John Jacob Abel Award in Pharmacology
Carrie R Ferrario, PhD
ASPET is pleased to award Dr. Carrie R Ferrario from the University of Michigan the 2023 John J. Abel Award in Pharmacology. The Abel Award, named after the founder of ASPET, was established to stimulate fundamental research in pharmacology and experimental therapeutics by young investigators.
Dr. Ferrario is receiving this award in recognition of her groundbreaking studies on the neural mechanisms underlying drug addiction and obesity.
Dr. Ferrario is an Associate Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Michigan (UM). She examines the neurobiological mechanisms of food craving and how these processes are influenced by individual susceptibility to obesity. Her studies address neurobehavioral intersections between over-consumption of food and addictive drugs like cocaine. She has made seminal contributions to the field, including identifying phenotypic behavioral and neural differences in brain reward centers in obesity-prone vs obesity-resistant populations. Dr. Ferrario received her PhD in Neuroscience from UM, training with Dr. Terry Robinson. She conducted postdoctoral research with Drs. Marina Wolf, Margaret Gnegy and Les Satin examining addiction, glutamatergic plasticity and the role of glutamate receptors in traumatic brain injury. Her scientific contributions are acknowledged by receipt of a NARSAD Young Investigator Award, an Early Career Independent Investigator Award from ASPET’s Division for Neuropharmacology and the Henry Russel Award from UM, the highest university honor awarded to early career faculty. Dr. Ferrario has been a member of ASPET since 2013.
The award will be presented at the Awards Lunch on May 21, 2023 during the ASPET 2023 Annual Meeting in St. Louis. Additionally, Dr. Ferrario has been invited to give a lecture on her work as part of the new online VIP Award Lecture Series in conjunction with the annual meeting.
Julius Axelrod Award in Pharmacology
Walter J. Koch, PhD
ASPET is pleased to award Dr. Walter J. Koch from Temple University the 2023 Julius Axelrod Award in Pharmacology. The award honors Julius Axelrod, the eminent American pharmacologist who shaped the fields of neuroscience, drug metabolism, and biochemistry and who served as a mentor for numerous world-renown pharmacologists.
Dr. Koch is receiving this award in recognition of his innovative research developing novel therapeutic approaches for heart disease and his dedicated mentoring of the next generation of scientists.
Dr. Koch’s career began as a graduate student, which focused on characterizing calcium channels with Arnold Schwartz at the University of Cincinnati, followed by postdoctoral training with Robert Lefkowitz at Duke University in which he pioneered studies into the impact of G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) on heart failure. He is recognized for his groundbreaking work toward the pharmacologic and genetic modulation of cardiac GRK activity to prevent heart failure in a variety of models, providing rationale for the translation of this idea toward human therapeutics. He has published over 500 peer-reviewed research articles, directly mentored over 70 trainees and has been recognized for his accomplishments through a number of honors, including Merit awards from both the American Heart Association (AHA) and the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Koch’s years of service include numerous positions within the AHA and as the former chair of the Division of Cardiovascular Pharmacology at ASPET. Dr. Koch has been a member of ASPET since 1998.
The award will be presented at the Awards Lunch on May 21, 2023 during the ASPET 2023 Annual Meeting in St. Louis.
David Lehr Research Award
Lynette C. Daws, PhD
ASPET is pleased to award Dr. Lynette C. Daws from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio the 2023 David Lehr Research Award. The award extends funding for preclinical or clinical research directed towards improving human health. It was established with generous funding from Mrs. Lisa Lehr in honor of her late husband who was the chair of the Department of Pharmacology at New York Medical College.
Dr. Daws has been selected to receive research funding for work on her project titled: Organic Cation Transporter 3: A Novel Molecular Target to Treat Stimulant and Alcohol Use Disorders. ASPET recognizes her trailblazing research on biogenic amine transporters and their relevance to psychiatric disease.
Dr. Daws obtained her PhD from Flinders University of South Australia. She is the Frost Bank Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Research and Director of the Physiology and Pharmacology discipline of the Integrative Biomedical Sciences graduate program at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, and Editor of Pharmacological Reviews. She has received numerous awards and served in many capacities, including chairing the Division for Neuropharmacology at ASPET. She has published over 100 research articles, reviews, book chapters and editorials. Dr. Daws was among the first to discover organic cation transporter 3 (OCT3) as a crucial player in brain monoamine homeostasis. Most recently, she and her collaborators found OCT3 to be an unexpected but important site of action for amphetamine and ethanol. Given there are no treatments for stimulant use disorders, and effective treatments for alcoholism are lacking, her ongoing research is interrogating OCT3 as a novel target for the treatment of these devastating disorders. Dr. Daws has been a member of ASPET since 2003.
The award will be presented at the Awards Lunch on May 21, 2023 during the ASPET 2023 Annual Meeting in St. Louis.
Pharmacia-ASPET Award for Experimental Therapeutics
Ian A. Blair, PhD
ASPET is pleased to award Dr. Ian A. Blair from the University of Pennsylvania the 2023 Pharmacia-ASPET Award for Experimental Therapeutics. This award recognizes and stimulates outstanding research in pharmacology and experimental therapeutics, basic laboratory or clinical research that has had, or potentially will have, a major impact on the pharmacological treatment of disease.
Dr. Blair is receiving this award in recognition of his wide-ranging contributions to translational pharmacology, drug metabolism, and the identification of key biomarkers for human disease.
Dr. Blair obtained his PhD under the mentorship of Nobel Laureate Sir Derek Barton, from Imperial College, London, UK. He is an expert on the quantification and structural elucidation of proteins, DNA-adducts, protein-adducts, steroids, and drug metabolites. He has published 441 papers that have been cited over 28,000 times. Dr. Blair has been a member of numerous editorial boards. He regularly serves on NIH study sections, most recently as a charter member of Drug Discovery and Molecular Pharmacology (2010-2014; chair 2012-2014) and Cancer Biomarkers (2017-2021). In 2005, Dr. Blair was elected Fellow of the AAAS for “distinguished contributions to pharmaceutical medicine and autacoid biology.” He received the 2011 Eastern Analytical Award for Outstanding Achievements in Mass Spectrometry in 2011 and the Founder’s award from the American Chemical Society for his contributions to drug metabolism and mechanistic toxicology. Dr. Blair has been a member of ASPET since 1986.
The award will be presented at the Awards Lunch on May 21, 2023 during the ASPET 2023 Annual Meeting in St. Louis.
Robert R. Ruffolo Career Achievement Award in Pharmacology
David R. Sibley, PhD, FASPET
ASPET is pleased to award Dr. David R. Sibley from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health the 2023 Robert R. Ruffolo Career Achievement Award in Pharmacology. This award for the scientific achievements of scientists who are at the height of their careers and who have made significant contributions to pharmacology, recognizes the contributions made to drug discovery and development by Dr. Ruffolo.
Dr. Sibley is receiving this award in recognition of his seminal contributions to understanding G protein-coupled receptors, especially the pharmacology, signaling and regulation of dopamine receptors.
Dr. Sibley received his bachelor's degree in biology from San Diego State University and his PhD in pharmacology from the University of California, San Diego. He completed postdoctoral training at Duke University and moved to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke at NIH where he is Senior Investigator and Chief of the Section on Molecular Neuropharmacology. Dr. Sibley has made seminal contributions to G protein-coupled receptor biology particularly in the field of dopamine receptor pharmacology, signaling, and regulation that have engendered advances in neuropsychiatric drug discovery. His current research applies novel pharmacological concepts, including allosteric modulation and biased signaling, to identify unique dopamine receptor modulators that exhibit greater subtype and/or signaling pathway selectivity. These efforts have led to the discovery of allosteric ligands, biased agonists, and highly selective agonists and antagonists for probing dopaminergic function and as drug leads for the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders associated with aberrant dopaminergic signaling. Dr. Sibley has been a member of ASPET since 1985 and was designated a Fellow of ASPET in 2020.
The award will be presented at the Awards Lunch on May 21, 2023 during the ASPET 2023 Annual Meeting in St. Louis.
Reynold Spector Award in Clinical Pharmacology and Translational Medicine
Kathleen M. Giacomini, PhD
ASPET is pleased to award Dr. Kathleen M. Giacomini from the University of California, San Francisco the 2023 Reynold Spector Award in Clinical Pharmacology and Translational Medicine. The award recognizes excellence in research and/or teaching in clinical pharmacology in honor of Dr. Spector's dedication and contributions to clinical pharmacology. This award is made possible by an endowment to ASPET from Dr. Reynold and Mrs. Michiko Spector.
Dr. Giacomini is receiving this award in recognition of her pioneering work on membrane transporters and her exceptional leadership in the field of clinical pharmacology.
Dr. Giacomini, dean and professor in the School of Pharmacy at the University of California, San Francisco, is a leader in the field of membrane transporters with a focus on genetic polymorphisms. Her contributions include cloning, characterizing and discovering the endogenous role of the human transporters, OCT1 (SLC22A1) and CNT2 (SLC28A2). She and her team published functional genomic studies of missense variants in over 15 transporters in the Solute Carrier Superfamily (SLC). Recently, they de-orphaned SLC22A15 and SLC22A24, discovering that the transporters have unique ligand specificities and important biological and pharmacological roles. With others, she co-founded the International Transporter Consortium, which has published impactful manuscripts informing clinical pharmacology and regulatory policy. She is the Co-Principal Investigator of the UCSF-Stanford Center of Excellence in Regulatory Sciences and Innovation and Past President of the Pharmacogenomics Research Network. She has received numerous awards and is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine. Dr. Giacomini has been a member of ASPET since 1988.
The award will be presented at the Awards Lunch on May 21, 2023 during the ASPET 2023 Annual Meeting in St. Louis. Additionally, Dr. Giacomini will present a lecture on her work, titled "Unlocking the Biological and Pharmacological Roles of Drug Transporters" as part of the new online VIP Award Lecture Series in conjunction with the annual meeting.
E. Leong Way Emeritus Travel Award
John Y. Chiang, PhD
ASPET is pleased to award Dr. John Y. Chiang from Northeast Ohio Medical University the 2023 E. Leong Way Emeritus Travel Award to attend the ASPET 2023 Annual Meeting in St. Louis. This award, for an ASPET emeritus member, honors Edward Leong Way (1916-2017), a former president of ASPET remembered for his contributions to drug metabolism research, opioid pharmacology, and a western understanding of Chinese traditional medicine, as well as the numerous scientists he mentored over 75 years of his professional life.
Dr. Chiang is receiving this award in recognition of his outstanding research on bile acid metabolism and his contributions to understanding liver disease and diabetes.
Professor Chiang received his PhD in 1976, in biochemistry, from the State University of New York at Albany and postdoctoral training (1976-78) at the Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor. In 1978, he joined the faculty at what is now the Northeast Ohio Medical University, where he retired as a professor of biochemistry and molecular pathology in 2022 and has been named professor emeritus. Professor Chiang studied bile acid metabolism and signaling in liver metabolic diseases and therapy. He has published 190 papers in this and related areas, significantly contributing to our understanding of the function and regulation of the cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1), and the roles of bile acid-activated nuclear receptor FXR and G-protein coupled receptor TGR5 signaling in the pathogenesis of alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, diabetes and obesity. He was the recipient of a MERIT award from NIDDK that recognized his long-term contribution and creativity. Dr. Chiang has been a member of ASPET since 1995.
The award will be presented at the Awards Lunch on May 21, 2023 during the ASPET 2023 Annual Meeting in St. Louis.
Division-Sponsored Awards
J.H. Woods Early Career Award in Behavioral Pharmacology
Robert W. Gould, PhD
The ASPET Division for Behavioral Pharmacology is pleased to award Dr. Robert W. Gould from Wake Forest University School of Medicine the 2023 J.H. Woods Early Career Award in Behavioral Pharmacology.
Dr. Gould is receiving this award to recognize that with his innovative research and diverse development, he has managed to combine measures of brain function with sophisticated behavioral assessments to exemplify the tradition established by J. H. Woods.
Dr. Gould is an assistant professor in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine (WFUSOM). Dr. Gould earned his PhD in physiology and pharmacology at WFUSOM before completing a post-doctoral fellowship in the Department of Pharmacology and Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery at Vanderbilt University. His research pairs translational measures of brain function (PET, EEG, fMRI) in preclinical species (rodents and nonhuman primates) with complex behavioral assessments to establish brain-behavior relationships to better understand function and treatment potential of selective compounds targeting various G-protein coupled receptors. Dr. Gould’s independent laboratory strives to conduct innovative and translational research to investigate novel treatment strategies and pharmacotherapeutic approaches, examining novel receptor allosteric modulators with a present focus on normalizing sleep and cognitive disturbances associated with substance use and other CNS disorders. Dr. Gould has been a member of ASPET since 2008.
The award will be presented by the Division for Behavioral Pharmacology in conjunction with the ASPET 2023 Annual Meeting.
Susan Band Horwitz Award Lecture in Cancer Pharmacology
J. Silvio Gutkind, PhD, FASPET
The ASPET Division for Cancer Pharmacology is pleased to award Dr. J. Silvio Gutkind from the University of California, San Diego the 2023 Susan Band Horwitz Award Lecture in Cancer Pharmacology. This award recognizing excellent original research by established investigators in cancer pharmacology, is named in honor of Dr. Horwitz who is a pioneer in discovering the mechanisms of action of cancer chemotherapy drugs many of which have been and remain mainstays of cancer therapy and whose work has changed the nature of cancer treatment.
Dr. Gutkind is receiving this award in recognition of his pioneering work delineating the role of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR) and their signaling networks on the progression of cancer and his commitment to mentoring the next generation of scientists.
Dr. J. Silvio Gutkind is an extraordinary scientist who has used innovative approaches to exploit emerging information on dysregulated signaling circuitries and individual genomic alterations in order to identify new therapeutic options to prevent and treat cancer. He pioneered the study of G proteins and G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) in human malignancies, including the discovery of cancer promoting virally-encoded GPCRs and mutated G proteins. He revealed the complexity of their oncogenic signaling networks, thereby providing new signaling-based treatment options for Kaposi’s Sarcoma and ocular melanoma by targeting mTOR and FAK, respectively. He also discovered that persistent activation of the PI3K-mTOR pathway is the most frequent signaling mechanism dysregulated in oral cancers and led the clinical trials targeting mTOR for oral cancer prevention and treatment. Overall, Dr. Gutkind’s basic studies and translational efforts have had a remarkable impact on the development of individualized, mechanism-based precision anticancer treatments and immunotherapeutic strategies. Dr. Gutkind has been a member of ASPET since 2015 and was designated a Fellow of ASPET in 2022.
The award lecture will be presented during the online VIP Award Lecture Series being held in May of 2023 in conjunction with the ASPET Annual Meeting.
Benedict R. Lucchesi Young Scientist Travel Award in Cardiac Pharmacology
Eman Gohar, MS, PhD
The ASPET Division for Cardiovascular Pharmacology is pleased to award Dr. Eman Gohar from Vanderbilt University the 2023 Benedict R. Lucchesi Young Scientist Travel Award in Cardiac Pharmacology. This award honors Dr. Lucchesi's lifelong scientific contributions to our better understanding and appreciation of the pharmacological treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease, and for his mentoring of countless prominent cardiovascular pharmacologists in translational approaches.
Dr. Gohar is receiving this award in recognition of her work on sex-differences in the regulation of blood pressure and renal sodium handling by estrogen signaling.
After earning her bachelor of science degree in pharmacy, Dr. Gohar received her masters and PhD in pharmacology and toxicology from Alexandria University, Egypt and conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her lab, located at Vanderbilt University Medical Center is interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying sex differences in hypertension and associated cardiovascular and renal disease. Her academic research is particularly focused on sex-differences in the regulation of blood pressure and renal sodium handling by estrogen signaling. By identifying a novel role in the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER1) in promoting natriuresis, lowering blood pressure and maintaining brush border health integrity, her research has identified GPER1 as potential therapeutic target for hypertension and salt sensitivity. The ultimate goal of Dr. Gohar’s laboratory is to develop sex-specific therapies for cardiovascular and kidney-related diseases. Dr. Gohar has been a member of ASPET since 2014.
The award will be presented by the Division for Cardiovascular Pharmacology on Saturday, May 20 during the ASPET 2023 Annual Meeting in St. Louis. Additionally, Dr. Gohar will present a lecture on her work, titled "Postmenopausal Hypertension: The Role of Estrogen Signaling and Pregnancy History" as part of the annual meeting.
Scientific Achievement Award in Drug Discovery and Development
Thota Ganesh, PhD
The ASPET Division for Drug Discovery and Development is pleased to award Dr. Thota Ganesh from Emory University the 2023 Scientific Achievement Award in Drug Discovery and Development. This award recognizes outstanding investigators that have made significant contributions in drug discovery, translational and/or drug development science.
Dr. Ganesh is receiving this award in recognition of his seminal innovative discovery and development of novel allosteric potentiators and competitive EP2 antagonist therapeutics to address challenging CNS diseases, as well as his sincere commitment to training the next generation of scientists by enabling access to STEM education in underdeveloped areas.
Dr. Thota Ganesh is an academic leader in the creation and development of novel compounds that attenuate inflammation and oxidative stress. His key contributions range across many subjects including the molecular basis of taxol-tubulin interactions, identification of the first allosteric antagonist of the prostaglandin EP2 receptor, identifying neuroinflammation targets that promote cognitive failure in epilepsy, sepsis and delirium models, and creating the first truly selective inhibitors of NADPH oxidase 2. He has ten issued patents and is co-founder of Pyrefin, Inc., a company that is developing his EP2 antagonists towards clinical trials. Dr. Ganesh is an associate professor of pharmacology and chemical biology at Emory University. He was educated at Osmania University in Hyderabad, India through his PhD training, then completed postdoctoral work at the University of Durham in the United Kingdom and at Virginia Tech in the US before moving to Emory University. Moreover, he created and funds the Thota Foundation, which improves the education of schoolchildren in the rural village where he grew up. Dr. Ganesh has been a member of ASPET since 2019.
The award will be presented by the Division for Drug Discovery and Development on Saturday, May 20 during the ASPET 2023 Annual Meeting in St. Louis. Additionally, Dr. Ganesh will present a lecture on his work, titled "Discovery of Small Molecule EP2 Therapeutics to Attenuate Neuroinflammation and Cognitive Deficits in Epilepsy and Alzheimer’s Disease" as part of the annual meeting.
Richard Okita Early Career Award in Drug Metabolism and Disposition
Klarissa D. Jackson, PhD
The ASPET Division for Drug Metabolism and Disposition is pleased to award Dr. Klarissa D. Jackson from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill the 2023 Richard Okita Early Career Award in Drug Metabolism and Disposition.
Dr. Jackson is receiving this award in recognition of her translational research in drug metabolism and disposition focused on individual variations in cytochrome P450-mediated drug metabolism and adverse reactions in patients from understudied ethnic backgrounds.
Dr. Klarissa Jackson is an assistant professor of pharmacy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) Eshelman School of Pharmacy in the Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics. She received her B.S. in chemistry from Jackson State University and Ph.D. in pharmacology from Vanderbilt University, and then completed postdoctoral training at the University of Washington School of Pharmacy under the mentorship of Drs. Allan Rettie and Sidney Nelson. Prior to joining the UNC faculty in 2019, Dr. Jackson began her faculty career as an assistant professor at Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Dr. Jackson’s research is supported by an NIH/NIGMS R35 Maximizing Investigators Research Award and focuses on understanding the underlying mechanisms of interindividual variability in drug metabolism and metabolism-induced toxicity in ethnically diverse populations. The long-term goal of her research is to optimize drug therapy in understudied populations. Dr. Jackson has been a member of ASPET since 2013.
The award will be presented by the Division for Drug Metabolism and Disposition on Saturday, May 20 during the ASPET 2023 Annual Meeting in St. Louis. Additionally, Dr. Jackson will present a lecture on her work, titled "Drug Metabolism in Understudied Ethnic Populations" as part of the annual meeting.
Division for Drug Metabolism and Disposition James R. Gillette Awards
Kazuyoshi Michiba
Daniel Rizzolo
The James R. Gillette Awards are presented each year by the ASPET Division for Drug Metabolism and Disposition for two outstanding papers published in the ASPET journal, Drug Metabolism and Disposition, during 2022.
The award recipient in the Pharmacokinetics/Drug Transporters category for 2022 is Kazuyoshi Michiba from the Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacokinetics, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tokyo for the paper titled "Usefulness of human jejunal spheroid-derived differentiated intestinal epithelial cells for the prediction of intestinal drug absorption in humans."
The award recipient in the Drug Metabolism category for 2022 is Daniel Rizzolo from the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers University for the paper titled “Effects of Overexpression of Fibroblast Growth Factor 15/19 on Hepatic Drug Metabolizing Enzymes."
The Gillette Awards will be presented by the Division for Drug Metabolism and Disposition on Saturday, May 20th during the ASPET 2023 Annual Meeting in St Louis where the awardees will present short talks on their research.
Roshanak Irannejad, PhD
The ASPET Division for Division for Molecular Pharmacology is pleased to award Dr. Roshanak Irannejad from the University of California, San Francisco the 2023 Division for Molecular Pharmacology Early Career Award.
Dr. Irannejad is receiving this award in recognition of her pioneering use of nanobodies for probing spatial and subcellular signaling by G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and her subsequent discoveries that have revolutionized and redefined our understanding of compartmentalized GPCR actions.
Dr. Irannejad has been a pioneer in the development of novel tools for exploring G protein and G protein-coupled receptor biology. With these tools she has redefined our thinking about how GPCRs function at locations other than the plasma membrane. These ideas have resulted in both changes in the conceptual framework of the field and have opened up new avenues for development of more effective and selective therapeutic strategies. She received her PhD from Thomas Jefferson University and did postdoctoral training at the University of California, San Francisco where she currently is an assistant professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics. Dr. Irannejad has been a member of ASPET since 2021.
The award will be presented by the Division for Molecular Pharmacology on Saturday, May 20 during the ASPET 2023 Annual Meeting in St. Louis. Additionally, Dr. Irannejad will present a lecture on her work, titled "Regulation of Subcellular GPCR Signaling by Transporters" as part of the annual meeting.
Patrick A. Forcelli, PhD
The ASPET Division for Neuropharmacology is pleased to award Dr. Patrick A. Forcelli from Georgetown University the 2023 Division for Neuropharmacology Early Career Award.
Dr. Forcelli is receiving this award in recognition for his innovative research in the area of the neural circuitry underlying epilepsy and anti-seizure medication effects on the developing brain.
Dr. Forcelli is a dedicated neuropharmacologist/neuroscientist. He received his PhD from Georgetown University and has rapidly established his credentials in epilepsy research as a first-rate investigator, teacher and mentor to graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. He is an enthusiastic and productive collaborator and role model for other young faculty. Moreover, he has made strong efforts to attract students from under-represented populations to his department and to guide them in his laboratory. Dr. Forcelli currently serves as the vice chair of the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, an associate professor of pharmacology, physiology, and neuroscience (with tenure), and as the director of Graduate Studies for the PhD Program in Pharmacology & Physiology at Georgetown. Dr. Forcelli has been a member of ASPET since 2011.
The award will be presented by the Division for Neuropharmacology on Saturday, May 20 during the ASPET 2023 Annual Meeting in St. Louis. Additionally, Dr. Forcelli has been invited to give a lecture on his work as part of the annual meeting.
Anthony J. Baucum, II, PhD
The ASPET Division for Neuropharmacology is pleased to award Dr. Anthony J. Baucum, II from the Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM) the inaugural 2023 Division for Neuropharmacology Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Recognition Award. This award recognizes members who have made important contributions to the enhancement and promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion in the field of neuropharmacology.
Dr. Baucum is receiving this award in recognition for his comprehensive commitment to and success in mentoring students from underrepresented communities at all training levels (high school through postdoc) and advocating for DEI awareness at the local institutional as well as national levels.
Dr. Baucum completed his B.S. in biology from Loyola Marymount University in 1999. He performed Ph.D. training at the University of Utah in the laboratory of Dr. Annette Fleckenstein and received his Ph.D. in 2004. In 2006, he started postdoctoral training at Vanderbilt University in the laboratory of Dr. Roger Colbran. Dr. Baucum was promoted to research instructor in 2011, being the first Black faculty member in the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics. In 2013, he accepted a position at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) in the department of biology. He was promoted to associate professor with tenure in 2019. In July 2021, he joined the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the IUSM. Dr. Baucum currently chairs the DEI committee in the department and serves on the Diversity Council at IUSM. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family and jogging and playing water polo. Dr. Baucum has been a member of ASPET since 2006.
The award will be presented by the Division for Neuropharmacology on Saturday, May 20 during the ASPET 2023 Annual Meeting in St. Louis. Additionally, Dr. Baucum will present a lecture on his work, titled "A Cell Type-specific Role for the Synaptic Protein Phosphatase 1-targeting Protein, Spinophilin, in Striatal Pathophysiology" as part of the annual meeting.
Ricardo A. Peña Silva, MD, PhD
Nicholas L. Denton, PhD
Rheaclare Fraser-Spears, PhD
The ASPET Division for Pharmacology Education is pleased to award their 2023 Pharmacology Educator Awards to Drs. Ricardo A. Peña Silva from the Universidad de los Andes, Nicholas L. Denton from Ohio State University, and Rheaclare Fraser-Spears from University of the Incarnate Word.
The primary goal of this award is to promote participation in the ASPET Annual Meeting by pharmacology educators and to foster career development in pharmacology education.
These awards will be presented at the Division for Pharmacology Education’s online Town Hall meeting in conjunction with the ASPET 2023 Annual Meeting.
Dr. Ricardo A. Peña Silva from the Universidad de los Andes is receiving this award in recognition of his dedication to pharmacology education and education research, in particular his involvement in faculty development and employing new teaching strategies.
Dr. Peña is an associate professor at the Medical School of the Universidad de los Andes, in Bogotá, Colombia. He received his MD degree at the Military University (Colombia) and a PhD in pharmacology from the University of Iowa. He is very interested in the intersection between biomedical sciences, education and health literacy in the community. At this time his laboratory is focused on: medical education and active learning methodologies to foster continuous ethical reflection during the analysis of dilemmas in medicine and pharmacology; misinformation in medicine and science – health and scientific literacy; implementation of information technologies and artificial intelligence to support curriculum development in pharmacology and medicine; and the impact of aging and inflammation and cerebrovascular disease. Dr. Peña has been a member of ASPET since 2007.
Dr. Nicholas L. Denton from Ohio State University is receiving this award in recognition of his involvement and innovation in teaching and his impressive careful course design and structure to close opportunity gaps to achieve equity in learning.
Dr. Denton joined the Ohio State University College of Pharmacy as a lecturer of pharmacy education and innovation after completing his PhD in Biomedical Sciences- Cancer Biology at Ohio State while conducting research at Nationwide Children's Hospital and completing his postdoctoral training at Northwestern University. He strives to advance his teaching philosophy of “innovation through equity” by introducing students to the methodologies used to investigate the problems students observe in pharmacology while implementing equitable teaching strategies for persisting students into the diverse research teams necessary for providing a more complete perspective to complex challenges in pharmacology. Dr. Denton works to promote the pharmacology profession at all levels through evidence-based teaching innovations in inquiry-team-based learning and peer-instructor-led social annotation, advancement in the scholarship of teaching and learning, development of equitable learning programs, mentoring students of all levels in pharmacology education, and promoting instructional development within the education community. Dr. Denton has been a member of ASPET since 2022.
Dr. Rheaclare Fraser-Spears from the University of the Incarnate Word is receiving this award in recognition for her dedication to teaching and developing new ways to address different learning styles.
Dr. Fraser-Spears has been an Assistant Professor in the Pharmaceutical Sciences Department at Feik School of Pharmacy, University of the Incarnate Word since 2017. She teaches pharmacology to students in their third professional year covering musculoskeletal, endocrine, gastrointestinal, and neuropsychiatric disorders. Before joining FSOP, Dr. Fraser-Spears completed a 4-year postdoctoral fellowship at UT Health San Antonio via competitive training programs – the Drug Abuse Research: Behavior and Neurobiology, and the Institutional Research Academic Career Development Award. Dr. Fraser-Spears received her Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and her B.S. in Biochemistry from Spelman College in Atlanta, GA. Dr. Fraser-Spears conducts neuropharmacology research studying conditions that alter the function of neurotransmitter transport proteins and their interactions with medications and new compounds. She has been a committed member of ASPET since 2011 and is passionate about serving as a role model in pharmacology research and education.
José E. Manautou, PhD
The ASPET Division for Toxicology is pleased to award Dr. José E. Manautou from the University of Connecticut the 2023 Division for Toxicology Career Award.
Dr. Manautou is receiving this award in recognition of his many contributions toward understanding xenobiotic-mediated hepatotoxicity, his long-standing commitment to teaching and mentoring as well as his leadership in training programs for underrepresented groups.
Dr. José E. Manautou is the Department Head of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Professor of Toxicology and Boehringer-Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Chair in Mechanistic Toxicology at the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy. His long-term research interests are biochemical and molecular mechanisms of xenobiotic-induced hepatotoxicity and compensatory responses to liver injury that enhance tissue resistance to toxicant re-exposure. Dr. Manautou has published over 200 original research articles, abstracts, commentaries, and reports. He is also a Fellow of the Academy of Toxicological Sciences. He has earned national and international recognition as a scholar and educator for his service to the global toxicology community. He is Co-Editor-in-Chief of the journal Current Opinion in Toxicology and current President of the International Union of Toxicology. Dr. Manautou obtained his BS in pharmacy from the University of Puerto Rico, his PhD in pharmacology and toxicology from Purdue University, and did postdoctoral training at the University of Connecticut. He also conducted sabbatical training at the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam. Dr. Manautou has been a member of ASPET since 2008.
The award will be presented by the Division for Toxicology in conjunction with the ASPET 2023 Annual Meeting in St. Louis.
Ian Copple, PhD, BSc
The ASPET Division for Toxicology is pleased to award Dr. Ian Copple from the University of Liverpool the 2023 Division for Toxicology Early Career Award.
Dr. Copple is receiving this award in recognition of his innovative research in mechanisms underlying the role of NRF2 in drug toxicity and his strong commitment to teaching and mentoring students.
Dr Copple is a senior lecturer (associate professor) in the Department of Pharmacology Therapeutics at the University of Liverpool, UK. He received his PhD from the University of Liverpool in 2008, and undertook post-doctoral training there, as well as at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden and University of Leiden in the Netherlands. He established his own research group in Liverpool in 2013, and gained tenure in 2016. Dr Copple’s research employs in vitro, in vivo and clinical approaches, along with techniques including ‘omics, mass spectrometry, preclinical imaging and chemical biology, to understand the mechanisms by which cells sense and respond to chemical insults underlying drug toxicities, particularly through the cytoprotective NRF2 pathway. Dr. Copple has been a member of ASPET since 2021.
The award will be presented by the Division for Toxicology in conjunction with the ASPET 2023 Annual Meeting in St. Louis.
Melissa L. Barker-Haliski, PhD
Jason A. Sprowl, PhD
The ASPET Division for Translational and Clinical Pharmacology is pleased to award their 2023 Division for Translational and Clinical Pharmacology Early Career Awards to Drs. Melissa L. Barker-Haliski from the University of Washington and Jason A. Sprowl from the University at Buffalo, SUNY. These awards recognize excellence in translational and clinical pharmacology research that comes from early career scientists.
Dr. Melissa L. Barker-Haliski is receiving this award in recognition of her innovative use of translational epilepsy models in drug discovery, improving treatments for the unmet medical needs of special epilepsy patient populations.
Dr. Barker-Haliski received a BA in biology and French from the University of Oregon and a PhD in pharmacology and toxicology from the University of Utah. Dr. Barker-Haliski has performed in essential capacities within the biotechnology sector, including conducting preclinical drug discovery and testing at a start-up biotechnology company and a large pharmaceutical company. She co-chaired the American Epilepsy Society/International League Against Epilepsy’s Pharmacology Common Data Elements Working Group from 2014-2018 with the goal to harmonize preclinical pharmacology studies for epilepsy drug discovery by industry, government, and academia. From 2019-2022, she was an Institute for Translational Health Sciences KL2 Scholar. Her research at the University of Washington leads the identification of novel therapies using clinically relevant animal models to improve treatments for the unmet medical needs of special epilepsy patient populations, including those with drug-resistant epilepsy and epilepsy in older adults. Dr. Barker-Haliski has been a member of ASPET since 2009.
The award will be presented by the Division for Translational and Clinical Pharmacology on Saturday, May 20 during the ASPET 2023 Annual Meeting in St. Louis. Additionally, Dr. Barker-Haliski has been invited to give a lecture on her work as part of the annual meeting.
Dr. Jason A. Sprowl is receiving this award in recognition of his pioneering research studying the contribution of solute carriers in drug-induced toxicity and related transformative strategies that target these proteins while maintaining drug efficacy.
Dr. Sprowl is a highly productive and motivated assistant professor and KL2 scholar award recipient at the University at Buffalo who is an emerging leader in studying the role of solute carriers (SLCs) as contributors to drug efficacy and toxicity. Expanding our knowledge of SLCs and their regulation is expected to aid in predicting nutrient or xenobiotic disposition, as well as explain interpatient variability and response based on their activity. Dr. Sprowl’s expertise and contribution to this field is already represented by key contributions to more than twenty-five peer reviewed manuscripts in highly reputable journals (thirteen of which he is the primary or corresponding author) that are associated with SLCs and drug response. His research group is also currently investigating tyrosine kinase regulation of SLCs and how these events contribute to patient variability or life-threatening drug-drug interactions. This effort is currently supported by NIH/NIGMS R01 funding awarded to Dr. Sprowl. He has been a member of ASPET since 2018.
The award will be presented by the Division for Translational and Clinical Pharmacology on Saturday, May 20 during the ASPET 2023 Annual Meeting in St. Louis. Additionally, Dr. Sprowl will present a lecture on his work, titled "Regulation of Solute Carriers by Disruption of Tyrosine Kinases and Associated Clinical Outcome” as part of the annual meeting.