# Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacogenomics

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2020 · $447,432

## Abstract

The Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacogenomics (PSPG) Graduate Program is a unique, dynamic,
contemporary program in pharmaceutical sciences and pharmacogenomics at the University of California
San Francisco that attracts diverse faculty and students who share a common interest in applying basic
sciences to challenging research topics in drug development and precision drug therapy. The graduate
program reflects exciting scientific developments in the area of genomics, quantitative and systems
pharmacology, and computation that have far-reaching implications to the pharmaceutical and
pharmacological sciences. The goal of the PSPG graduate program is to educate and train Ph.D.
students to conceptualize, design and execute innovative scientific research in the interdisciplinary
scientific areas encompassed by modern pharmaceutical sciences. The program brings together 59 well-
funded faculty members spanning 23 departments. This multidisciplinary and unique graduate program
has a dual focus: 1) pharmaceutical sciences and drug development, including molecular and systems
pharmacology, drug delivery and therapeutic bioengineering, and pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics
and modeling; and 2) pharmacogenomics, the application of genetics and genomics for the development
of novel therapeutics and the optimal use of drugs in individual patients for precision medicine. The
training program includes a series of core courses providing an in-depth understanding of the principles
of pharmaceutical sciences and pharmacogenomics, including an innovative new core course in systems
pharmacology. Core courses are complemented by electives covering advanced drug delivery and
pharmacokinetic principles, principles of genetics and cell biology, bioinformatics, tissue and organ
biology, and computer programming. Students also participate in laboratory rotations that expose them to
the diversity of potential projects available for their dissertation research and a university-wide course on
responsible conduct of research. The program immerses trainees in the culture of science through a
journal club with students across four basic science graduate programs that are focused on quantitative
approaches to studying biology, a seminar program which brings in leading academic, regulatory and
industrial scientists, student research presentations, and an annual retreat. The program goal is to recruit
8-10 outstanding Ph.D. students per year, plus at least one student for a combined Pharm.D./Ph.D.
degree. Underrepresented minority students are actively recruited through a number of faculty activities
and represent 16% of our students; 16% of our students also come from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Upon graduation, the new PSPG Ph.D. scientist will have the ethics, knowledge and tools necessary to
become independent researchers, and also the passion and enthusiasm to make impactful contributions
to the pharmaceutical sciences and pharmacogenomics field throughout their career.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9971530
- **Project number:** 5T32GM007175-44
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** Nadav Ahituv
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $447,432
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1982-07-01 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9971530

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9971530, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacogenomics (5T32GM007175-44). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9971530. Licensed CC0.

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