# Training in the Pharmacological Sciences

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA · 2020 · $337,439

## Abstract

The goals of this predoctoral Training Program in the Pharmacological Sciences at the University of Virginia
are to provide rigorous training in scientific inquiry while imbuing each trainee with a professional, scholarly
mindset. Our training regimen provides a broad education in modern pharmacology that includes fundamental
aspects of physiology, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetic and bioinformatics. The program emphasizes
critical thinking and technical skills as well as oral and written presentations of experimental findings and ideas.
A training grant Steering Committee administers the training program and oversees student progress through
performance in course work, qualifying examinations, presentations in the Pharmacology journal club and
written reports from semi-annual committee meetings. There are currently 20 trainees; we admit 3-4 new
trainees each year. Training grant eligible students (24-36 annually) enter graduate school through an
umbrella program. During the first year, students enroll in a core knowledge course and perform three
research rotations. They choose their dissertation mentor and PhD program mid-way in their second
semester. On joining the laboratories of the 43 Pharmacological Sciences Training Grant preceptors, they can
be nominated for appointment to the training grant for their second and third years in graduate school. In
addition to supporting Pharmacology PhD students, this training grant has supported students in the
Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, Pathology, Microbiology, Neuroscience and Physiology PhD
programs. Training program-specific activities include courses in human physiology, general pharmacology,
analysis of drug targets, bioinformatics, and the responsible conduct of research as well as participation in the
weekly Pharmacology journal club. Non-Pharmacology PhD students are required to matriculate in one
pharmacology course, bioinformatics and the Pharmacology journal club while appointed to the training grant
and are strongly encouraged to continue this participation for the duration of graduate school. All faculty
preceptors are tenure-track faculty with robust research programs. A plurality of preceptors have primary
appointments in Pharmacology; the other preceptors represent ten additional academic units; five preceptors
are active clinicians. Twenty-two trainees have been awarded the PhD in past five years and 15 more remain
in training. Nine of these trainees were awarded individual predoctoral fellowships and our trainees have
published, on average, three original research papers (one as first author) while in training. The time-to-
degree of our trainees is 5.2 years. With this application for renewal of the training grant, we request continued
support for five years (-44 to -48) for seven trainees yearly.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9974510
- **Project number:** 5T32GM007055-46
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
- **Principal Investigator:** KEVIN R. LYNCH
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $337,439
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1985-07-01 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9974510

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9974510, Training in the Pharmacological Sciences (5T32GM007055-46). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9974510. Licensed CC0.

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