# Training Program in Pharmacology

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS · 2022 · $405,154

## Abstract

TRAINING PROGRAM IN PHARMACOLOGY
ABSTRACT:
The overarching goal of this predoctoral Training Program in Pharmacology (TPPh) is to educate next
generation of biomedical researchers in the concepts of drug discovery and development, inclusive a
clinical perspective. The four focus areas of this TPPh are cardiovascular, neurological, and immunological
diseases and cancer. UC Davis is a world leader in drug development with multiple trainers bringing drugs
to the clinic (most recently Dr. Rogawski the novel post-partum antidepressant Brexanolone) and biologics
including gene therapy vectors with >20 ongoing clinical trials (Director Dr. Nolta). Trainees from
Pharmacology & Toxicology, Physiology, Biomedical Engineering and Neuroscience develop expertise in
diverse areas. Areas include classic pharmacology & drug target identification with cutting edge methods in
biochemistry, structural biology, genomics & proteomics, molecular and cell biology; structural modeling and
rational drug design; medicinal chemistry; high & superresolution imaging; electrophysiology; behavioral
physiology; engineering of microfluidic and other devices; animal models of disease; novel in vivo whole
animal imaging; and translational therapeutics in clinical trials including stem cell and genetic therapies. The
TPPh will provide focused and student-tailored small group training in the core principles of pharmacology
for non-pharmacology trainees, and enmesh these students with pharmacology students for interdisciplinary
group learning in drug development. A related goal is to enable all trainees to communicate and collaborate
across the large array of research disciplines they represent. This goal is mainly realized in a highly innovative
student-driven, project-oriented course Problem Solving in Pharmacological Sciences, which rejuvenates
itself every year based on student initiative and interest. In this way our TPPh produces experts with a variety
of backgrounds that can effectively communicate and collaborate with experts from other related disciplines
in the increasingly complex realm of drug development. UC Davis grants more bachelors and doctoral
degrees in biological sciences than any other U.S. university. It received $961 million in extramural research
funding in 2020/21, which places it, as in earlier years, among the top 10 public universities. The 30 training
faculty are from 14 departments in 6 colleges, where extensive collaborative interactions already exist.
Trainers provide in depth expertise that ranges from identifying novel therapeutic molecular targets and
development of therapeutic molecules to clinical drug and stem cell trials at the NIH-funded UC Davis Clinical
and Translational Science Center (CTSC) and NIH-designated Cancer Center. Powerful and numerous state-
of-the-art core facilities and centers will provide trainees with outstanding research opportunities spanning
from Chemistry’s emphasis on pharmaceutical chemistry to unique animal models (in...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10496398
- **Project number:** 1T32GM144303-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS
- **Principal Investigator:** Donald M Bers
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $405,154
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-07-01 → 2027-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10496398

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10496398, Training Program in Pharmacology (1T32GM144303-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10496398. Licensed CC0.

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