Val J. Watts

Val J. Watts studies adenylyl cyclases, a family of enzymes that produce the signaling molecule cAMP inside cells in response to hormones and neurotransmitters. Much of the recent work focuses on finding drug-like molecules that selectively inhibit specific adenylyl cyclase subtypes (especially AC1 and AC2), with applications to pain treatment as alternatives to opioids, as well as work relating these enzymes to immune signaling and calcium signaling pathways. This research combines pharmacology, chemistry, and cell biology to understand how these enzymes are regulated and how they could be targeted therapeutically.

Publication output has remained fairly steady over the last decade, averaging roughly 5-8 papers per year, with a notable increase in 2024.

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