Robert Lefkowitz

Robert Lefkowitz is a renowned American chemist recognized for discovering how cells communicate through receptors on their surfaces. His work focused on G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which are crucial for responding to hormones, nerves, and other signals — like how a lock opens with a key. This understanding has been vital for drug development, leading to medications for conditions such as depression, heart disease, and allergies. Lefkowitz’s discoveries have profoundly advanced biologic and medical science, earning him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2012 alongside Brian Kobilka.