2013 Kenneth E. Moore Distinguished Alumnus Award

(l. to r.) Dr. Patricia Ganey, Dr. Olivero-Verbel, Dr. Kenneth E. Moore

Dr. Jesus Olivero-Verbel
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Director,
Environmental & Computational Chemistry Group
Universidad de Cartagena, Cartagena, Colombia

Virtual Screening as a Tool to Find Molecular Targetsfor Drugs and Pollutants

HOST: Patricia Ganey

[event flyer]

Norbert Kaminski, director of MSU’s Center for Integrative Toxicology.Photo by G.L. Kohuth. 

Michigan State University scientists will lead a $14.1 million initiative

Michigan State University scientists will lead a $14.1 million initiative to better understand how environmental contaminants called dioxins affect human health and to identify new ways of removing them from the environment. – See more at: http://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2013/teaming-up-to-tackle-pervasive-pollutants/#sthash%2Eo6TDPFt3%2Edpuf

Teaming up to tackle pervasive pollutants msutoday.msu.edu

Dr. Susan Barman – 85th President of APS

The April 2012 issue of The Physiologist features a fascinating profile of Dr. Susan Barman, the current president of the American Physiological Society.

• THE PHYSIOLOGIST – April 2012  (pdf)

Dr. Steven Brody, Ethel Brody, Dr. Paul Hollenberg & Dr. J.R. Haywood

Hollenberg Awarded 2011
Theodore M. Brody Lectureship

Paul F. Hollenberg, PhD, Professor and Chair of the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Michigan Medical School Ann Arbor, MI was awarded the 2011 Theodore M. Brody Lectureship on November 14, 2011.

The topic of his seminar was:

MECHANISM-BASED INACTIVATORS OF CYTOCHROME P450:PROBES OF STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

Nan Kanagy: 2011 Kenneth E. Moore Distinguished Alumna Awardee

Dr. Kenneth E. Moore & Dr. Nancy Kanagy

and Recipient of the “Golden Sovereign”

Nancy Kanagy, PhD, Professor, Dept of Physiology & Cell BiologyU of New Mexico Health Sciences Center – Albuquerque, NM was awarded the Kenneth E. Moore Distinguished Alumna Award on November 14, 2011.

Sparkenbaugh Earns PhD, Accepts Post-Doc Position at UNC

Congratulations to Erica Sparkenbaugh on completing the requirements for a PhD and the successful defense of her dissertation.

Dr. Sparkenbaugh conducted her PhD research in Dr. Robert Roth’s laboratory.  She will be moving to the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill to start a postdoctoral fellowship in the McAllister Heart Institute.

Ziemba & Ibrahim Publish Findings

Southeast Michigan researchers Stamatina Ziemba, Ph.D. and Rami Ibrahim, Pharm.D., publish their latest findings in The Annals of Pharmacotherapy.
(source: http://www.com.msu.edu/)

Dingledine Recipient of 3rd Annual Theodore M. Brody Distinguished Lecture

Dr. Ray Dingledine, Professor and Chair, Dept. of Pharmacology at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia was the recipient of the 3rd Annual Theodore M. Brody Distinguished Lecture.

Hosted by MSU Pharm/Tox Department Chair, JR Haywood, Dr. Dingledine’s lecture was entitled “High Throughput Strategies for Modifying Epilepsy.“

Sandra J. Hewett, PhD

Hewett (MSU, 1992) accepts named professorship in neuroscience at Syracuse University

Sandra J. Hewett, MSU, Department of Pharmacology/Toxicology PhD (1992)will become the Beverly Petterson Bishop Professor of Neuroscience at Syracuse University in July.

The Bishop Chair comes with the responsibility of building Neuroscience at Syracuse University directly and in conjunction with SUNY Upstate, the nearby medical school. Dr. Hewett’s research expertise is understanding the mechanisms underlying cell death in the central nervous system, particularly, the interplay between excitotoxicity and inflammation. In particular, she seeks to elucidate the molecular and biochemical mechanisms by which post-ischemic inflammation contributes to the progression of the neuronal injury that follows stroke.

Dr. Hewett is supported by two R01 awards from the NINDS, one of which has been active for 13 years.Following her Ph.D., Dr. Hewett did a postdoc in the lab of a world expert on stroke and excitotoxicity, Dr. Dennis Choi formerly of Washington University in St. Louis.  Dr. Hewett was promoted through the ranks to Full Professor at the University of Connecticut College of Medicine.

She is a recipient of the Kenneth E. Moore Distinguished Predoctoral Alumnus Award, and received her Ph.D. in Bill Atchison’s lab where she studied the mechanisms underlying calcium channel dysfunction in the human neuro-autoimmune disease Lambert Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (LEMS).

Joining Sandy in the Department is her husband Dr. Jim Hewett, Ph.D. (1992) who received his Ph.D. in Bob Roth’s lab and will be an Associate Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at Syracuse.

Dr. Galligan receives distinguished faculty award from MSU President Louanna K. Simon

2011 Distinguished Faculty Award recipients

Dr.  James Galligan and Dr. William Atchison received Distinguished Faculty awards at the convocation held Februrary 11, 2011.

From the MSU website:

James J. Galligan is an internationally renowned autonomic neuroscientist and neuropharmacologist who investigates the roles and mechanisms of synaptic transmission in the gastrointestinal tract.

William D. Atchison’s research on the toxic effects of heavy metals on the functioning of nerve cells and on the cellular basis for diseases of the neuromuscular junction has been consistently funded by the National Institutes of Health, the gold standard of biomedical research. He has built and sustained an internationally recognized research program characterized by a combination of innovation and steadfast adherence to quality.

Students Receive Travel Awards from ASPET to Experimental Biology

Three students that attended the Summer 2010 SURF Program at MSU have been awarded ASPET travel awards to attend the Experimental Biology meeting in Washington, D.C. in April, 2011. Molly MacDonald and Emma Darios are continuing their work here at MSU, while Jillian Pattison has returned to Kenyon College in Ohio for her final semester.

http://phmtox.msu.edu/education/surf.html

Hummel marks 40 years with MSU and the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology

For anyone who has been around the department for any length of time, you know Diane is an integral part of the institution here. September 18, 2010 marked her 40th year of service to MSU and the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. Her contribution and this milestone were recognized at the alumni tailgate event also taking place on September 18th. Ms. Hummel currently works in the Academic Office coordinating seminars, and assisting doctoral students and faculty with administrative issues, among a host of other duties. We are grateful to her for her many years of dedicated service.

Dr. Roseann Vorce

New adviser graces our staff

We are pleased to welcome Dr. Roseann Vorce to the department.   Dr. Vorce joined us in August as an Academic Specialist – Adviser to help guide our online masters students and offer assistance with writing for scientific publication.  Dr. Vorce has a wealth of both academic and industry experience to draw from; a fellow Spartan alum, she earned her doctorate in Pharmacology & Toxicology from MSU before joining the faculty at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. In addition, she has held teaching positions at the University of Michigan and Washtenaw Community College, as well as seven years as a Toxicologist at Pfizer.