Our researchers focus on the development of novel pharmacological approaches to treating a wide range of disorders and diseases through drug development, delivery and utilization.
The overarching goals of pharmaceutical research are to design and test drugs to increase efficacy and reduce side effects; monitor drug utilization; and improve access to therapeutics. The first step in drug discovery is the identification of potential molecular targets that can be stimulated or repressed for therapeutic purposes. Our researchers collaborate with a bioinformatics specialist to integrate and interpret complex molecular interactions and a data analyst to evaluate the impact of healthcare policies on medication utilization and cost-effectiveness.
Drug development is the process of bringing new medications from the early stages of research to their availability for patient use. It involves a series of coordinated steps and scientific efforts aimed at identifying and developing safe and effective drugs to treat various diseases. The steps include:
Drug Discovery - Identify and design prospective drug compounds that have the potential to interact with specific disease-related targets or pathways. Researchers may use computational modeling, high-throughput screening and natural product isolation to identify promising compounds that exhibit therapeutic properties.
Drug Development - Once potential drug candidates are identified, they undergo extensive testing in preclinical studies. These studies test the efficacy of compounds and assess the safety, distribution and pharmacokinetics (how the drug is absorbed, distributed, metabolized and eliminated by the body) using molecular assays, cell culture and animal models.
Clinical Trials - This research is conducted to examine drug effects in humans. Researchers test drug safety, dosage and effectiveness in human volunteers in phases that increase the number of participants and monitoring parameters.
Regulatory Approval - Following successful clinical trials, drug developers submit an application to regulatory authorities for approval to market the drug. Regulatory agencies review the data from preclinical and clinical studies to ensure that the drug's safety and efficacy meet established safety standards.
Drug Delivery - Drug delivery refers to the mechanisms and methods used to administer drugs to patients. Drug delivery systems can include oral tablets, injectables, transdermal patches, inhalers and other specialized devices.
PCOM researchers design and develop drugs to treat cancer, COVID-19, ischemia-reperfusion injury of the heart and kidneys as well as degenerative diseases of the brain, eyes, joints and periodontal tissues. Numerous studies are underway to determine the effects of medicinal cannabis on pain, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, opioid use disorder, autism spectrum disorder and quality of life, and usage in Pennsylvania.
Brian Balin, PhD
Arturo Bravo Nuevo, PhD
Qian Chen, PhD
Marina D’Angelo, PhD
Katherine Galluzzi, DO, CMD, FACOFP dist.
Mindy George-Weinstein, PhD
Frederick Goldstein, PhD, FCP
Elizabeth Gosch, PhD, ABPP
Francis Jenney, PhD
Sameer Joshi, BPharm, MS, MRes, PhD
Michelle Lent, PhD
Christopher Scott Little, PhD
Vicky Mody, PhD
Heather Montie, PhD
Stephen Poteau, PhD
Sara Reece, PharmD, CDCES, BC-ADM, BCACP, FADCES, FCCP
Avadhesh Sharma, PharmD, PhD
Shashidharamurthy Taval, PhD
Xinyu (Eric) Wang, PhD
Zhiqian Wu, PhD
Lindon Young, PhD
PCOM Georgia's Eric Wang, PhD, was awarded $10,000 by American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) to support his research on developing new therapeutic agents to treat multiple myeloma. “What I hope to accomplish is to identify potential drug candidates from natural sources with anti-myeloma effects and elucidate their mechanism of action,” Dr. Wang explained.
PCOM Georgia researchers, led by Drs. Shashidharamurthy Taval and Vicky Mody, are developing novel COVID-19 antiviral therapies by combining small molecular weight compounds to target multiple viral replication mechanisms, aiming to reduce drug resistance, improve efficacy and minimize toxicity.
PCOM Georgia pharmacy researchers Shashidharamurthy Taval, PhD, Vicky Mody, PhD, and Srujana Rayalam, DVM, PhD, used computational molecular modeling to explore the efficacy of FDA-approved drugs for their inhibitory effects on viral enzymes. Results showed that some current pharmaceuticals could be repurposed to suppress the replication of the COVID-19 virus.
Vicky Mody, PhD, is working to develop antiviral drugs that can specifically target and inhibit the replication of viruses and address resistance. According to Mody, his work is "part of a larger effort to improve healthcare and protect individuals from viral infections, offering hope for better outcomes and a healthier future."
Sameer Joshi, BPharm, MS, MRes, PhD, is researching ways to improve treatment outcomes for patients with difficult-to-treat infections. The core hypothesis driving Joshi’s work is that novel delivery technologies can significantly improve the precision and effectiveness of antimicrobial and antiviral agents.
PCOM aims to develop innovative approaches to promoting health through basic, translational, clinical, behavioral, education and community research projects.
