Keynote Speaker—David Julius, PhD

Meet Our Opening Keynote Speaker 

David Julius, PhD
Professor and Chair of the Department of Physiology and Morris Herzstein Chair in Molecular Biology and Medicine, University of California, San Francisco

Keynote Presentation: Gut Feelings: Probing Mechanisms of Visceral Pain
Location: Long Beach Convention Center
Date: Thursday, April 20, 2023, 4 p.m.

We are thrilled that David Julius, PhD, 2021 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine, will present the keynote lecture at the inaugural American Physiology Summit in Long Beach, California. Julius’ talk will be followed by a welcome reception for all American Physiology Summit attendees.

Julius was awarded the 2021 Nobel Prize—jointly with Ardem Patapoutian, PhD, a professor in the Department of Neuroscience at Scripps Research and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator—“for their discoveries of receptors for temperature and touch,” according to the Nobel committee in Stockholm, Sweden.

Julius is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Science, and has won numerous awards. His honors include the Kavli Prize in Neuroscience (2020), Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences (2019), Canada Gairdner International Award (2017), Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research (2013), Shaw Prize (2010), Passano Award (2010), Prince of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research (2010), Scolnick Prize from the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT (2007), Unilever Science Prize (2007) and the Klaus Joachim Zülch Neuroscience Prize (2006).

A major focus of Julius’ work has been to identify and understand molecular mechanisms involved in our senses of touch and pain. His group has exploited the properties of natural products to discover a family of temperature-sensitive ion channel receptors that enable sensory nerve fibers to detect hot or cold temperatures.

Julius serves on the Board of Directors of The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience and is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Pew Scholars Program in Biomedical Sciences. He served on the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation. 

Julius will speak at 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 20, 2023, kicking off the inaugural American Physiology Summit. His talk will be followed by an outdoor welcome reception for all attendees. Julius joins fellow keynote Terrie Williams, PhD, and a slate of speakers exploring the science behind the biggest issues impacting life and health today.