Marc Caron

Marc G. Caron was the James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Cell Biology, Professor of Neurobiology, and Professor of Medicine at Duke University. A member of the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences and Duke Cancer Institute, he earned his BSc in Chemistry from Laval University and PhD from the University of Miami, completing a postdoctoral fellowship at Duke. After serving as assistant professor at Laval University School of Medicine in 1975, he joined Duke's faculty in 1977, spending nearly his entire 47-year career there.

Caron's research elucidated the molecular mechanisms governing the action and regulation of hormones and neurotransmitters, with a focus on G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) like dopamine and adrenergic receptors, and neurotransmitter transporters—key targets for psychostimulants and antidepressants. Through genetically engineered mouse models, he advanced understanding of brain disorders including schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, ADHD, mood disorders, and addiction, discovering novel dopamine D2 receptor signaling and the regulatory roles of kinases and β-arrestins in GPCR desensitization, trafficking, and biased signaling. With over 650 publications, standout contributions include "Dopamine receptors: from structure to function" (1998, Physiological Reviews), "Hyperlocomotion and indifference to cocaine and amphetamine in mice lacking the dopamine transporter" (1996, Nature), "β-Arrestin: a protein that regulates β-adrenergic receptor function" (1990, Science), and "Plasma membrane monoamine transporters: structure, regulation and function" (2003, Nature Reviews Neuroscience). He contributed editorially to journals like the Journal of Clinical Investigation and mentored generations of scientists. Honors include Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator (1992–2004), Julius Axelrod Award (2005, ASPET), election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and AAAS Fellowship. Marc G. Caron passed away April 25, 2022.

Professional Email: marc.caron@duke.edu