Research and Discovery

Faculty across the School of Pharmacy's Departments of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Practice, Sciences, and Health Outcomes Research have received more than $38.5 million in grants and contracts.

Researchers in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (PSC) are identifying new drugs to treat drug abuse, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and infection. The Department of Practice, Sciences, and Health Outcomes Research (P-SHOR) is dedicated to advancing pharmacy practice through education, research, leadership and advocacy, and shapes the future of pharmacy by offering innovative teaching methods, and translating research discoveries and pharmacy practice innovations into exemplary patient care. P-SHOR also provides valuable information on the economic costs, safety, and public policy issues that arise once drugs and therapies have been made available to the public.

Research Spotlight: Clinical Use of Drugs Including Bulk Drug Substances Nominated for Use in Compounding by Outsourcing Facilities

Collaboration between M-CERSI and the FDA seeks to solicit input from the public to better understand the use of certain bulk drug substances nominated for use in compounding by outsourcing facilities under section 503B of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

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Research initiatives at the School span the spectrum of drug discovery, drug development, and practice-based research.

The chart below highlights some of the broad research areas in which the School's faculty specialize.

Department	Research Areas of Interest
Pharmaceutical Sciences	Proteomics: Determination of the underlying mechanism of disease through the function and dysfunction of proteins using mass spectrometry and cellular and structural biology. Drug Design and Discovery: Translation of the findings from proteomics to the computer-aided rational design to target identification, chemical synthesis, and lead optimization. Drug Development and Translational Research: Preclinical development, formulation, and delivery of new, experimental therapeutics; drug metabolism and pharmacogenomics, with an emphasis on drug safety, toxicity, and efficacy.
Practice, Sciences, and Health Outcomes Research	Practice-Based Research: Faculty have conducted groundbreaking research in the areas of cardiology, palliative care and geriatrics, infectious diseases, mental health, ambulatory care, and toxicology. Translational Research: Faculty research in this area focuses on regulatory science, drug development tools, and precision therapeutics. Educational Research: Faculty have developed innovative teaching methods based on research that measures and analyzes the effectiveness of unconventional teaching methodologies and contemporary adult learning. Comparative Effectiveness Research: Compares different health care and treatment approaches to help patient and providers make more informed decisions on care and coverage. Pharmacoeconomics: Examines the true value of pharmaceuticals by researching, among other variables, costs, expenditures, patient outcomes, quality of life, and budget impact of new technologies. Pharmacoepidemiology: Examines the use and the effect of drugs at the population level, and includes evaluation of appropriateness of drug use in vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly. Pharmaceutical Policy: Involves the development, provision and use of medications within a health care system, including regulatory issues, pricing, coverage and payment, and other similar topics.

Department

Research Areas of Interest

Pharmaceutical Sciences

Proteomics: Determination of the underlying mechanism of disease through the function and dysfunction of proteins using mass spectrometry and cellular and structural biology.
Drug Design and Discovery: Translation of the findings from proteomics to the computer-aided rational design to target identification, chemical synthesis, and lead optimization.
Drug Development and Translational Research: Preclinical development, formulation, and delivery of new, experimental therapeutics; drug metabolism and pharmacogenomics, with an emphasis on drug safety, toxicity, and efficacy.

Practice, Sciences, and Health Outcomes Research

Practice-Based Research: Faculty have conducted groundbreaking research in the areas of cardiology, palliative care and geriatrics, infectious diseases, mental health, ambulatory care, and toxicology.
Translational Research: Faculty research in this area focuses on regulatory science, drug development tools, and precision therapeutics.
Educational Research: Faculty have developed innovative teaching methods based on research that measures and analyzes the effectiveness of unconventional teaching methodologies and contemporary adult learning.
Comparative Effectiveness Research: Compares different health care and treatment approaches to help patient and providers make more informed decisions on care and coverage.
Pharmacoeconomics: Examines the true value of pharmaceuticals by researching, among other variables, costs, expenditures, patient outcomes, quality of life, and budget impact of new technologies.
Pharmacoepidemiology: Examines the use and the effect of drugs at the population level, and includes evaluation of appropriateness of drug use in vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly.
Pharmaceutical Policy: Involves the development, provision and use of medications within a health care system, including regulatory issues, pricing, coverage and payment, and other similar topics.