Randy D. Blakely, Ph.D., executive director of the FAU Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute, the David J.S. Nicholson Distinguished Professor in Neuroscience, and a professor of biomedical science in FAU’s Schmidt College of Medicine.
Florida Atlantic University’s Randy D. Blakely, Ph.D., executive director of the FAU Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute, the David J.S. Nicholson Distinguished Professor in Neuroscience, and a professor of biomedical science in FAU’s Schmidt College of Medicine, has been named a Fellow of the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET).
Blakely is among an extraordinary group of individuals who have dedicated their careers to advancing the field of pharmacology. Designation as an ASPET Fellow recognizes leaders in the field for their exceptional contributions to pharmacological research, education, mentorship and leadership.
ASPET is a professional scientific organization that focuses on advancing the field of pharmacology, which is the study of drugs, their effects and their interactions with living systems. Founded in 1908, ASPET comprises more than 4,000 members, and serves as a community for researchers, educators, health care professionals and students working in diverse settings such as academia, industry, government and clinical practice.
“This prestigious honor awarded to Dr. Blakely by ASPET is a testament to his contributions to neuroscience and pharmacology. Through his groundbreaking discoveries and leadership, he has made a lasting impact on our understanding of brain function and the molecular mechanisms underlying psychiatric and neurological disorders,” said Gregg Fields, Ph.D., FAU vice president for research. “This honor brings tremendous pride to our university and highlights the caliber of research excellence we strive for at FAU. Dr. Blakely’s recognition reflects not only his remarkable achievements but also the impactful work being done across our institution.”
Blakely is a highly regarded neuroscientist and pharmacologist whose work has significantly advanced our understanding of neurotransmitter transporters; the proteins responsible for regulating communication between neurons. His research has ranged from studies of norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine transporters (SERT and DAT, respectively), which play key roles in controlling mood, cognition and behavior by clearing these neurotransmitters from synapses. He was also the first to identify the gene encoding the human choline transporter (CHT) that provides the essential precursor for the production of the neurotransmitter acetycholine, a neurotransmitter that becomes depleted in the brains of people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
Blakely’s work has been instrumental in revealing how medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the most commonly prescribed medications to treat mood disorders, interact with transporter proteins. His work also has laid a foundation for understanding how substances of abuse, such as cocaine and methamphetamine, elevate extracellular dopamine and thereby initiate brain actions that lead to substance use disorders and addiction.
A major focus of Blakely’s research also has revealed how genetic alterations can disrupt transporter function and lead to neurobehavioral disorders. His group was the first to demonstrate that mutations in neurotransmitter transporter genes could drive disease, beginning with the discovery of mutant norepinephrine transporters in an autonomic disorder known as postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Subsequent work from the lab revealed functionally disruptive mutations in serotonin transporters in individuals with autism, in dopamine transporters in people with either attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or autism, and in the choline transporter in association with movement disorders.
“Transferring these mutations to mice has offered critical opportunities to study their impact in the living brain and provide unique models of human disease, work that continues to reveal new clues to the disorders as well as their treatments,” said Blakely.
Last year, Blakely and Maureen K. Hahn, Ph.D., FAU neurobehavior core scientific director, received a patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office for a novel method to identify therapeutic agents to treat addiction. The invention, related to the fields of pharmacology, medicine, neurology and psychiatry, targets the protein MBLAC1, which the Blakely lab identified as the mammalian form of a gene the group first identified in worms as a modifier of signaling by the neurotransmitter dopamine. As MBLAC1 has been found to be a risk factor for a major form of AD, their work may also lead to novel treatments to treat neurodegenerative disease.
Blakely also has been a pioneer in the study of how neurotransmitter transporters are regulated by intracellular signaling pathways. His research into the effects of protein kinases on transporter trafficking and activity has provided a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying drug actions and identified new potential targets for therapeutic intervention. These findings have implications for improving treatments for conditions such as depression, ADHD, and addiction.
In addition to his research, Blakely has had a profound influence as an academic leader and mentor, fostering interdisciplinary collaborations and advanced neuroscience education and research and community outreach. Over his distinguished career, he has trained numerous graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, many of whom have gone on to successful careers in academia and industry. Blakely currently directs the FAU Neuroscience Graduate Program. As a result of these activities and other academic and public educational activities, he was honored in 2022 with the Scientist Educator Award by the Society for Neuroscience, the world’s largest scientific body supporting brain research.
Blakely’s contributions to neuroscience are reflected in his extensive body of work, which includes hundreds of publications in high-impact journals such as Nature; Science; the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences; and the New England Journal of Medicine. His research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health for more than 30 years, as well as by disease-targeting private foundations such as the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation that targets neuropsyciatric disorders, the Brain Foundation and the Simons Foundation, which support research on autism, and the Alzheimer’s Association.
“I am deeply grateful and profoundly honored to receive this prestigious recognition from ASPET,” said Blakely. “This acknowledgment not only reflects the efforts of my incredible mentors, collaborators and trainees, but also reinforces how advancing our fundamental understanding of brain molecules and circuits can yield clues to disease and treatments.”
(From left): Paula Gajewski-Kurdziel, Ph.D.; Carina Meinke; Randy D. Blakely, Ph.D.; and Matthew Schrier, Ph.D.
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