Cancer researchers in the College of Pharmacy study the molecular basis of cancer — from understanding the pathways and cellular changes that accompany cancer to specific gene mutations that drive the disease.

Our faculty work to identify new cellular targets for cancer drugs, develop new drugs, and identify new ways of delivering drugs specifically to cancer cells. We use state-of-the-art methodologies and pharmacogenomic approaches to explore DNA mutations and gene expression in individual tumors, to identify the best chemotherapeutic drug to treat cancer patients and improve the effectiveness of cancer treatment and overall outcome.

Clinical and translational research involves moving knowledge and discovery gained from the basic sciences to its application in clinical and community settings. This concept is often summarized by the phrases "bench-to-bedside" and "bedside-to-community" research.

Clinical faculty in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Outcomes Sciences also work in specialty areas at hospitals, community pharmacies, and other practice sites across the state. These specialties include oncology, infectious diseases, cardiovascular, endocrine, transitions of care, medication therapy management, toxicology, medication safety and adherence, gastroenterology, pediatrics, geriatrics, sterile compounding and health outcomes.

Faculty in the College of Pharmacy conduct systematic research that compares the effectiveness, benefits, and/or harm of two or more available therapeutic options for a given condition. The results provide evidence-based information usable by clinicians, patients, policymakers and health plans and payers.

Drug discovery is the process through which potential new therapeutic entities are identified, using a combination of computational, experimental, translational, and clinical models. Researchers in the College of Pharmacy work to evaluate new drug candidates and develop novel, effective, and safe medications for treating diseases.

Health Services researchers in the College of Pharmacy seek to identify the most effective way to organize, manage, finance and deliver high quality care, while reducing medical errors and improving patient safety.

Pharmacists play an important role in medication safety, working in partnership with prescribers to minimize patient risks and ensure the best possible health outcomes for patients. Our researchers aim to identify, understand and ultimately reduce medication adverse events.

Neuroscience researchers in the College of Pharmacy study the molecular basis of neurological disorders, addiction and neuroAIDS to understand the neuronal and cellular pathways that drive these diseases.

Equipped with state-of-the-art pharmacogenomic approaches, studies conducted by our faculty have successfully identified potential molecular targets for development of therapeutics in treating smoking cessation, neuroAIDS, schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Also called the science of dosage form design, pharmaceutics helps relate the formulation of drugs to their delivery and disposition in the body. Our faculty in the College of Pharmacy have the expertise in rational design and synthesis of environment responsive nanoparticles for cancer and for central nervous system diseases including Alzheimer's disease, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, stroke, Parkinson’s disease and targeted therapy.

Pharmacoeconomics identifies, measures and compares the costs and consequences of pharmaceutical products and services. Our faculty engaged in pharmacoeconomics research measure outcomes via cost-minimization analysis, cost-benefit analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis, and cost-utility analysis. Decision makers can use these methods to evaluate and compare the total costs of treatment options and the outcomes associated with these options.

Pharmacoepidemiology combines the sciences of pharmacology and epidemiology. Using large health-care databases, pharmacoepidemiology researchers apply epidemiology principles and research models to study the effects of medications in human populations.

Researchers in pharmacology at the College of Pharmacy focus on identifying new pharmacological targets for drugs, including various receptors and ion channels. Faculty members employ a wide variety of techniques ranging from subcellular to whole organism level to identify novel pharmacological targets. This includes state-of-the-art methodologies, such as patch-clamp electrophysiology, confocal microscopy, calcium imaging, isometric urinary bladder smooth muscle tension recording and various cellular and molecular approaches.

Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) research models evaluate the time course of the desired or undesired effects in response to drug therapy. Our faculty focus on pharmacokinetics principles and pharmacodynamics relationships to optimize drug therapy in individual patients.

Faculty in the College of Pharmacy engage in this research area by studying, creating and adopting innovative teaching approaches and formally communicating their discoveries to peers via presentation and publication of results. We strive to create an environment that fosters innovative coursework to prepare practitioners for contemporary and future practice roles and advance the academic growth and success of our faculty.