Dr. GPCR Podcast

GPCRs and the Science Behind Pain and Recovery with Dr. Alex Serafini

In this thought-provoking episode of the Dr. GPCR podcast, Dr. Alex Serafini shares his deeply personal and unconventional journey into science. Initially set on a finance track, it was a chronic pain condition and the limitations of opioid-based treatments that drove Alex toward research. His experience with unresolved pain shaped his scientific purpose, pushing him to explore more effective, long-lasting therapeutic strategies — particularly in the realm of chronic pain and psychiatric comorbidities.

Through his MD-PhD training at Mount Sinai and postdoctoral work with Dr. Venetia Zachariou, Alex became immersed in the complex world of GPCR signaling and RGS proteins. While he describes his work with GPCRs as “tangential,” his research consistently landed on these receptors as critical nodes in pain modulation. His exploration of RGS4 in particular uncovered surprising findings — such as spontaneous recovery in knockout mice — highlighting the potential of RGS-targeted therapies in reshaping the pain treatment landscape.

Alex also emphasizes the importance of starting with real-world models, using in vivo behavior and transcriptomics to inform mechanistic insights, rather than the traditional bench-to-bedside model. His work on COVID-related pain, sex differences in inflammation, and transgenerational epigenetic signatures pushes the field to think more holistically and clinically about drug discovery.

This episode is not only a scientific deep dive but also a candid look at what it means to pursue a physician-scientist track in today’s research climate. For anyone working on pain, GPCRs, or translational models — or simply navigating the complexities of dual training — Dr. Serafini offers both inspiration and actionable insights.

Summary created by AI

About Alex Serafini

Alex was born and raised in the Bay Area and received his BS/MS Neuroscience from Johns Hopkins. His master's degree was in Dr. Michael Caterina's lab studying the role of PNS chloride transporters in neuropathic pain. Upon matriculating to Mount Sinai's MD/PhD program, he joined Dr. Venetia Zachariou's lab to study the effects of chronic pain and addiction/withdrawal on the mesocorticolimbic system, focusing on transcription factor and RGS protein maladaptations, behavioral RGS protein drug "screening", and the role of SARS-CoV-2 on CNS function and sensory hypersensitivity. He aspires to become a physician-scientist, with a focus on translational in vitro and in vivo model development for studying chronic pain and affective comorbidities. Other academic interests of his include studying pharmaceutical finance & healthcare administration and developing technologies that increase healthcare access. His non-academic interests include traveling, scouting out micro-breweries, and collecting beer cans.

Alex Serafini on the web

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