School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology

Areas of Research

Our faculty pursue research on a wide variety of topics within the discipline of pharmacology and toxicology, using cutting-edge techniques such as stem cell research and optogenetics.

Neuropharmacology

Includes research on:

central and peripheral neurotransmission
neurotoxicology
nerve growth factors
neural cytoskeletal elements

Psychopharmacology

Image of activated receptors in the brain.

Includes research on:

psychoactive drugs
drug addiction and alcohol dependence
behavioral pharmacology and the pharmacology of abused drugs
novel molecules that may ameliorate the effects of drug abuse

Toxicology

Four charts showing experimental results.

Includes research on:

the environmental and clinical aspects of toxicological processes
the effects of xenobiotics on metabolism
the toxicity and mechanisms of halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons, such as dioxins
heavy metals, cyclic ethers and other environmental pollutants
toxicological effects on development, renal and pulmonary function, neural activity and immune responses

Clinical Pharmacology

Colorized plot of circadian rhythms over a 24-hour cycle.

Includes research on:

heart ischemia, cardiac pharmacology and cardiovascular disease
pulmonary disease
infectious disease
neurodegenerative disorders
pharmacological oncology
Parkinson’s disease
circadian rhythm disorders
macular degeneration

Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology

Includes research on:

drug-receptor interactions
signal transduction mechanisms
calcium and calmodulin-dependent processes
protein phosphorylation
membrane transport
drug-enzyme interactions
pharmacology of antibiotics and immune responses
regulation of gene expression
molecular determinants of growth and differentiation of cells

View all faculty research interests

Researcher Spotlight

Addiction: Rewiring the Brain

12/6/11

David Dietz, PhD, investigates cellular changes by which drugs “hijack” the central nervous system’s reward circuitry, causing addiction. He studies how differences in individuals’ molecular and behavioral plasticity mediate susceptibility to drug abuse and relapse.
The Neuropharmacology of Melatonin

4/13/12

Margarita L. Dubocovich, PhD, works to elucidate melatonin’s mechanism of action and role in modulating circadian rhythms. Her lab develops novel molecules targeting melatonin receptors to treat depression, sleep disorders and cardiovascular disease.
Pesticide Biomarkers

4/13/12

James R. Olson, PhD, has traveled to Egypt to work with cotton laborers exposed to pesticides. His research links genetics, an individual’s degree of exposure to pesticides and effects on health, seeking to improve workplace and environmental health worldwide.
Improving Breast Cancer Treatments

4/13/12

Rajendram Rajnarayanan, PhD, studies interactomes of the human estrogen receptor, which is expressed in 70 percent of breast cancers. His lab seeks to design molecules to improve the effects of tamoxifen, a drug commonly prescribed to treat breast cancer.
Diabetes

4/13/12

Suzanne Laychock, PhD, is investigating the cellular mechanisms regulating insulin secretion in pancreatic cells. Her group has used pancreatic cells in primary culture to develop in vitro systems that mimic aspects of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
The Genomics of Myelination

4/12/12

Fraser J. Sim, PhD, studies the molecular mechanisms controlling stem and progenitor cell fate in the human brain. His lab seeks to develop novel drug- and cell-based therapies for repair and regeneration in demyelinating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis.
Healing Aging Hearts

4/12/12

Ji Li, PhD, studies the molecular mechanisms of coronary artery disease, the most common cause of age-related cardiovascular disease. He seeks novel strategies to boost patients’ tolerance of cardiac stressor events and prevent their loss of cardiac resilience.

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Core Facilities

Flow Cytometry and Cell Sorting

4/24/12

Hosts analytical fluorescence-activated flow cytometers/cell sorters (FACS) and a state-of-the art high-speed cell sorter.
Molecular Interactions

4/24/12

Allows investigators to analyze the kinetics of protein-protein and protein-ligand interactions.
Health Sciences Instrument Shops

4/24/12

Fabricates custom equipment and repairs and modifies instruments to researchers’ needs.
Stem Cell Engraftment and In Vivo Analysis

4/24/12

Engrafts stem cells into mice and other model systems; quantifies cell engraftment, migration and differentiation, and analyzes the behavior consequences of neural engraftment.
Stem Cell Sequencing/Epigenomics Analysis

4/24/12

Characterizes and identifies epigenetic and transcription signatures of stem cells and their derived progeny using Next-Gen sequencing.
Gene Targeting and Transgenics

4/24/12

Provides transgenic approaches for the systematic dissection of the genetic, molecular, cellular and physiological mechanisms underlying complex biological processes.
Scanning Transmission X-Ray Microscopy

4/24/12

Provides facilities and technical assistance for processing and analyzing samples using electron microscopy.
Clinical Flow Cytometry

4/24/12

Provides multiparameter flow cytometry services for clinical diagnosis and follow-up, and to basic and clinical researchers.
X-Ray Photoelectron Emission Microscopy

4/24/12

Houses a transmission electron microscope as well as light microscopes; consults with investigators and assists with equipment operation.
Confocal Microscopy/Cellular Imaging

4/24/12

Contains a Zeiss LSM-510 Meta NLO laser scanning confocal microscope attached to a Zeiss-inverted microscope upgraded to multiphoton capability.
Histology Core

4/24/12

Performs all procedures related to tissue preservation and histological analysis, including training on cryostat use and other protocols.
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Generation

4/24/12

Helps investigators generate induced pluripotent stem cells from human skin fibroblasts using lentiviral vectors.
Standard DNA Sequencing

4/24/12

Carries out Sanger sequencing on a fee-for-service basis on instrumentation that typically provides reads of >600bp.
Biochemistry Stockroom

4/24/12

Supplies the school and affiliated research programs with biochemical reagents.
Next Generation Sequencing and Expression

4/24/12

Offers high-throughput, next-generation sequencing and gene-expression analysis services, including 3’-expression, miRNA, exon and gene arrays.
Stem Cell Culture, Banking and Training

4/24/12

Maintains and banks stem cells, and provides stem cells and training to interested researchers.
Toxicology Research Center

4/24/12

Analyzes xenobiotics and other metabolites, and supports OSHA-sponsored educational activities.
Proteomics/Maldi-Tof

4/24/12

Allows identification of differentially expressed proteins via peptide mass fingerprinting.
Proteomics/Mass Spectrometry

4/24/12

Identifies proteins in cell or tissue extracts using several different liquid chromotography/mass spectrometry based approaches.
Protein Production and Crystallization

4/24/12

Supports automated crystallization trials in a 1,536-well format, providing a key step in determining atomic scale molecular structures.
Positron Emission Tomography

4/24/12

Utilizes advanced PET radiopharmaceuticals/tracers and the latest PET/CT imaging technology to explore a wide variety of clinical and research questions.

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Areas of Research

Neuropharmacology

Psychopharmacology

Toxicology

Clinical Pharmacology

Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology

Research and Facilities