Henry A. Dunn, PhD

Dr. Henry A. Dunn’s research aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disease with the goal of facilitating the development of novel therapeutic strategies for a myriad of neurological conditions, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), anxiety disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and epilepsy.

With a prominent focus and expertise on G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and their associated signalling pathways – the pharmaceutical target of over 35% of FDA-approved drugs – Dr. Dunn’s lab utilizes multidisciplinary approaches spanning molecular mechanisms to rodent models, including: molecular pharmacology, biochemistry, cellular & molecular neurobiology, bioinformatics and behavioural neuroscience.

Dr. Henry A. Dunn is an assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics at the University of Manitoba, and a principal investigator at St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre where he leads the Molecular Pharmacology and Neuropsychiatric Disease Lab.

Dr. Dunn is best known for his work on G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs): particularly, delineating molecular mechanisms of stress-induced anxiety and depression, and illuminating a novel trans-synaptic pharmacological regulation mechanism with relevance to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and epilepsy.

These seminal studies have led to a keen interest in the interplay between synaptic adhesion molecules and synaptic GPCRs, including: (1) how these relationships are utilized in synaptic connectivity, neurotransmission and intracellular signalling, and (2) how these interfaces can be exploited for novel drug design in neuropsychiatric disease.

Education and training

• Postdoctoral Fellowship (Neuroscience), The Scripps Research Institute (2022)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship (Cellular & Molecular Medicine), University of Ottawa (2016)
• PhD (Physiology), University of Western Ontario (2014)
• BMSc (Medical Science and Physiology), University of Western Ontario (2008)

Awards

• Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) Postdoctoral Fellowship (2016-2020)
• Jonathan and Joshua Memorial Graduate Scholarship: Mental Health Research (2013-2014)
• Jonathan and Joshua Memorial Graduate Scholarship: Mental Health Research (2012-2013)
• Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) Strategic Training Fellowship (2009-2011)