William S. Messer, Jr., Ph.D.
听 Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology
听 Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
听 Health Education Building 282B
听 Phone:听419.383.1958
听 E-mail:听william.messer@utoledo.edu
听
Area of research
Our research focuses on the development of new treatments for neurological and psychiatric disorders including Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders. We study the role of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in mediating behaviors including learning, memory and cognitive function. We also synthesize small molecules and measure their ability to selectively activate muscarinic receptors through a combination of in vitro and in vivo studies.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
- Ph.D.,听University of Rochester -听Neuroscience
- M.S.,听University of Rochester -听Neuroscience
- B.S.,听Springfield College -听Biology
SCOPE OF PRACTICE
- Assistant professor of medicinal chemistry, University of Toledo
- Associate professor of medicinal chemistry, University of Toledo
- Professor of medicinal chemistry, University of Toledo
- Professor of pharmacology, University of Toledo
- Chair of pharmacology, University of Toledo
- Founder and chief scientific officer, Cognitive Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
- Vice President of Research, University of Toledo
- Founder and president, Psyneurgy Pharmaceuticals LLC
Awards, Honors and grants
- Signal shaping via multiple allosteric sites on oligomeric muscarinic receptors. NIH subcontract through Pennsylvania State University 鈥� Hershey, Principal Investigator, September 30, 2017 to August 31, 2020, $90,096 direct costs, $136,495 total costs.
- Biomarkers for M1 muscarinic agonists and autism spectrum disorders. Rocket Fuel Fund (U.S. Economic Development Association), Principal Investigator, July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2020, $50,000.
Issued Patents
- Muscarinic agonists as enhancers of cognitive flexibility, W.S. Messer and M. Ragozzino. U.S. Patent No. 9,549,928, January 2017.
- Muscarinic agonists as cognitive enhancers, W.S. Messer, Jr. and M.E. Ragozzino. U.S. Patent No. 10,835,532, November 17, 2020.