Dr. Leonard Kaczmarek

Biography

Leonard Kaczmarek is a professor in the Department of Pharmacology at Yale School of Medicine. He completed his PhD at the University of London in 1971. His research interests include the investigation of ion channels, learning, memory, neurosciences, pharmacology, and physiology. Kaczmarek's laboratory studies the biochemical changes in neurons that result from prolonged changes in behavior related to sensory input. He has made significant contributions to understanding the role of potassium channels in neuronal excitability regulation, demonstrating how protein kinases and phosphatases impact neuron behavior. Notable discoveries include identifying novel ion channel genes and their relation to conditions such as intellectual disabilities and autism. Kaczmarek has trained over thirty postdoctoral and graduate students who have gone on to secure tenure-track positions at prominent institutions such as Brown University and UCSF. He joined Yale's faculty in 1981 and continues to contribute significantly to the field of pharmacology through innovative research and mentorship.

Research Interests