Research Centers
Research in Pharmacy
Research is one of the cornerstones of academic life. In 2004 the Department made
a commitment to increase the collective scholarship of the Department. Every faculty
member in the Department is expected to contribute and participate in scholarship,
the extent depending on their other responsibilities and training. In addition,
an increase in the number of research faculty, graduate students, residents and
fellows will be instrumental in this effort.
Current Pharm.D. students and prospective graduate students will find a broad spectrum
of activities in the links below and are encouraged to contact the responsible faculty
to learn more about the opportunities to work with this outstanding faculty.
Research in Pharmaceutics
"VCU's Department of Pharmaceutics specializes in the science and technology associated
with innovations in drug delivery and drug development."
Pharmaceutics is a multidisciplinary applied science concerned with delivering and
maintaining appropriate drug concentrations at target sites in the body for appropriate
times (thus, alleviating disease by optimizing drug effects over time).
The Department includes the internationally recognized Aerosol Research Group, which
is responsible for the well-known "Respiratory Drug Delivery" conference series.
Our department utilizes VCUs Center for Drug Studies (CDS), a unique 48-bed unit
used for 'first time in man' studies. The Center is supported by an FDA compliant
Biopharmaceutical Analysis laboratory, conducting drug and metabolite analyses to
support the Department's reputation for innovative studies in drug absorption, distribution,
metabolism and excretion.
These research activities are characterized by the unique expertise of the individual
faculty members in the department.
Research in Medicinal Chemistry
Research Topics:
- Molecular Modeling and Drug Design
- X-Ray Crystallography
- Anticoagulants and Enzyme Mechanism
- Allosteric Interactive Drugs
- RNA-Drug Interactions
- Bioinformatics
- QSAR Technology Development
- Anti-cancer and Anti-HIV Drug Development
- Centrally-Acting Agents: Design. Synthesis and Mechanisms of Action
- Behavioral Effects of Drugs
- Drugs of Abuse
Research in the Center for Drug Studies
The Center for Drug Studies (CDS) of the VCU School of Pharmacy specializes in "Phase I" Clinical Studies for the development of new drugs and new drug delivery systems. This emphasis usually involves pharmacokinetic, biopharmaceutic, and pharmacodynamic, and pharmacogenetic studies in healthy human volunteers or stabilized patients.
