtypes and examining their physiological and pharmacological properties through biochemical and physiological methods, as well as in vivo models. He graduated from Yale College with a B.S. in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, earned his M.D. from Johns Hopkins University, and completed his Ph.D. in Neuroscience.

Research Interests