hand in purple glove using a microscope

The Division of Pharmaceutics & Pharmacology

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The mission of the faculty, scientists, students and staff of the Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology is the discovery and development of drug therapies for the treatment of human disease.

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The training of the next generation of pharmaceutical scientists at the undergraduate (BS), professional (PharmD), graduate (PhD), and postdoctoral levels is intertwined with this mission.

The Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology researchers are leaders in the use of state-of-the-art technologies to conduct research centered around four major themes: 

1 Cancer Therapeutics

The discovery of anti-cancer drug targets, identification/circumvention of drug resistance mechanisms, and the optimization of drug delivery and disposition are major areas of focus for the division. Our anti-cancer therapeutics research leverages our expertise in novel drug delivery systems, drug transport and membrane trafficking, basic/translational/clinical pharmacology, pharmacogenomics and pharmacometrics to improve outcomes for cancer patients.

2 Cell Protective Therapies

Preclinical studies of mechanisms of cell death and strategies to enhance cell survival are under active investigation in the division. This knowledge will contribute to the development of therapies to reduce inflammatory and degenerative processes in patients with neurologic, cardiovascular and renal diseases. 

3 Drug Delivery Systems

There is a need for improved delivery strategies of toxic therapeutics, newly developed biologics, and cell and gene therapies to the target site(s) in the body and prevent interactions with healthy tissues. Our research spans expertise in pharmaceutical chemistry, bioengineering, and RNA nanotechnology to develop future on-target medicines to improve human disease treatment.

4 Drug Toxicity

Understanding the mechanisms underlying the unwanted and adverse effects of drug therapies is a major area of investigation in the division. Knowledge of how drugs enter normal cells and exert toxic effects will help the design of strategies to mitigate this damage and improve patient health. Drug-drug interactions (DDIs) also contribute to adverse drug reactions in patients. Identification of mechanisms underlying DDIs is another area of investigation. Drug transporter and pharmacology principles are integral to this research theme.

Division Chair

Raj Govindarajan headshot

Rajgopal Govindarajan, DVM, PhD 
Professor and Chair of the Division of Pharmaceutics & Pharmacology 

Administrative Assistant: Cody Childs, childs.97@osu.edu

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The Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology, 2024