Dr. Lefkowitz is the James B. Duke Professor of Medicine and Biochemistry at Duke University as well as an investigator for the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. His research is concerned with the molecular properties and regulatory mechanisms that control the function of plasma membrane receptors for hormones and drugs under normal and pathological circumstances. Lefkowitz isolated eight of the nine subtypes of adrenergic receptors and determined their complete amino acid sequences. The ß-adrenergic receptors are among the most common G protein–coupled receptors, regulating the body's fight-or-flight response by responding to epinephrine.

He discovered two new families of proteins (G protein–coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) including the ß-adrenergic receptor kinase (ßARK), and arrestins) that desensitize G protein–coupled receptors, a finding that has helped scientists understand, in molecular terms, how receptors become tolerant to certain drugs.

Dr. Lefkowitz has published more than 800 articles, authored or co-authored three books including the seventh edition of the Principles of Biochemistry and given many named and honorary lectures throughout the country and abroad. Dr. Lefkowitz has received numerous awards and honors including the 2007 Shaw Prize in Life Science and Medicine, the Albany Medical Center Prize in Medicine and Biochemical Research (2007), Institut de France Fondation Lefoulon-Delalande Grand Prix for Science Award (2003), and the Gairdner Foundation International Award (1988). He is one of the scientists featured in the 2007 JBC Centennial for “100 Years of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology”.