Dr. David Clapham is a distinguished molecular biophysicist and pioneering researcher in the field of ion channel physiology. He currently serves as Senior Group Leader at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Janelia Research Campus, where he leads a highly regarded laboratory focused on cellular signaling mechanisms. After completing his undergraduate studies in Electrical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, he earned dual MD and PhD degrees from Emory University and completed his medical residency at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. Dr. Clapham's exceptional career trajectory includes a postdoctoral fellowship at the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry in Göttingen, Germany, supported by a Fulbright Award, followed by his appointment as an HHMI Investigator in 1997 and his subsequent tenure as Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of HHMI from 2016 to 2022.
Dr. Clapham's groundbreaking research has fundamentally transformed our understanding of cellular ion channels, most notably through his identification and characterization of several transient receptor potential TRP channels and the sperm-specific CatSper channels essential for male fertility. His laboratory made seminal contributions to elucidating the structure and function of novel ion channels including sperm CatSpers1-4, mitochondrial calcium channels, bacterial voltage-gated sodium channels, and lysosomal ion channels. A particularly transformative aspect of his work involves the discovery that TRPM7 and TRPM6 channels possess active kinase domains that when cleaved enter the nucleus to phosphorylate histones and control chromatin accessibility, establishing a direct molecular link between ion channel activity and gene regulation. His innovative approaches combining electrophysiology, advanced imaging, mouse genetics, and structural biology have provided unprecedented insights into cellular signaling mechanisms that govern fundamental physiological processes.
Beyond his laboratory discoveries, Dr. Clapham has exerted significant influence on the broader scientific enterprise through his leadership roles at HHMI, where he shaped research strategy and supported hundreds of investigators across the United States. His current research at Janelia continues to explore the role of primary cilia in brain and kidney function, focusing on the ion channels that regulate critical signaling pathways such as Hedgehog in neuronal development and function. Dr. Clapham's laboratory remains at the forefront of structural and functional ion channel research, employing cutting-edge techniques including cryoEM to determine the molecular mechanisms of channel gating and regulation. As he continues his scientific journey at Janelia, his work promises to yield further transformative insights into the molecular basis of cellular signaling with implications for understanding and treating a wide range of human diseases.
