Norma C. Adragna, Ph.D., Interim Chair
Pharmacology and toxicology are broadly based biomedical sciences involving the study of the therapeutic and/or potential toxicity of chemical agents on biological systems. The focus of the department is on the pursuit of excellence in teaching and research.
Department News
Pharmacology grads enjoy 0% unemployment
A recent CNNMoney story reports that in the United States, college grads who studied astrophysics, geophysics, pharmacology and actuarial science had zero unemployment in 2010, according to the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce. See:
Educational Mission
The educational mission of the department is related to teaching in the medical, nursing, graduate and undergraduate curricula. Teaching excellence is a priority of the department and the faculty put much effort into their lectures and practical science teaching. The programs of study are in the Master of Science in Pharmacology and Toxicology and the Ph.D. programs in Biomedical Sciences and Environmental Sciences. The master's program is a research-based program that recruits students from universities as well as the military and industrial sectors. Faculty also participate in the summer research training program for minorities and persons with disabilities (STREAMS) as well as the Biomedical Science Exchange (BSE) a research and education with universities in Brazil.
Research Mission
The research foci of the department are:
- Toxicology - dermal, behavioral, immunological, cardiovascular, and nanoparticles
- Disease processes - hypertension, diabetes, stroke, autism, pain, and others
- Neuroscience - cellular physiology, ion transport, behavior, and volume regulation
The methods used in these experimental approaches are molecular genetics, gene therapy, mass spectroscopy (proteomics), gene microarray expression, integrative cardiovascular biology, confocal microscopy and a low-level laboratory for the use of dilute chemical agents.
Some of the facilities available to the faculty and students are molecular biology, a genomics expression center, a proteome analysis laboratory, an imaging facility, a conference room, student offices and designated space within the Laboratory Animal Resources facility. Research support comes from the NIH, American Heart Association, Office of Air Force Research, Department of Defense, Department of Education, and Colgate Palmolive.
The department will continue its growth in the coming years with the addition of faculty, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students and visiting faculty and students. There are close ties with the research scientists at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (Air Force and Navy Research Laboratories) and Battelle Inc. in West Jefferson, Ohio. Many of these scientists participate in teaching and research programs as adjunct faculty. They have definitely enhanced our toxicological research and training opportunities.
