Ernst Lab
The Ernst lab interest is at the interface between structure-based medicinal chemistry, neuropharmacology and neuropathophysiology with projects dealing with selected GABAA receptor subunits and subtypes.
We have pioneered the discovery and description of several allosteric and non-canonical agonist sites on GABAA receptors by which endogenous and exogenous small molecules including endocannabinoids, histamine or pH regulate receptor activity. Structural models of ligand bound receptors have facilitated extensive development of selective compounds in collaboration with Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry labs.
In an international collaboration funded by the FWF and the Taiwanese partner institution, we have contributed to profound insights into the potential of α6-subunit containing receptors as drug prospects. Another fruitful activity is the characterization of variants from patients in collaborations with clinicians. In several international collaborations, we explore the pharmaco- toxicology of drugs targeting GABAA receptors in a wide range of pathologies including epilepsies, essential tremor, addictive disorders and many more.
