Dr. Mohammad Reza Ghovanloo

Assistant Professor

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Biography

Mohammad-Reza Ghovanloo is an Associate Research Scientist and Associate Director for Drug Discovery at the Center for Neuroscience and Regeneration Research at Yale School of Medicine. His research integrates ion channel biophysics, neurophysiology, and pharmacology to uncover the chemical and physical interactions that regulate neuronal excitability. By employing high-throughput electrophysiology and modeling, his work aims to identify and optimize next-generation therapeutics for pain and neurological disorders. Ghovanloo's research has established mechanistic frameworks explaining how cannabinoids, such as cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG), modulate voltage-gated sodium channels. His studies have revealed that these cannabinoids can stabilize inactive channel states and alter membrane elasticity to fine-tune neuronal excitability. He has received multiple fellowships and has been recognized with various awards and invitations for talks, contributing to media features in prominent outlets. Ghovanloo reviews for several academic journals and aims to advance the field of translational neurophysiology by integrating mechanistic discovery with scalable approaches in ion channel pharmacology.

Research Interests

Experience

Associate Research Scientist

2021-01-01 — Present

Yale University • New Haven, CT

Conducting research on ion channel behavior, focusing on pain and neurological disorders.

Research Fellow

2019-01-01 — 2020-12-31

Xenon Pharmaceuticals • Canada

Contributed to the discovery and characterization of small-molecule modulators for voltage-gated ion channels.

Awards

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CIHR Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship

2022-06-15
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NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship

2022-02-28

Requirements for Yale University

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.5
GRE General
TOEFL
Listening
Required:25
Speaking
Required:26
Total
Required:100
IELTS
Speaking
Required:7.5
Overall
Required:7
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, or Mathematics
Application Checklist
  • Statement of academic purpose
  • Unofficial transcripts
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Application fee ($105)
  • Resume/CV
Specialization Notes

Administered via the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS). GRE General is optional for PhD.