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Molecular Pharmacology & Physiology


Research in the Molecular Pharmacology & Physiology concentration in the Medical Sciences PhD Program is focused on interdisciplinary approaches to the study of nervous and cardiovascular systems and related disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, and neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression and drug addiction. Training will include a unique interdisciplinary blend of didactic coursework, journal clubs, seminar series, as well as significant research experience. The goal of the research programs in the Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Physiology is to translate studies that decipher mechanisms of diseases or discover novel diagnostic/therapeutic targets into improved healthcare.

Courses

The curriculum for the PhD in Medical Sciences can be found in the Graduate Catalog. A sample of courses offered within the Molecular Pharmacology & Physiology concentration is listed below.

  • Basic Medical Physiology
  • Basic Medical Pharmacology
  • Advanced Pharmacology & Physiology
  • Neuroscience
  • Advanced Neuroscience
  • Membrane Physiology
  • Systems Neurophysiology 
Graduate Catalog

Faculty & Research

Current research interests include:

  • Renal Pathophysiology and Hypertension
  • Microcirculation, Lymphatic Biology, Cell and Matrix Molecular Biology
  • Glycobiology
  • Hyperbaric Neurophysiology
  • Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of CNS Oxygen Toxicity
  • Neural Plasticity with neurodegenerative disease and after brain injury

Learn more about our faculty, students, and their research interests below.

Current Faculty & Students

Affiliated Institutes & Facilities

Concentration Spotlights

Awards

  • Salma Abdelmaboud - Dr. Christopher P. Phelps Memorial Fund Annual Neuroscience Student Travel Award, 2023
  • Adewale James - Martin Frank Diversity Travel Award, 2023
  • Melissa Lowe - Graduate Student Cardiovascular Renal Research Symposium Travel Award, 2023

Recent Publications

  • Kang M, Yao Y. Oligodendrocyte-derived laminin-γ1 regulates the blood-brain barrier and CNS myelination in mice. Cell Rep. 2024 May 28;43(5):114123. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114123. Epub 2024 Apr 16. PMID: 38635399; PMCID: PMC11154164.

  • Iyer D, Mastrogiacomo DM, Li K, Banerjee R, Yang Y, Scallan JP. eNOS Regulates Lymphatic Valve Specification by Controlling β-Catenin Signaling During Embryogenesis in Mice. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2023 Nov;43(11):2197-2212. doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.123.319405. Epub 2023 Sep 28. PMID: 37767708; PMCID: PMC10655861.

  • Patil MJ, Kim SH, Bahia PK, Nair SS, Darcey TS, Fiallo J, Zhu XX, Frisina RD, Hadley SH, Taylor-Clark TE. A Novel Flp Reporter Mouse Shows That TRPA1 Expression Is Largely Limited to Sensory Neuron Subsets. eNeuro. 2023 Dec 4;10(12):ENEURO.0350-23.2023. doi: 10.1523/ENEURO.0350-23.2023. PMID: 37989590; PMCID: PMC10698635.

 

More Information

For information about the Medical Sciences PhD Program, contact 813-974-2836 or biomedphd@usf.edu.

Apply Now

Please note, students do not apply directly to a concentration. Interested students should submit an application for the PhD in Medical Sciences. Concentrations are typically selected during the first year of study.