Dr. David J. Mangelsdorf is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Pharmacology. He holds the Distinguished Chair in Pharmacology and the Raymond and Ellen Willie Distinguished Chair in Molecular Neuropharmacology. His research is focused on the mechanism of action of nuclear hormone receptors. Dr. Mangelsdorf is also a Howard Hughes Medical Investigator. The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) is a philanthropic organization that promotes biomedical research. Dr. Mangelsdorf joined the faculty in 1993, and became Chairman of Pharmacology in 2006. He also holds the Beatrice and Miguel Elias Distinguished Chair in Biomedical Science and has a secondary appointment in Biochemistry. In 2008 Dr. Mangelsdorf was elected to membership in the prestigious National Academy of Sciences.