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Pharmacology, Addiction Science, and Toxicology

The Pharmacology, Addiction Science, and Toxicology (PhAST) track provides a broad and cutting-edge training in Pharmacology from molecular mechanisms of drug action and disease to experimental therapeutics and drug discovery. Our track is particularly focused on diseases associated with addiction, neurodegeneration and brain-driven behaviors. Commonly used approaches include computational modeling, analysis of genetically engineered animals, neurophysiology and behavioral pharmacology, high-resolution cell imaging and biochemical signaling, and methods from Systems Biology, Genomics and Bioinformatics. The research interests of our Faculty include neuropharmacology, neurotoxicology and neurodegeneration, substance use disorders including drug addiction, drug discovery, behavioral neuroscience, cerebrovascular diseases, brain regulation of cardiovascular function and blood pressure, ion channel control of cerebrovascular circulation, and cell receptors and signaling. The PhAST Track is uniquely positioned to integrate pharmacological, biochemical, electrophysiological, genomic and behavioral approaches to tackle widely prevalent problems in our society, including drug addiction, neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer and Parkinson), fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, stroke and cerebrovascular disease, and diabetic retinopathy. The general areas covered in our track are:

  • Discovery of molecular mediators of disease, drug targets and novel agents that may serve as pharmacotherapeutics
  • Receptor structure-activity relationship and subcellular distribution
  • Signal transduction and cell imaging
  • Cellular and circuitry neurophysiology and neuropharmacology
  • Systems and behavioral pharmacology and neurotoxicology
  • Genomics and bioinformatics
Department of Pharmacology, Addiction Science and ToxicologyFaculty Research Interests

Contact

Dr. Steve Tavalin
PhAST Track Co-Director
Biomedical Sciences Program
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Room 219 Translational Research Building
71 South Manassas
Memphis, TN 38163
stavalin@uthsc.edu
901.448.3007

Dr. Anna Bukiya
PhAST Track Co-Director
Biomedical Sciences Program
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
230K Translational Research Building
71 South Manassas
Memphis, TN 38163
901.448.1779
abukiya@uthsc.edu

Program Resources

Last Published: Aug 12, 2024