David J. Mangelsdorf

David J. Mangelsdorf, Ph.D., follows the science. This philosophy has led to significant discoveries, including the receptors LXR and FXR, which work together to control lipid metabolism. Pharmaceuticals targeting these receptors to treat obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease are now in development. Intrigued by the absence of findings for orphan nuclear receptors in invertebrates, Dr. Mangelsdorf focused on the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). He discovered a nuclear receptor (DAF-12) that controls development and then determined that the worm does not produce the ligand that triggers development, but instead receives it from its host. In his inaugural article as a member of the National Academy of Sciences, Dr. Mangelsdorf revealed how steroid ligands of DAF-12 disrupt the development of threadworms, demonstrating the receptor’s potential as a therapeutic target. Dr. Mangelsdorf is the recipient of numerous awards, including the John J. Abel Award in Pharmacology. He received his doctorate in biochemistry from the University of Arizona at Tucson and completed postdoctoral studies at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies.