Dr. GPCR Podcast

Dr. Yamina Berchiche

We bring you closer to dedicated scientists who work tirelessly to help understand GPCR pathophysiology.

  1. 3D AGO

    Choosing the Right GPCR Assays for Translational Drug Discovery 180

    Episode Summary Potent in vitro hits often fail in vivo—Martin Marro details how robust assay choice and pathway deconvolution can revive GPCR drug discovery programs. Listeners will learn practical approaches to assay development for GPCR drug discovery, the pitfalls of calcium readouts, and how identifying pathway bias impacts translational success. Dr. Marro shares his experience bridging in vitro–in vivo gaps, refining selection flowcharts, and leveraging pharmacology research to drive clinical candidates. His strategic perspective is rooted in years of leading multimodal discovery teams in pharma and biotech. Key Takeaways Assay selection critically shapes the trajectory from hit to clinic.Calcium and IP1 assays may not predict in vivo efficacy for all Gq-coupled receptor targetsAlternative pathway analysis may be essential for mechanism elucidation.Persistence in probing beyond standard readouts can rescue high-profile discovery programs. Team structure and collaborative problem-solving are pivotal in resolving translational bottlenecks. Explore Dr. GPCR Resources - Dr. GPCR Ecosystem - Membership & Pricing - Weekly News Explore the full depth of GPCR resources, events, and member-exclusive tools with Dr. GPCR Premium. About the Guest Dr. Martin Marro leads the Cell Pharmacology group in the DOCTA division at Lilly’s Seaport Innovation Center in Boston, MA. Trained as a pharmacologist, Dr. Marro has accumulated over 20 years of experience spanning large pharmaceutical firms—including GSK, Novartis, and Lilly—and innovative biotech such as Tectonic Therapeutic. He holds deep expertise in early drug discovery across small molecules, peptides, and antibody therapeutics for metabolic, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal diseases. Dr. Marro’s research has been central to the discovery and characterization of multiple clinical candidates, with a focus on GPCR target validation, receptor pharmacology, and translational assay strategies. He played a key role in patenting and developing novel fatty acid-conjugated GLP-1 receptor agonists. Driven by the challenge of translating robust in vitro science into clinical proof-of-concept, Dr. Marro’s leadership continues to impact the field of GPCR drug discovery. Keywords: gpcr podcast, assay development, pharmacology research.

    51 min
  2. 12/03/2025

    Imaging GPCRs in Action: Chemical Probes for Next-Level Discovery | Dr. Johannes Broichhagen #178

    Chemical probes are reshaping how we map GLP-1R in real time — revealing receptor pools antibodies can’t reliably capture. This is Episode 2 of a 3-part GPCR tool-development series created in partnership with Celtarys Research. Summary: Dr. Johannes Broichhagen aka JB breaks down the design logic behind fluorophore-linked peptides, assay trade-offs, and what true receptor internalization looks like in live tissue. A concise masterclass in assay development and GPCR drug discovery. What you’ll learn: • Why antibody variability pushed JB toward chemical probe engineering • The design logic behind Luxendin-based fluorescent tools — and how structure guides function • What “good assay development” looks like when cells, tissue, and probe behavior collide • Behind-the-scenes stories from the collaboration with David Hodson • Why parallelized experiments matter for reproducibility and signal quality • How small-molecule probes outperform antibodies in live-cell and tissue imaging • The surprising breakthroughs that shifted JB’s entire research trajectory • Future directions: multi-color GPCR mapping, AI-guided ligand design, and in vivo chemical biology Dr GPCR Links & Resources: • Dr. GPCR Ecosystem: https://www.ecosystem.drgpcr.com/ • Membership & Pricing: https://www.ecosystem.drgpcr.com/university-pricing• Weekly News: https://www.ecosystem.drgpcr.com/gpcr-weekly-news

    39 min

Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

We bring you closer to dedicated scientists who work tirelessly to help understand GPCR pathophysiology.