by Juan Du and Walter Stühmer
The Biophysical Society is pleased to announce that Dr. Baron Chanda, Dr. Crina Nimigean, and Dr. Dan Minor, and have been selected as the 2025 recipients of the Cole Award in recognition of their groundbreaking contributions to the field of ion channel biophysics.
The Kenneth S. Cole Award was established to honor outstanding contributions to the field of membrane biophysics, particularly in the study of ion channels, transporters, and membrane proteins. Named after Kenneth Stewart Cole (1900-1984), a pioneer in biophysics, the award recognizes individuals whose research has significantly advanced our understanding of membrane excitability, ion conduction, and transport mechanisms. Dr. Cole’s development of the voltage clamp technique provided the foundation for the seminal work of Hodgkin and Huxley, leading to our current understanding of electrical signaling in neurons and muscle cells. Since its inception, the Cole Award has celebrated scientists who have shaped the landscape of membrane biophysics through innovative discoveries and transformative research.
Dr. Baron Chanda, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Neuroscience and Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University in St. Louis
Dr. Baron Chanda is recognized for his pioneering work on ion channel gating and conformational dynamics. His research has elucidated the molecular basis of ion channel activation by voltage, ligands, and temperature. He has made significant technical contributions, including developing innovative fluorescence-based approaches to track ion channel conformational changes in real time, which have led to groundbreaking discoveries in hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN). His early work led to a new method for measuring ion channel gating energetics, which was instrumental in uncovering a non-canonical pathway for voltage-dependent activation of potassium channels, thereby refining our understanding of gating mechanism. Studies of temperature-dependent gating in prokaryotic channels by Dr. Chanda and his colleagues resulted in the discovery of a novel mechanism of temperature-sensing. His recent advancements in cryo-EM include solving the structure of a pacemaker ion channel in its open state, further expanding our structural understanding of ion channel function. His research spans multiple disciplines, bridging single molecule biophysics, structural biology, and electrophysiology to advance our understanding of ion channel mechanisms. Beyond research, Dr. Chanda has played an influential role in the ion channel community through leadership and service. He has served on the editorial boards of Journal of General Physiology and Biophysical Journal, co-chaired the 2024 Ion Channel Gordon Conference, and 2023 Biophysical Society Annual Meeting. He has previously served as the chair of BPNS study section and is currently the President of the Society of General Physiology.
Dr. Crina Nimigean, Ph.D.
Professor, Departments of Anesthesiology and Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medical College
Dr. Crina Nimigean is a leading biophysicist recognized for her pioneering contributions to understanding ion channel selectivity, gating, and regulation. Her research has combined electrophysiology, single-channel recordings, and structural biology to uncover fundamental mechanisms governing potassium and cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG and HCN) channels. She has made significant breakthroughs in the study of ion permeation and selectivity, challenging conventional models and providing a deeper understanding of ion binding and gating mechanisms. Dr. Nimigean’s work has also revealed novel insights into how lipids and cellular enzymes modulate ion channel activity. Her structural and functional studies on bacterial and eukaryotic CNG and HCN channels have advanced our understanding of ligand-induced gating, voltage sensor domain dynamics, and revealed the mechanism by which the anesthetic propofol repaired HCN channel mutations associated with epilepsy. Additionally, her groundbreaking cryo-EM studies have provided the first structural evidence of ball-and-chain inactivation in potassium channels, setting new standards in the field. Beyond her research, Dr. Nimigean has played a pivotal role in the ion channel community through mentoring, editorial contributions, and conference leadership. She has served as President of the Society of General Physiologists, Associate Editor for the Journal of General Physiology, and organizer of numerous international meetings, including Gordon Research Conferences and Biophysical Society symposia.
Dr. Dan Minor, Ph.D.
Professor, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics & Molecular Pharmacology, University of California at San Francisco
Dr. Dan Minor has made groundbreaking contributions to ion channel structural biology, integrating protein folding principles, physical chemistry, and structural analysis to uncover fundamental mechanisms of ion channel function. His pioneering studies on transmembrane domain packing using random mutagenesis and yeast complementation provided a conceptual and methodological breakthrough, influencing ion channel research and engineering. His early work elucidating the structural interactions of calcium channel β-subunits and their regulation of channel inactivation has been highly influential. Dr. Minor has also transformed our understanding of K2P channel regulation, identifying novel ligand binding sites and revealing mechanisms by which small molecules modulate these channels. His work on bacterial voltage-gated sodium channels (BacNaV) has provided critical insights into their structure function relationship, including temperature sensing mechanisms and toxin binding. His recent cryo-EM structure of human CaV1.2 in complex with the ER chaperone EMC has provided fundamental insights into early steps of ion channel biogenesis, assembly, and quality control, bridging structural biology with cell biology. Beyond his scientific achievements, Dr. Minor has played a major role in mentoring the next generation of ion channel researchers and advancing the field through leadership and service. He co- edited the Methods in Enzymology volumes on ion channel biochemistry and has significantly contributed to community-driven efforts in ion channel research.
The Kenneth S. Cole Award recognizes outstanding achievements in the field of membrane biophysics, particularly in the study of ion channels, transporters and receptors. Since its inception in 1973, the award has been conferred upon more than 50 distinguished researchers, reflecting the rich history and impact of ion channel biophysics. The Biophysical Society and the Channels, Receptors, and Transporters (CRT) subgroup has played – and will continue to play – a pivotal role in fostering and highlighting the advancements in the ion channel field. The BPS CRT chairs and subgroup members have been driving the progress and continue to do so, as evidenced by the impressive list of researchers who have received the Cole Award.
The 2025 awardees have not only expanded our fundamental understanding of ion channel biology but have also influenced broader areas of neuroscience, physiology, and pharmacology. Their extensive contributions to both scientific research and community leaderships make them highly deserving recipients of the 2025 Kenneth S. Cole Award.
Please join us in celebrating the remarkable achievements of Dr. Baron Chanda, Dr. Crina Nimigean, and Dr. Dan Minor. The award ceremony took place at the Biophysical Society Annual Meeting in Los Angelos in 2025, where they presented their research achievements as part of the Cole Award Dinner Symposium.