Robert Joseph Lefkowitz is a Noble Prize winner American physician and biochemist. He is best known for his innovation that revealed the inner workings of an important family G-protein-coupled receptors, which is also called seven-transmembrane domain receptors, 7TM receptors, heptahelical receptors, serpentine receptor, and G protein-linked receptors (GPLR).

Lefkowitz is currently an Investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Likewise, he is also James B. Duke Professor of Medicine and Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Duke University, North Carolina.

How Much Does Robert J Lefkowitz Earn From His Profession? Net worth, Salary, Income

Robert J Lefkowitz earns a colossal sum of money from his career. A Noble Prize Winning physician as well as a biochemist Lefkowitz as done groundbreaking discoveries which reveal the inner workings of an important family G protein-coupled receptors. 

Read more: Jim Williams Biography

Lefkowitz further works as a professor in different research centers and universities through which he adds the extra sum to his total income. Robert earns the salary of around $2 million annually. Likewise, his net worth is estimated to be around $10 million as of 2019.

As of now, Robert is living a lavish life with his spouse and kids. For long, he is still actively working in the same field thus analyzing his hardwork and dedication, the income of Lefkowitz is sure to be increased in the upcoming days. 

How Is The Married Life Of Robert J Lefkowitz With His Second Spouse? Relationships, Affairs, Children, Divorce 

Robert J Lefkowitz is married twice. He was first married to Arna Brandel. However, the precise date and place of their wedding are still concealed. From their relationship, the pair were blessed with five children. 


CAPTION: Picture of Robert Lefkowitz and his family and relatives
SOURCE: Pinterest

Their children are David Lefkowitz born in 1964, Larry Lefkowitz now Noah Jordan born in 1965 and Cheryl Lefkowitz born in 1968. Likewise, their other kids are Mara Lefkowitz born in 1971 and Joshua Lefkowitz born in 1977. 

Do not miss: Tasha McCauley Biography

Furthermore, Lefkowitz has five grandchildren named Maya, Jonah, Madeleine, Samantha, and Ethan. However, the things didn’t work out well in between the pair so they later separated with a divorce. 


CAPTION: Image of Robert Lefkowitz and his grandchildren
SOURCE: Zimbio

Lefkowitz later married his second wife, Lynn Tilley in 1991. Robert and his wife are together since their wedding. So far, there are no rumors or signs of their divorce and extramarital affairs.

When Was Robert J Lefkowitz Born? Early Life And Education

Robert Lefkowitz was born on 15th April 1943 in The Bronx, New York, the USA to Jewish parents Rose Lefkowitz and Max Lefkowitz. His parents immigrated from Poland to the United Staes in the late 19th century.  

Lefkowitz attended the Bronx High School of Science and graduated in 1959. Soon, after the graduation, Robert joined Columbia College where he studied chemistry. In 1962, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and went on to study medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.


CAPTION: Robert Lefkowitz photo
SOURCE: Pinterest

Shortly, after graduating with an M.D. Degree Lefkowitz worked as an intern and one-year general medicine residency at the College of Physician and Surgeons. In 1968, he moved to Maryland and worked at National Institutes of Health as Clinical and Research Associate until 1970.

Robert J Lefkowitz Career

After completing his medical residency and research and clinical training in 1973, Robert Lefkowitz was named the Associate Professor of Medicine as well as  Assistant Professor of Biochemistry at the Duke University Medical Center. In 1977, he received a promotion to Professor of Medicine and in 1982 to James B. Duke Professor of Medicine at Duke University.

You may also like: Isamu Akasaki Biography

Lefkowitz is also a Professor of Biochemistry and  Chemistry. He has been an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute since 1976 and was an Established Investigator of the American Heart Association from 1973 until 1976.

YouTube: GPCR signaling – Robert Lefkowitz (Duke)

Lefkowitz studies receptor biology and signal transduction and are most well known for his detailed characterizations of the sequence, structure, and function of the β-adrenergic and related receptors and for the discovery and characterization of the two families of proteins which regulate them, the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) kinases and β-arrestins.

Robert Lefkowitz made a groundbreaking contribution in the mid-1980s when he and his colleagues cloned the gene first for the β-adrenergic receptor, and then rapidly thereafter, for a total of 8 adrenergic receptors (receptors for adrenaline and noradrenaline).

Also read: Larry Page Biography

This led to the seminal discovery that all GPCRs (which include the β-adrenergic receptor) have a very similar molecular structure. The structure is defined by an amino acid sequence which weaves its way back and forth across the plasma membrane seven times. Today we know that about 1,000 receptors in the human body belong to this
same family.

YouTube: Duke’s Robert Lefkowitz shares in chemistry Nobel Prize

The significance of this is that all of these receptors use the same basic mechanisms so that pharmaceutical researchers now understand how to effectively target the largest receptor family in the human body.

Today, as many as 30 to 50 percents of all prescription drugs are designed to “fit” like keys into the similarly structured locks of Lefkowitz’ receptors— everything from antihistamines to ulcer drugs to beta blockers that help relieve hypertension, angina, and coronary disease. Lefkowitz is among the most highly cited researchers in the fields of biology, biochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, and clinical medicine according to Thomson of ISI.

Robert J Lefkowitz Awards And Achievements

Robert Lefkowitz has been honored with numerous awards. Lefkowitz received the John Jacob Abel Award in Pharmacology in 1978 and Gairdner Foundation International Award in 1988.

Moreover, Lefkowitz was honored with Jessie Stevenson Kovalenko Medal in 2001 as well as  Foundation Lefoulon – Delalande Grand Prix for Science in 2003 and Albany Medical Center Prize in Medicine and Biomedical Research in 2007. Lefkowitz earned the National Medal of Science and The Shaw Prize in Life Science and Medicine, both in 2007.

In 2009, Robert earned the ‘BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award’, in the Biomedicine Category and Reaser each Achievements Awards from the American Heart Association. Lefkowitz received a Nobel Prize in Chemistry, for the groundbreaking discovery of  G protein-coupled receptors, with Brian Kobilka in 2012.

Tags