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Welcome

The Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology currently consists of twenty primary faculty members with varied and scientifically diverse research interests in neuropharmacology, molecular toxicology, cancer biology and pharmacology, and chemical biology. Departmental faculty members currently serve in directorship roles in the Center for Addiction Sciences and Therapeutics (CAST), the NIEHS Center in Environmental Toxicology, the Cancer Center, and the Chemical Biology Program. Read more of the Chair's welcome message >>

Lawrence Sowers, PhD

Pharmacology and Toxicology by the Numbers

Nationally Ranked Basic Science Department

27,000+ Citations

20 Full time Faculty and 22 associate members

Graduate Highlight Explore diverse research themes to advance our basic understanding of cancer biology, environmental toxicology, and drug abuse.

Recent Publications

Correction: The HSP90-MYC-CDK9 network drives therapeutic resistance in mantle cell lymphoma (Experimental Hematology & Oncology, (2024), 13, 1, (14), 10.1186/s40164-024-00484-9)

Yan, F., Jiang, V., Jordan, A., Che, Y., Liu, Y., Cai, Q., Xue, Y., Li, Y., McIntosh, J., Chen, Z., Vargas, J., Nie, L., Yao, Y., Lee, H. H., Wang, W., Bigcal, J. N. R., Badillo, M., Meena, J., Flowers, C. & Zhou, J. & 3 others, Zhao, Z., Simon, L. M. & Wang, M., Dec 2026, In: Experimental Hematology and Oncology. 15, 1, 19.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review

Pharmacy-level barriers to opioid overdose prevention: availability and accessibility of naloxone and buprenorphine–naloxone in high-risk Texas counties

Darouiche, K. G., Malik, M. M., Mohr, M. T., Hagenimana, M. A., Digbeu, B. D. E., Cunningham, K. A., Farr, N. M. & Dostal, C. R., Dec 2026, In: Harm Reduction Journal. 23, 1, 86.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Correction: Targeting 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 associated with drug-resistant renal cell carcinoma using new oridonin analogs (Cell Death & Disease, (2017), 8, 3, (e2701), 10.1038/cddis.2017.121)

Zhou, J., Yun, E. J., Chen, W., Ding, Y., Wu, K., Wang, B., Ding, C., Hernandez, E., Santoyo, J., Pong, R. C., Chen, H., He, D., Zhou, J. & Hsieh, J. T., Dec 2026, In: Cell Death and Disease. 17, 1, 550.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review

Incorporation of PeT fluorescent units into the pharmacophore of atypical dopamine transporter inhibitors

Gram, M. L., Camacho-Hernandez, G. A., Newman, A. H., Loland, C. J. & Bols, M., Dec 2026, In: Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry. 143, 118786.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Upcoming Events

News

2027 Chauncey Leake Memorial Lecture

Nov 10, 2026, 08:49 AM by Rodrigo Salinas

This past Friday, October 30, our very own Dr. Jia Zhou was honored as this year’s Chauncey Leake Distinguished Lecturer, one of the Pharmacology & Toxicology Department’s most prestigious recognitions. His seminar, “Bridging Chemistry and Biology: Discovery of Pharmacological Tools and Translation into Therapeutics,” drew an outstanding audience of faculty, researchers, trainees, and colleagues from across campus. The engaging presentation, followed by a post-seminar luncheon, sparked thoughtful discussion, and highlighted Dr. Zhou’s significant contributions to translational research and drug discovery.

To celebrate this well-deserved honor, colleagues and friends gathered later that evening for a special reception recognizing Dr. Zhou’s achievements and impact on the scientific community.

Pictured here, Dr. Lawrence Sowers presents Dr. Zhou with a commemorative plaque in recognition of this distinguished honor and his selection as the 2026 Chauncey Leake Distinguished Lecturer.