We are very pleased to announce that on September 11, 2026, Dr. Idil Toklucu successfully defended her medical dissertation at the Institute of Neurophysiology at Uniklinik RWTH Aachen, receiving the highest grade, summa cum laude.
Her dissertation was based on the publication “α-Adrenoreceptor blocker phentolamine inhibits voltage-gated sodium channels via the local anesthetic binding site,” which appeared in the British Journal of Pharmacology, and was supervised by Prof. Dr. Angelika Lampert and Dr. Jannis Körner.
Dr. Toklucu investigated local anesthesia, which is frequently used in clinical practice. It is often administered in combination with α-adrenoreceptor blockers. In her research, Dr. Toklucu demonstrated that the α-adrenoreceptor blocker phentolamine inhibits voltage-gated sodium channels by binding to the binding site of local anesthetics. The results provide new insights into the mechanisms of action of phentolamine and contribute to a better understanding of the pharmacological modulation of sodium channels, which play a central role in the generation and transmission of pain signals.
The entire team at the Institute of Neurophysiology extends its congratulations to Dr. Toklucu on this outstanding achievement and wishes her all the best in her future scientific and professional endeavors.
