Dr. Gerald Zamponi
Positions
Professor - Medicine
Cumming School of Medicine, Department of Clinical Neurosciences
Full Member
Hotchkiss Brain Institute
Child Health & Wellness Researcher
Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute
Contact information
Background
Educational Background
Dipl. Ing. (MSc equivalent) Engineering Physics, Johannes Kepler University, 1990
Doctor of Philosophy Neuroscience, University of Calgary, 1994
Biography
Dr. Gerald Zamponi is a Full Professor in the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary where he commenced his faculty position in 1997. He previously served as the Head of the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology (2008-2012) and Senior Associate Dean for Research (2012-2024) . He received his undergraduate training in Engineering Physics from the Johannes Kepler University in Austria, followed by a PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Calgary and postdoctoral work at the University of British Columbia in Canada. Dr. Zamponi’s research addresses how ion channels and receptors contribute to neurological disorders such as chronic pain, with the goal of developing strategies to regulate ion channel function for therapeutic intervention. His work also deciphers the functional connectomics of brain circuits that process pain signals. The translational impact of his work is evident from his co-founding of NeuroMed Pharmaceuticals and Zymedyne Therapeutics, and inventorship on 12 issued US patents pertaining to new pain therapeutics. He has published over 390 articles, has given over 300 invited lectures across the globe. Dr. Zamponi is the recipient of numerous prestigious awards. In addition to having been an Alberta Innovates-Health Solutions Scientist and Canadian Institutes of Health Research Investigator, he held three terms as a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Molecular Neurobiology. He is an elected Fellow of both the Royal Society of Canada, and the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, which represents top honors for those in the basic and medical science, respectively.
Research
Areas of Research
Dr. Zamponi’s broad research focus has been on the roles of voltage gated calcium channels in controlling the electrical activities of neurons and how they are compromised in various neurological disorders. This resulted in numerous important contributions to basic and applied science, including advances in understanding:
- calcium channel structure, function and molecular pharmacology
- their regulation by G protein coupled receptors and its physiological consequences
- the role of signalling complexes between calcium channels and other channels/receptors -
- how genetic mutations in calcium channels of patients with epilepsy trigger seizures -
- the roles of calcium channels in afferent pain signalling
In addition, Dr. Zamponi’s lab uses optogenetics approaches to decipher brain circuits that control sensory and emotional components of pain.
Participation in university strategic initiatives
Awards
- Archibald Byron Macallum & FIP Lectureship, University of Toronto, 2025
- Alumnus of Distinction Award, Hotchkiss Brain Institute , 2024
- Cumming Research Excellence Award, Cumming School of Medicine, 2024
- Parex Innovation Fellow, Faculty of Science, University of Calgary, 2021
- Distinguished Career Award, Canadian Pain Society, 2021
- Election as Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (USA), 2020
- Alumnus of Distinction Award, Cumming School of Medicine, 2019
- Molecular Pain Award, Association for the Study of Neurons and Disease, 2018
- Honorary Professorship, China Medical University, Shenyang, China, 2018
- Canada Tier 1 Research Chair in Molecular Neuroscience, 2nd renewal, 2017
- Killam Graduate Supervision Award, University of Calgary, 2015
- PEAK Scholar for Excellence in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, University of Calgary, 2014
- Killam Annual Professor Award, University of Calgary, 2012
- Astech Award for Outstanding Leadership in Alberta Science, Astech Foundation, 2011
- International Academic Master, Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China, 2011
- Honoree, Astech Foundation, 2010
- Election as Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, CAHS, 2010
- Canada Tier 1 Research Chair in Molecular Neuroscience, renewal, 2010
- Election as Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, Royal Society of Canada, 2008
- Smith Distinguished Achievement Award, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, 2007
- Medical Research Scientist Award, Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research, 2007
- Outstanding Achievement in Graduate Supervision, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Calgary, 2005
- Alta Pharm Senior Scientist Award of the Canadian Society for Pharmacology, 2004
- Canada Tier 1 Research Chair in Molecular Neuroscience, 2003
- Watanabe Distinguished Achievement Award, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, 2003
- Independent Investigator Award, Natl. Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia & Depression, 2002
- Visiting Professorship, Kyoto University Foundation, 2002
- Investigator Award, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, 2002
- Senior Research Scholarship, Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research, 2002
- Cochrane Distinguished Achievement Award, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, 2002
- Watanabe Distinguished Achievement Award, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, 2001
- J.A.F. Stevenson Visiting Professorship Award of the Canadian Physiological Society, 2000
- Merck Frosst Young Investigator Award of the Canadian Society for Pharmacology, 2000
- Research Scholarship Award, EJLB Foundation , 1998
- Medical Research Scholarship, Medical Research Council of Canada, 1997
- Medical Research Scholarship, Alberta Heritage Foundation for Med. Res., 1996
- Postdoctoral Fellowship, Medical Research Council of Canada, 1994
- Postdoctoral Fellowship, Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research, 1994
- Postdoctoral Fellowship, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, 1994
- Graduate Student Award for excellence of research, American Physiological Society, 1992
- Medical Research Studentship, Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research , 1992
Are you the profile owner?
Login to edit.