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Pharmacology and Physiology

Hippocampus of a transgenic mouse, expressing YFP (a spectral variant of Green Fluorescent Protein) in selected neuronal populations under the control of the Thy1 gene promoter, counterstained with DAPI (blue).

Chair's Welcome and Departmental Overview

I am pleased to welcome you to the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, one of four basic science departments in the Biomedical Graduate Studies Program within Drexel University College of Medicine. 

Our mission is to provide outstanding education and training to students that will serve as the foundation for lifelong contributions to the biomedical and health sciences. We emphasize a collaborative atmosphere with the objective of fostering high quality, interdisciplinary research.

The disciplines of pharmacology and physiology touch on virtually every scientific discipline and clinical area within the biomedical sciences, thereby providing students with a range of opportunities into disease mechanisms and altered physiological processes, new pharmacological tools and new medications.

We are unique in offering educational programs not only in the basic sciences of pharmacology and physiology but also in drug discovery and development, which provides students with a wealth of advantages in considering career opportunities within academic, biopharmaceutical, and pharmaceutical settings.

Our faculty pursue a wide variety of research themes, including:

  • Pain - with an emphasis on epigenetic regulation, microRNA, biomarkers, neuroplasticity in acute and chronic pain, electrophysiological and behavioral assessments.
  • Cancer - molecular and cellular mechanisms of metastases, calcium signaling; inhibitors of tumor growth.
  • Psychiatric and Neurodegenerative Disorders - the role of proinflammatory cytokines in depressive disorders; autism spectrum disorders, neuropathology related to HIV/AIDs and chemokine receptors.
  • Smooth Muscle Function - regulation of excitation and contraction, signaling cascades in bladder and vascular systems
  • Molecular Pharmacology - molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of biogenic amine transporters
  • Behavioral Pharmacology and Physiology - study of behavioral and physiological processes underlying attention, learning and behavioral adaptability; development of animal model systems
  • Drug Discovery and Development – processes involved in how drugs are discovered and developed encompassing every aspect from target identification through to commercialization and beyond.  Drug discovery and development is both an educational component and a research component of the department.

We invite you to explore the research interests of our faculty and inquire if you have questions. Additional information about the faculty - such as publications and laboratory information - can be found on their biography pages.

Department of Pharmacology and Physiology Faculty and Interests

  • Seena Ajit, Ph.D. - Molecular mechanisms of neurophathic pain; epigenetic regulation; microRNA expression and regulation; biomarkers.
  • James Barrett, Ph.D. - Pain; behavioral pharmacology; animal models; drug discovery and development.
  •  Janet Clark, Ph.D. - Neuropsychiatric disorders; immune dysregulation; pro-inflammatory animal model of depression; drug discovery & development.
  • G.John DiGregorio, M.D. Ph.D. - Analyses of drugs and their metabolites in biological fluids.
  • Alessandro Fatatis, M.D., Ph.D. - Molecular and genetic targets for therapuetics against metastatic dissemination; prostate and breast cancer cells targeting the skeleton.
  •  Alessandro Graziano, Ph.D. - CNS plasticity in central and chronic pain; pharmacological and optogenetics approaches to pain control.
  • David Harris, Ph.D. - The use of simulation in medical education; hypertension and heart failure.
  • Joel Horwitz, Ph.D. - Pharmacology education.
  •  Huijuan Hu, Ph.D. - Ion Channels; synaptic transmission; neuropathic and inflammatory pain; electrophysiology.
  • Olimpia Meucci, M.D., Ph.D. - NeuroAIDs; chemokines, neuroprotection; neuronal-glia interactions; CNS therapeutics; neuroimmunology.
  • Robert Moreland, Ph.D. - Vascular and bladder smooth muscle physiology; excitation-contraction coupling; calcium sensitization; hypertension; diabetes; benign prostatic hyperplasia.
  • Ole Mortensen, Ph.D. - Function and regulation of monoamine transporters - targets of antidepressants and psychostimulants.
  • Jeff Oristaglio, Ph.D. - physiological processes involoved in selective attention, learning and adaptability; neurodevelopmental disorders.
  • Anthony Romano, Ph.D. - Pharmacology education.
  • Kenny Simansky, Ph.D. - Vice Dean of Research.

James E. Barrett
James E. Barrett, Ph.D.
Professor & Chair
Pharmacology & Physiology

james.barrett@
drexelmed.edu


215-762-4530

Upcoming Events

Biomedical Career Options Workshop
Friday September 10, 2010
8:30am - 4:30pm
New College Building
Geary Auditorium B


Speakers from a variety of biomedical
careers who are accomplished leaders
in their respective professions will
share their experiences and speak on
their professions to Drexel students
and postdoctoral fellows.

Please register for this free event
by sending an e-mail with your name
and department to: cimbesi@drexelmed.edu
to confirm your attendance no later than
July 31, 2010.  Please note: faculty and
staff are welcome to attend.