Javier González Maeso obtained his B.S. in Biology and his B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of the Basque Country in Bilbao - Spain, where as a Ph.D. student in the Department of Pharmacology under the mentorship of Dr. Javier Meana his research interest was focused on neurotransmitter receptor function in postmortem human brain samples. He completed his postdoctoral training in the laboratory of Dr. Stuart Sealfon at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, where he proposed a molecular mechanism by which psychedelics, such as LSD or psilocybin, induce their unique behavioral effects in mice. Dr. González Maeso joined the faculty at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in 2008. He joined the Virginia Commonwealth University faculty in 2015.
Areas of Expertise and Interest |
- G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and G proteins
- Molecular Pharmacology
- Classical Pharmacology
- Neuropsychopharmacology
- Psychedelics
- Epigenetics
- Gut-brain axis
- Molecular Psychiatry
- Schizophrenia, suicide and alcoholism
- Heterologous expression systems
- Mouse behavior models of psychiatric disorders
- Postmortem human brain samples
Curriculum Vitae
2020-present Professor, Department of Physiology and Biophysics. Virginia Commonwealth University.
2016-2020 Associate Professor (with Tenure), Department of Physiology and Biophysics. Virginia Commonwealth University.
2015-2016 Associate Professor, Department of Physiology and Biophysics. Virginia Commonwealth University.
2008-2015 Assistant Professor, Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology. Mount Sinai School of Medicine (New York).
2006-2008 Instructor, Department of Neurology. Mount Sinai School of Medicine (New York).
2001-2005 Postdoctoral fellow, Department of Neurology. Mount Sinai School of Medicine (New York).
1999 Visiting Ph.D. student, Department of Pharmacology. University of Cambridge (England).
1997-2001 Ph.D. student, Department of Pharmacology, University of the Basque Country (Bilbao, Spain).
1992-1997 Master's thesis student, Department of Microbiology, University of the Basque Country (Bilbao, Spain).
1995-1997 B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. University of the Basque Country (Bilbao, Spain).
1990-1995 B.S. in Biology. University of the Basque Country (Bilbao, Spain).
2016-2020 Associate Professor (with Tenure), Department of Physiology and Biophysics. Virginia Commonwealth University.
2015-2016 Associate Professor, Department of Physiology and Biophysics. Virginia Commonwealth University.
2008-2015 Assistant Professor, Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology. Mount Sinai School of Medicine (New York).
2006-2008 Instructor, Department of Neurology. Mount Sinai School of Medicine (New York).
2001-2005 Postdoctoral fellow, Department of Neurology. Mount Sinai School of Medicine (New York).
1999 Visiting Ph.D. student, Department of Pharmacology. University of Cambridge (England).
1997-2001 Ph.D. student, Department of Pharmacology, University of the Basque Country (Bilbao, Spain).
1992-1997 Master's thesis student, Department of Microbiology, University of the Basque Country (Bilbao, Spain).
1995-1997 B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. University of the Basque Country (Bilbao, Spain).
1990-1995 B.S. in Biology. University of the Basque Country (Bilbao, Spain).
Honors and Awards
2022 VCU Breakthroughs Fund Award
2021 American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) Travel Award
2020 President, Central Virginia Society for Neuroscience
2019 Value and Efficiency Teaching and Research (VETAR) award
2019-2025 Member, PMDA Study section at NIH-NIMH
2018-2021 Fellowships: Behavioral Neuroscience Study section at NIH
2018 VCU Outstanding Teaching Award
2016 VCU Presidential Research Quest Fund
2012 The Mortimer D. Sackler Foundation Award
2011 XII Premio de Investigación Dr. Antonio Esteve (Honorary mention)
2010 NARSAD Young Investigator Award
2009 Selected to present at the 2009 Annual New York Mental Health Symposium
2009 Maltz Family Foundation Award
2008 NARSAD Young Investigator Award
2001-2003 Post Doctoral fellowship at Mount Sinai in New York
2001 PhD summa cum laude. University of the Basque Country, Spain
1999 International PhD rotation fellowship at the University of Cambridge.
1997-2000 PhD student fellowship. Ministry of Science and Technology, Spain.
1996 Master’s Thesis Honor. University of the Basque Country, Spain.
1994-1996 Master’s Thesis fellowship. Basque Government, Spain.
1990-1995 BS fellowship. Basque Government, Spain.
2021 American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) Travel Award
2020 President, Central Virginia Society for Neuroscience
2019 Value and Efficiency Teaching and Research (VETAR) award
2019-2025 Member, PMDA Study section at NIH-NIMH
2018-2021 Fellowships: Behavioral Neuroscience Study section at NIH
2018 VCU Outstanding Teaching Award
2016 VCU Presidential Research Quest Fund
2012 The Mortimer D. Sackler Foundation Award
2011 XII Premio de Investigación Dr. Antonio Esteve (Honorary mention)
2010 NARSAD Young Investigator Award
2009 Selected to present at the 2009 Annual New York Mental Health Symposium
2009 Maltz Family Foundation Award
2008 NARSAD Young Investigator Award
2001-2003 Post Doctoral fellowship at Mount Sinai in New York
2001 PhD summa cum laude. University of the Basque Country, Spain
1999 International PhD rotation fellowship at the University of Cambridge.
1997-2000 PhD student fellowship. Ministry of Science and Technology, Spain.
1996 Master’s Thesis Honor. University of the Basque Country, Spain.
1994-1996 Master’s Thesis fellowship. Basque Government, Spain.
1990-1995 BS fellowship. Basque Government, Spain.