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Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences 2021 - 2022 Catalog

Biomedical Sciences PhD Concentration in Translational Neuroscience and Pharmacology

Biomedical Sciences PhD Concentration in Translational Neuroscience and Pharmacology (GTNP)

Volker E. Neugebauer, M.D., Ph.D., Chairperson for the School of Medicine Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience

Michael Blanton, Ph.D., GSBS Senior Associate Dean, Graduate Advisor

Graduate Faculty

Full Members: Avila, Benamar, Blanton, Guindon, Henderson, Lawrence, Neugebauer, Ponomarev, Popp, Schlabritz-Lutsevich, Tenner, Young

Associate Members: Artigas, Bergeson, Cuello, Culberson, Ganapathy, Jansen, Kang, La-Beck, Reddy, Reynolds, Urbatsch

Adjunct Members: Escamilla, Gatto, Lombardini, Norman, O’Boyle, O’Dell, Syapin, Woolard

About the Concentration

The Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience offers graduate programs leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degree in Translational Neuroscience and Pharmacology. Graduate study may be pursued in several areas, including systems and cellular neuropharmacology and neuroscience, molecular pharmacology, biochemistry and neurobiology of disease. The newly established Center of Excellence for Translational Neuroscience and Therapeutics provides valuable opportunities for interdisciplinary basic science and translational research. Clinically relevant research topics include pain mechanisms and therapies in various preclinical models (arthritis, multiple sclerosis (MS), HIV, chemotherapy- and nerve injury-induced neuropathic pain), alcohol abuse disorders, alcohol- and oxidative stress-induced damage to the developing brain and neurodegeneration, neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s Disease, anti-neoplastic drug development and mechanisms of drug resistance.   

The Ph.D. degree generally takes four to five years to complete all the requirements. The first year consists primarily of coursework (Fall Core Curriculum and Spring Advanced Courses) as well as lab rotations. During the remaining period of study, the student completes additional advanced course work, takes a qualifying examination, and completes a Ph.D. dissertation based on his or her original research.

The faculty members of the program seek to foster a creative and productive research atmosphere and to equip students with the intellectual tools they will need to succeed as investigators and teachers. Graduates can expect to enter careers in academic institutions, industry, or government agencies.

Opportunities are also available for postdoctoral training in the research areas listed above.

Concentration Guidelines for Translational Neuroscience and Pharmacology

  • GTNP 5101 Topics in Translational Neuroscience and Pharmacology (1:1:0,F)

    Specific areas of pharmacology not normally included in other courses. May be repeated for credit with change in content.

  • GTNP 5201 Topics in Translational Neuroscience and Pharmacology (2:2:0,F)

    Specific areas of pharmacology not normally included in other courses. May be repeated for credit with change in content.

  • GTNP 5225 Tech in Neurosci & Pharm Rese (2:0:6,F)

    Standard experimental techniques used in pharmacological research are explored through a series of hands-on laboratory exercises. Numerous techniques common to research in many fields will be introduced.

  • GTNP 5301 Topics in Translational Neuroscience and Pharmacology (3:3:0,F)

    Specific areas of pharmacology not normally included in other courses. May be repeated for credit with change in content.

  • GTNP 5303 Principles of Neuro & Pharm (3:3:0,F)

    Prerequisite: consent of instructor. This course will investigate drug actions on the nervous system. Focusing on translation of basic neuroscience into the discovery of therapies in the treatment of brain disorders, including elucidating mechanisms by which drugs act in disease, also the use of drugs as tools to probe the function of neurons, synapses, and neural circuits. The course will introduce critical thinking skills by linking textbook knowledge to current literature, using the Journal Club submission format to encourage in-depth critical analyses of high impact, peer-reviewed articles.

  • GTNP 5312 Medical Pharmacology I (3:8:0,F)

    A study of pharmacology with emphasis on mechanisms of drug action, interaction, and therapeutics.

  • GTNP 5326 Phm Autonomic Nervous System (3:3:0,F)

    A conceptual study of drugs which alter the function of the autonomic nervous system. Emphasis will be on mechanisms by which drugs affect transmitter synthesis, release, uptake, and metabolism as well as receptor function.

  • GTNP 5336 Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology (3:3:0,F)

    Course focuses on experimental methods employed in pharmacological research. Topics include expression cloning, photo-affinity labeling, gene microarrays, patch clamp recording, etc. This course will consist of selected topics, lectures and student discussions.

  • GTNP 5337 Neuropsychopharmacology (3:3:0,F)

    A structured in-depth study of specific topics concerning neurochemical pharmacology, behavioral pharmacology, and neuropsychopharmacology. Topics to be studied will vary each semester. The course will consist of lectures, discussions, and oral presentations of original papers by the class.

  • GIDN 5910 Integrated Neuroscience (9:8:1,F)

    This cooperative, interdepartmental effort offers a detailed study of the nervous system. Students examine both gross and fine structure and function from the subcellular through the behavioral level.

  • GTNP 7000 Research (V1-12,F)

  • GTNP 7101 Trans Neurosci/Phm Seminar (1:1:0,F)

    This course will enhance student skills in scientific public speaking through a series of seminars that are critiqued by Translational Neuroscience & Pharmacology faculty. Weekly seminars are designed to provide training in research data presentation and analysis or critical evaluation and presentation of a manuscript in press. A required course for Translational Neuroscience & Pharmacology graduate students, it is taken during the fall and spring semesters. The course is designed such that students must interact by participating in the question and answer component of all seminars as well as during lunch with invited speakers. Grades are determined by faculty evaluation of seminar presentation and by participation during seminars.

  • GTNP 7102 Readings in GTNP (1:1:0,F)

    This course is designed to complement the Translational Neuroscience and Pharmacology seminar series and provide a forum for the students to become familiar with some of the speakers publications. The readings for the course will examine the hypothesis that was tested, the techniques employed, the most important results obtained, and the conclusions that were drawn from the study. The knowledge and oral presentation of the original science articles are reviewed. May be repeated for credit.

  • GTNP 8000 Doctoral Dissertation (V1-12,F)