Research in the Molecular Pharmacology &
Physiology concentration in the PhD Program in Integrated Biomedical Sciences
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.
Concentration Spotlights
News
Awards

2020 - Zeinab Motawe, PhD (above) is a recent graduate of the Molecular Pharmacology & Physiology concentration and was selected as a recipient of the 2020 Outstanding Dissertation Award for her dissertation Functional Significance of Endothelial Sigma-1 Receptors in Vascular Reactivity and Barrier Function.

2020 - Drishya Iyer (above) received the Edith Wright Hartley scholarship
2019 - Ishani Wickramage was selected for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Travel Award for Scientists from Low and Low-Middle Income Countries
Recent Publications
- Xue J, Thomas L, Tahmasbi M, Valdez A, Dominguez Rieg JA, Fenton RA, Rieg T. An inducible intestinal epithelial cell-specific NHE3 knockout mouse model mimicking congenital sodium diarrhea. Clin Sci (Lond). 2020 Apr 30;134(8):941-953. doi: 10.1042/CS20200065. PMID: 32227118. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32227118/
- Zhao J, Zhu Y, Song X, Xiao Y, Su G, Liu X, Wang Z, Xu Y, Liu J, Eliezer D, Ramlall TF, Lippens G, Gibson J, Zhang F, Linhardt RJ, Wang L, Wang C. 3-O-Sulfation of Heparan Sulfate Enhances Tau Interaction and Cellular Uptake. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2020 Jan 27;59(5):1818-1827. doi: 10.1002/anie.201913029. Epub 2019 Dec 10. PMID: 31692167; PMCID: PMC6982596. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31692167/
- Ciarlone GE, Hinojo CM, Stavitzski NM, Dean JB. CNS function and dysfunction during exposure to hyperbaric oxygen in operational and clinical settings. Redox Biol. 2019 Oct;27:101159. doi: 10.1016/j.redox.2019.101159. Epub 2019 Mar 9. PMID: 30902504; PMCID: PMC6859559. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30902504/
More Information
For information about the PhD Program in Integrated Biomedical Sciences, 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.