Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Discovery

BMS Faculty in Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Discovery

Research Area Leaders: Alexandra Newton , Tracy Handel, Vivian Hook

The Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Discovery Research Area is organized through the Department of Pharmacology, a basic science department serving the School of Medicine and the Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences (SSPPS).  As described in further detail below, the research and training in labs of faculty associated with the Department of Pharmacology, can be broadly described as "Molecular Pharmacology" which focuses on drug targets, signal transduction mechanisms and their roles in disease.  By contrast, research and training in labs of SSPPS faculty can be broadly described as "Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Discovery".

Training in Molecular Pharmacology.  The Pharmacology Department at UCSD is renowned for its strength in elucidating basic cellular and molecular mechanisms of signal transduction and has a newly established Center, Cell Signaling San Diego.  A common interest is in identifying nodal points in signaling pathways that lend themselves to drug target identification and ultimately to therapeutic advances.  Most of the faculty members affiliated with this training area have research efforts that impact directly on human health, supported by NIH grants on cancer, cardiovascular, inflammatory andmetabolic disease.  The strength of the faculty in the area of cancer biology is notable as indicated by the number of Pharmacology Department faculty that are also associated with the Cancer Biology Research Area.  Additional research strengths include: structural biology, computation (structure-guided drug design, systems biology, and bioinformatics) and environmental health sciences.  Adjunct faculty at the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology and the Sanford Burnham Prebys Institute as well as faculty associated with the local biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry, work together with faculty in the Pharmacology Department to create a natural bond for cross fertilization and communicationthat bridges basic science efforts with endeavors in drug discovery.

Training in Molecular Pharmacology is also supported by an NIH funded Predoctoral Training Grant.  Due to the recognized strength of UCSD in Pharmacology training, this is the nation’s largest predoctoral training grant in Pharmacological Sciences and it has been continuously funded for more than 40 years. The training grant currently supports 15 trainees per year in affiliated labs and has an associated curriculum including core didactic and seminar courses (see below and the training grant website), a journal club, a biannual retreat, and weekly departmental "Research Discussions"  that provide broad and rigorous training in Molecular Pharmacology while satisfying the BMS PhD requirements.

Training in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Discovery.   The Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (SSPPS) is renowned for its innovative approaches to drug discovery and design for the development of novel therapeutic agents to improve human life in disease and health. Many faculty affiliated with this training area also have joint appointments with the Department of Pharmacology, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) and the Department of Chemistry.  Pharmaceutical sciences encompasses multi-faceted, interdisciplinary drug development research focused on (a) design and discovery of drug molecules including marine natural products, targeted to regulators of disease processes, (b) in vitro and in vivo efficacy of candidate drug therapies, (c) chemical optimization by medicinal chemistry approaches, (d) drug pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics in ADME research based on drug delivery strategies, (e) safety and toxicity of drug molecules, and (f) advanced analytical analysis of drug molecule properties. State-of-the-art research strategies for drug development are enhanced by access to numerous resources including the Center for Drug Discovery Innovation (cDDI), the UC San Diego Drug Development Pipeline, which includes the Center for Compound Resources and the Center for Computer-Aided Drug Design, UCSD Screening Core, Therapeutics Mass Spectrometry Center, and resources of the UC BRAID program. For course training in this research area, SSPPS faculty have established a two-quarter course on "Principles of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Development" (summarized above, and listed below) which complements courses of the BMS program and associated departments (Pharmacology, SIO, Chemistry).

Overall, the Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Discovery Research Area will prepare students to become leaders in academia, government, biotechnology, and the pharmaceutical industry focused on improving human health with skills ranging from bench to bedside.

Molecular Pharmacology Courses

Courses Required for Students on the Molecular Pharmacology Training Grant

Other Requirements for Students on the Molecular Pharmacology Training Grant

Pharmacology Research Discussion (BIOM 295/1 unit): students and postdoctoral fellows present their research every Friday morning in a format that encourages collaboration.

Molecular Pharmacology Journal Club (BIOM 294/1 unit): students run a weekly journal club with thematic topics that change quarterly. 

More information on elective and required courses, the seminar course and the faculty associated with the training grant can be found on the Molecular Pharmacology Training Program webpage.

Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Development Courses

Recommended Courses

More information on elective and recommended courses can be found on the SSPPS  Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Development webpage.

Elective Courses for All Trainees in Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Discovery