Advancing the science of human pharmacology and therapeutics through translational research.
Faculty in the Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology conduct clinical and translational research. This cross-disciplinary paradigm translates basic scientific discoveries into safe and effective therapeutic uses by providers and patients, through laboratory experiments and clinical studies. Clinical data can also prompt new questions and investigations, leading back to the bench and beginning a new cycle of translational research.
Research conducted by department faculty can focus on a range of topics, diseases/conditions, and investigational methods. Some current and recent projects are highlighted here:
Alzheimer's Disease
Impact of Mitochondrial Lipidomic Dynamics and its Interaction with APOE Isoforms on Brain Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease
PI: Ling Li
Funding: NIH National Institute on Aging
Acute and Long-Term Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Infection and its Interaction with APOE on Cognitive Function and Neuropathology in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease
PI: Ling Li
Funding: NIH National Institute on Aging
HDL Mimetic Peptide-Mediated Enhancement of Neurovascular Function to Mitigate Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy and Alzheimer's Disease
PI: Ling Li
Funding: NIH National Institute on Aging
Dysregulation of Protein Prenylation in the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease
PI: Ling Li
Funding: NIH National Institute on Aging
Modeling and Reversing Alzheimer’s Pathology via Human Brain Organoids
PI: Ling Li
Funding: Faculty Research Development Grant Program, OACA, UMN
Cancer
Drug Repurposing for Advanced Prostate Cancers
PI: R. Stephanie Huang
Funding: NIH National Cancer Institute
Develop Effective Combination Therapy by Imputing Cell Level Drug Sensitivity and Evaluate Them in Novel Mix-cell Model System
PI: R. Stephanie Huang
Funding: NIH National Cancer Institute
Novel Targeted Chemo/Immunotherapy Approach to Localized and Metastatic CaP
Co-I: Mark Kirstein
Funding: NIH National Cancer Institute
Combating Cellular Senescence to Prevent Anthracycline Cardiotoxicity
PI: Beshay Zordoky
Funding: St. Baldrick’s Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research
Psychosocial Stress Exacerbates Doxorubicin-induced Cardiovascular Aging
PI: Beshay Zordoky
Funding: NIH National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Community Health and Clinical Care
Creating a 21st-Century Precision Medicine Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
Co-PI: Debra Skaar
Co-Is: Pamala Jacobson, Shellina Scheiner
Funding: UMN College of Pharmacy
Advancing Health Through Tailored Solutions: A Community Based Approach Towards Advancing Personalized Medicine in Underserved Populations (VIP-H Study)
PI: Robert Straka
Co-I: Jeffrey Bishop
Funding: UMN Grand Challenge Exploratory Research Award, Provost's Office
Differences in Predicted Warfarin Dose for Hmong vs. East Asians Using Genotype-based Dosing Algorithm
PI: Robert Straka
Funding: UMN Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI)
Drug Dependence
Development of a Monoclonal Antibody to Reverse Overdose From Fentanyl and Its Analogs: From Manufacturing to Clinical Trials
Co-I: Angela Birnbaum
Funding: NIH National Institute on Drug Abuse (2022 - 2027)
Phase 1a/1b Clinical Trials of Multivalent Opioid Vaccine Components
Co-I: Angela Birnbaum
Funding: NIH National Institute on Drug Abuse (2019 - 2023)
A Randomized Trial of Medical Cannabis in Patients with Advanced Cancers to Assess Impact on Opioid Use and Cancer-Related Symptoms: A Pilot Study
Co-I: Angela K. Birnbaum
Funding: Randy Shaver Foundation
Feasibility of Using Wearable Technology for Just-in-Time Prediction of Smoking Lapses
Co-PI: Michael Kotlyar
Funding: NIH National Institute on Drug Abuse
Feasibility of Using a Culturally Tailored Conversational Agent for Promoting Smoking Cessation Treatment Utilization in African Americans Who Use Cigarettes
Co-PI: Michael Kotlyar
Funding: NIH National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities
Bupropion for the Prevention of Postpartum Smoking Relapse
Co-I: Michael Kotlyar
Funding: NIH National Institute on Drug Abuse
Infectious Diseases
Improving outcomes in HIV-associated opportunistic infectious with CNS pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics
PI: Melanie Nicol
Funding: College of Pharmacy
Encochleated Oral Amphotericin for HIV-related Cryptococcal Meningitis Trial: Phase 3
Co-I: Melanie Nicol
Funding: NIH, National Institute of Neurologic Disorders and Stroke
Optimal vancomycin exposure target for pulmonary exacerbations in CF
PI: Silvia M. Illamola
Co-I: Elizabeth Hirsch
Funding: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (2021-2023)
Outcomes of Immunocompromised Patients Treated with Ceftolozane/Tazobactam
PI: Elizabeth Hirsch
Funding: Merck Center for Observational and Real-World Evidence
A Retrospective, Multi-Center Study to Assess Patient Outcomes Following Treatment with Ceftolozane/Tazobactam (C/T)
PI: Elizabeth Hirsch
Funding: Merck & Co.
Pharmacology of Antiretrovirals in Anatomical Brain Tissue among Persons with Chronic HIV Infection
Co-PI: Melanie Nicol
Funding: NIH, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Evaluating Antiretroviral Pharmacology in the Female Genital Tract to Optimize HIV Prevention
PI: Melanie Nicol
Funding: NIH, National Institute of for Allergies and Infectious Diseases
Pharmacogenomics
An Informatics Framework for Discovery and Ascertainment of Drug-Supplement Interactions
Co-I: Jeffrey Bishop
Funding: NIH National Center for Completmentary and Integrative Health
Pediactric CPIC Rx Study
PI: Jeffrey Bishop
Funding: Vanderbilt University
Gut Microbiata and Effect on Immune Suppressants in Transplantation
PI: Pamala Jacobson
Funding: NIH National Institute on Allergy and Infectious Disease
A Pilot Trial to Examine the Effect of Aspirin on the Gut Microbiome
Co-I: Robert Straka
Funding: UMN CTSI Exploratory Grants
Decipher Genetic Underlying Causes for Sex Dimorphism in Human Disease and Drug Response
PI: R. Stephanie Huang
Funding: NIH National Cancer Institute
Computational Projection of Drug Side Effects in Various Human Normal Tissues
PI: R. Stephanie Huang
Funding: NIH National Cancer Institute
Pharmacometrics/Pharmacokinetic Modeling
Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic model in pregnant women with depression to guide sertraline dosing
PI: Silvia M. Illamola, Angela Birnbaum
Funding: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (2022 - 2024)
Physiological-based Pharmacokinetics Approach to Determine the Extent of Drug Exposure of Antiseizure Medications During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
PI: Angela Birnbaum
Funding: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (2022 - 2024)
Comparison of the Cognitive and Motor Effects of Treatment Between an Immediate and Extended-Release Tacrolimus (Envarsus XR)-Based Immunosuppression Regimen in Kidney Transplant Recipients
PI: Susan Marino
Co-I: Angela Birnbaum
Funding: Veloxis Pharmaceutics
Neuropharmacology
Epigenetics of PTSD Treatment Response
PI: Jeffrey Bishop
Funding: NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
Development and Application of MRI Methods to Quantify Brain Energy Impairment and Drug Responses in Neurodegenerative Disorders
PIs: Lisa Coles, James C. Cloyd
Funding: UMN AHC Faculty Development Grant
Rare Diseases
Role of Beta-Catenin in the Pathophysiology of Infantile Spasms
PI: James C. Cloyd
Co-I: Reena Kartha
Funding: Tufts University
Role of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Type 1 Gaucher Disease: Potential Use of Antioxidant/Anti-Inflammatory Medications
PIs: James C. Cloyd, Reena Kartha
Funding: Pfizer, Inc.
Synergistic Chaperone Activity of N-acetylcysteine and Its Metabolite L-cysteine in Gaucher Disease
PI: Reena Kartha
Funding: Center for Orphan Drug Research (CODR), University of Minnesota
Seizure Disorders
Maternal Outcomes and Neurodevelopmental Effects of Antiepileptic Drugs – Pharmacokinetics Laboratory Core
PI: Angela K. Birnbaum
Funding: NIH National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (2012 - 2023)
Phase I Study of Midazolam Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics and Adverse Effect following Intramuscular Injection in Dogs using an Autoinjector
PI: James Cloyd
Co-I: Lisa Coles
Funding: Mesagreen Pharmaceutical
An Exploratory, Open-label Study of the Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Diazepam after Intranasal Administration of a Single Dose of Valtoco to Healthy Volunteers
PIs: James Cloyd, Lisa Coles
Funding: Neuralis, Inc.
Facilities
The Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology (ECP) is located within one of the largest academic health centers in the United States, with nationally recognized programs in public health, medicine, nursing, dentistry, and veterinary medicine. Major campus research facilities include a Clinical and Translational Science Institute, the Biomedical Genomics Center, and the Masonic Cancer Center. In addition, numerous affiliated health care systems with exceptional research and educational programs partner with the COP. The Twin Cities also has a large number of cutting-edge biomedical companies eager to collaborate with the academic community.
Our regular faculty and staff are located in four buildings within the University of Minnesota's Academic Health Center on the Twin Cities campus:
- Weaver-Densford Hall
- McGuire Translational Research Facility
- 717 Delaware
- Phillips-Wangensteen Building
Several ECP faculty also work at clinical sites around the Twin Cities, directing experiential clinical residencies of fourth-year students in the College's PharmD program. These include North Memorial Medical Center and University of Minnesota Medical Center.