Neuropharmacology Pioneer Lawrence Toll Joins National Academy of Inventors

Lawrence Toll, Ph.D., a distinguished professor at Florida Atlantic University, has been named a senior member of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). The honour recognises his decades of groundbreaking research in neuropharmacology, particularly in pain mechanisms and substance use disorders. His induction will take place at the NAI's Senior Member Ceremony in Los Angeles from 1 to 4 June.

Toll has spent over 30 years researching nicotine addiction and pain pathways. His lab specialises in developing selective ligands that target specific nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes, offering potential insights into treating addiction. Alongside this work, he co-discovered nociceptin—the natural peptide for the NOP receptor—in 1995.

His career includes more than 130 scientific publications and nine patents, either issued or pending. These innovations have advanced fields ranging from technology to human health. Toll's research has also received continuous funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse since the 1990s. At Florida Atlantic University, he holds roles as a professor of biomedical science and a core member of the Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute. His contributions span academic research, patented discoveries, and long-term federal support for his studies.

Toll's induction into the NAI highlights his sustained impact on neuropharmacology and addiction science. His work, though not yet in clinical trials, continues to shape understanding in pain and substance use research. The ceremony in June will formally acknowledge his achievements among fellow innovators.