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Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences Pathway

Faculty

  • Janice Buss - Research Pathway Coordinator
  • Val R. Adams, Pharm.D.
  • W. Scott Akers, Pharm.D., Ph.D.
  • Brad Anderson, Ph.D.
  • Karen Blumenschein, Pharm.D
  • Penni Black, Ph.D.
  • Paul Bummer, Ph.D.
  • J.S. Butler, Ph.D.
  • Lisa Cassis, Ph.D.
  • Peter Crooks, Ph.D.
  • Pat Deluca, Ph.D.
  • Linda Dwoskin, Ph.D.
  • David Feola, PPS
  • Gregory Graf, Ph.D.
  • Jimmie Hatton, Pharm.D.
  • Michael Jay, Ph.D.
  • Kyung Bo Kim, Ph.D.
  • Markos Leggas, Ph.D.
  • Tonglei Li, Ph.D.
  • John Littleton, Ph.D.
  • Robert Lodder, Ph.D.
  • Charles Loftin, Ph.D.
  • Patrick McNamara, Ph.D.
  • Royce Mohan, Ph.D.
  • James Pauly, Ph.D.
  • Todd Porter, Ph.D.
  • Jurgen Rohr, Ph.D.
  • Audra Stinchcomb, Ph.D.
  • Daniel Tai, Ph.D.
  • Peter Wedlund, Ph.D.
  • Daniel P. Wermeling, Pharm.D.
  • John R. Yannelli, Ph.D.
  • Tian-Xiang Xiang, Ph.D.
  • Robert Yokel, Ph.D.
  • Chang-Guo Zhan, Ph.D.

Rationale

Research in the basic and clinical pharmaceutical sciences includes the design, pharmacological screening, testing, formulation and clinical evaluation of new drugs or new drug-delivery systems. In addition participating in and often actively leading research efforts is part of the job description for many faculty in larger universities. Biomedical research is the basic engine that drives the pharmaceutical industry and is key to economic development. The primary purpose of research is to improve health. Pharmaceutical industry and the government employ individuals with pharmacy degrees and research experience as regulators, clinical study managers and clinical research coordinators.

Students are allowed to do research projects with any faculty member at the University of Kentucky. However, research projects should be discussed with the Research Pathway Coordinator.

Description

Students may pursue this option in a variety of ways. They may register for "Independent Problems" courses with any faculty member and work in that faculty member's laboratory for four to twelve hours a week on a specific research project. They may do this for each of the four semesters of electives available.

Students may wish to learn something about the general breadth of basic research and clinical research projects in the college before becoming involved in working with a particular faculty member. In this case, students would enroll in PHR 896 INDEPENDENT PROBLEMS IN PHARMACY (1-3). Students may take PHR 895 INDEPENDENT PROBLEMS IN CLINICAL PHARMACY (1-3), dealing with clinical research management and protocols to learn about the design of clinical research experiments, regulatory requirements involving subjects and record keeping, informed consent, etc.

Students could then follow up one or both of these courses with Independent Problems work either with a faculty member working on a research project. Approximately three to four hours of work per week would be required for each hour of course credit.

Intended Outcomes

  • Familiar with some of the research being done in the College of Pharmacy and be exposed to various types of research design and research methodology.
  • Familiar with what is involved in conducting basic and/or clinical research.
  • More familiar with the rules, regulations, requirements and process for conducting basic and/or clinical research.
  • Able to make a more informed decision as to whether a life in an academic or industrial research environment is an eventual career goal, in which case the student may wish to follow up his or her Pharm.D. with a research fellowship, residency or enter a Ph.D. program, depending upon their area of interest.
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