trpv2 was independently discovered by two research groups and described in 1999. it was identified in the lab of david julius as a close homolog of trpv1, known as the first identified thermosensitive ion channel. itaru kojima from gunma university was looking for a protein which is responsible for the entry of calcium into cells in response to insulin-like growth factor-1 (igf-1). upon stimulation of cells with igf-1, it was discovered that trpv2 translocates towards and integrates into the cell membrane and increases intracellular calcium concentrations.