Issuu

ANNUAL NEWSLETTER

FALL 2026

In this issue

DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACOLOGY

Letter from the Chair

2026 by the Numbers

Awards, Honors, and News

Department Events

Welcoming to Pharmacology

Research Lab Highlights

LETTER FROM THE CHAIR Dear Friends of Michigan Pharmacology, I hope that you and yours are well and enjoying the Fall season with friends and family. Michigan Pharmacology has had another impressive year! I am excited to share our accomplishments with you. We look forward to continuing our momentum and world-class scientific impact in 2027. Some of our highlights include: •

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We held the 5th Annual Pharmacology in Color Symposium on June 19, 2028. Dr. Lola Eniola-Adefeso, Dean of Engineering, Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Director of the Cell Adhesion and Drug Delivery (CADD) Lab, Director of the NIH NIBIB Humanity Unlocking Biomaterials Coordinating Center at the University of Illinois Chicago, and President of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), was our keynote speaker. We joined colleagues from the Departments of Pharmacology at the Universities of Toledo, Wayne State, and Michigan State at the 52nd annual Midwest Pharmacology Colloquium held at Wayne State University on June 26, 2026. Dr. Matthew Brody was promoted to Associate Professor of Pharmacology with tenure. Dr. Eric Jimenez Vazquez and Dr. Frank Kwarcinski were promoted to Research Assistant Professor in Pharmacology. Dr. Paul Buscaglia, Dr. Aditya Kumar, and Dr. Mengchu Li were promoted to Research Investigator in Pharmacology. Dr. Manoj Puthenveedu and Dr. Greg Tall were selected as Fellows of the American Society for Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics. Dr. Erica Levitt, Dr. Emily Scott, and Dr. Alan Smrcka received major ASPET awards recognizing their outstanding research achievements in Pharmacology. Dr. Adam Courtney was awarded the Pfizer-Upjohn Research Early Career Professorship in Pharmacology. We recruited two new graduate student cohorts for Fall 2026: 5 Ph.D. students and 10 M.S. students. We welcomed many new postdoctoral fellows, research staff, and administrative staff to the Department. We jointly recruited Dr. Arianne Caudal with the Frankel Institute for Heart and Brain Health as Assistant Professor on the tenure track. Dr. Caudal, a postdoctoral fellow from Stanford University, plans to establish an independent research program com¬bining iPSC-based models, quantitative proteomics, and metabolic engineering to elucidate mechanisms of cardiovascular pathogenesis. Dr. Greg Collins, from UT Health, San Antonio, joined us as Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, and member of the Domino Research Center within the Department of Pharmacology in Spring 2026. We introduced a new UM undergraduate minor in Pharmacology. We inaugurated “Pharmacology for Everyone,” an educational outreach program to the local community held at the Ann Arbor District Library.

At Michigan Pharmacology we continue to prioritize public scholarship, national leadership, and public service as we engage with the greater University in the Look to Michigan vision: As the most comprehensive and distinguished public university in the world, the University of Michigan bears a profound responsibility not only to lead in scholarship and innovation but also to serve as a thoughtful compass in challenging times. In the words of our incoming University of Michigan President, Dr. Cybele Raver: “Throughout my career, I have been profoundly inspired by the impact that universities can have, bringing talented people together across disciplines and supporting them to pursue bold ideas. Michigan does this better than many other universities that I can name, and it’s at a truly remarkable scale.

My vision is for us to build on that vision, mission, and those values. We have the opportunity to make clear to the world all that Michigan can offer to this great state and to our nation through education, patient care and discovery.” As part of the Look to Michigan vision, we have launched the Campaign for Michigan Pharmacology, with an overall $30M fundraising goal to endow our Department to sustain its impact through the 21st century. To explore how your generosity can support our campaign and make an impact on our work in a meaningful way, please reach out to our UM Development contact: Jayson Rose at rosejay@med.umich.edu. Thank you for your generous support of Michigan Pharmacology. I love hearing from our alumni, and I encourage you to share your ideas with me as we continue to move our Department forward. I hope you enjoy our newsletter. Go Blue! With warmest regards and best wishes,

Lori L. Isom, Ph.D. Maurice H. Seevers Professor and Chair of Pharmacology

2026 BY THE NUMBERS

Masters Students

Ph.D. Students

29 Postdoctoral Fellows 130

2026 Publications

Primary Faculty

Research Faculty

“Michigan Pharmacology continues to promote a collegial and inclusive culture - a scientific home where individuals from all backgrounds feel valued, welcomed, and appreciated. Our goals are to be a place where faculty, staff, and trainees enjoy working, learning, and growing together; to be a place where people know that their voices are heard; and to be a place that our alumni are proud to call ‘home’.”

- Dr. Lori Isom

HONORS, AWARDS, AND NEWS Congratulations to Kate Bowman on receiving the 2026 Predoctoral Fellowship in Drug Discovery from the PhRMA Foundation! Kate Bowman (Sebag Lab) received a 2026 PhRMA Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship in Drug Discovery for her research investigating alternative pathways in the brain that could be targeted to promote safe and sustained weight loss with fewer side effects. Congratulations, Kate!

Congratulations to Rongxi Zhang on receiving an American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship! Rongxi Zhang (Smrcka Lab) received a Predoctoral Fellowship for his project titled “Uncovering Signaling Downstream of Gq-coupled Receptors in Heart” from the American Heart Association. Congratulations, Rongxi!

Congratulations to Kaitlyn Digsby on being awarded an NRSA grant! Kaitlyn Digsby (Miller lab) received a highly competitive F31 Predoctoral Fellowship for her project titled “Investigating the source and mechanism of lipid accumulation in pathologic extracellular deposits characteristic of agerelated macular degeneration”. Congratulations, Kaitlyn!

Congratulations to Catherine Demery on receiving an NIH/NIDA F31 Predoctoral Fellowship! Catherine Demery (Traynor Lab) received a competitive F31 Predoctoral Fellowship from the National Institute on Drug Abuse this summer for her project entitled, “The Role of Gαo and Gαz in Opioid-Induced Respiratory Depression,” co-sponsored by Drs. John Traynor and Erica Levitt. Congratulations, Catherine!

Congratulations to Vikram Bagchi on receiving the NIH/NINDS F31 Predoctoral Fellowship! Vikram Bagchi (Isom Lab) received a highly competitive NIH/NINDS F31 Predoctoral Fellowship for his project titled “Investigating Developmental Interneuron Pathology and Cell-based Therapy in a Translational Rabbit Model of Dravet Syndrome”. Congratulations, Vikram!

Congratulations to our newly minted Ph.D’s who successfully defended their dissertations in 2026! Anthony Garcia (Osawa Lab) “Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase as a Model Client Protein for the Study of Hsp90 and Hsp70 Modulators” Tenzin Ngodup (Lee Lab) “Role of hypoxia in fibroblast reprogramming in pancreatic cancer” Jacob Ormes (Smrcka Lab) “Gβγas a Therapeutic Target for Pain Modulation: Mechanisms of Opioid and Non-Opioid Receptor Potentiation” Zhuoying Ren (Chen and Xu Labs) “Development of CRISPR/Cas9 Mediated in vivo Gene-editing Therapy for Cardiovascular Disease”

Francisco Sanchez-Conde (D. Jones Lab) “hERG1 Nuclear Peptide: Probing a Novel hERG1 Subdomain as a Mechanism of Sudden Death Syndromes“ Claire Shudde (Courtney Lab) “Cytokine-independent activation of STAT5 promotes the persistence and Brian Tran (Narla and Leopold Labs) “The Pleiotropic Role of Protein Phosphatase 2A in Neuroblastoma”

Congratulations to Dr. Aurel Leuchtmann on becoming the inaugural Frankel IHBH Postdoctoral Fellow! The Stanley and Judith Frankel Institute for Heart and Brain Health (Frankel IHBH) announced Aurel B. Leuchtmann, Ph.D., as the inaugural Frankel IHBH Postdoctoral Fellow. Awarded annually to an outstanding postdoctoral researcher pursuing innovative work in heart or brain health, this fellowship supports his research conducted under the mentorship of Jorge L. Ruas, Pharm.D., Ph.D., Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Michigan. Dr. Leuchtmann is a molecular biologist whose research focuses on understanding how tissues adapt to physiological and pathological stress, directly aligned with the Frankel IHBH’s approach to advance heart and brain health. He completed his training in Switzerland at ETH Zurich (B.S., M.S.) and the Biozentrum, University of Basel (Ph.D.), where he investigated molecular mediators of exercise-training adaptations in young and aged musculoskeletal tissues. This work built his expertise in molecular exercise physiology, tissue-specific and systemic aging, muscle proteomics, and in vivo mouse models. In the Ruas lab at UM, Dr. Leuchtmann studies the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying cardiac dysfunction, with a focus on identifying early biomarkers and defining key drivers of disease progression. His research aims to inform both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches to prevent, halt, or reverse pathological remodeling of the heart. Congratulations, Dr. Leuchtmann!

HONORS, AWARDS, AND NEWS Congratulations to our 2026 ASPET Awardees! Ryan Pauly (Levitt lab): 1st place, Neuropharmacology Division Graduate Student Poster Competition Ben Clements (Traynor lab): 2nd place, Neuropharmacology Division Postdoctoral Poster Competition Simon Tangen (Collins lab): 2nd place, Behavioral Pharmacology Division Graduate Student Poster Competition Dawn Jessup (Traynor lab): 3rd place, Behavioral Pharmacology Division Postdoctoral Poster Competition Shawn Flynn (Traynor/Levitt lab): 3rd place, Molecular Pharmacology Division Postdoctoral Oral Compe-

Congratulations to our 2026 Pharmacology Donor Awardees! Please join us in congratulating this year’s class of Department of Pharmacology Fellows supported by generous endowments from our donors. The applications for this year’s awards were extremely competitive, highlighting the excellent work going on within our Department and the outstanding people performing that work. We are grateful to have these awards within the Department to support our fantastic trainees. This year’s fellows are as follows: Predoctoral Donor Awardees (alphabetical order)

Cat Demery

Kaitlyn Digsby

Kalynn Harvey

Alex Powell

Erika Ruskie

Postdoctoral Awardees (alphabetical order)

Dr. Elizaveta Mangutov

Dr. Maria Ortego Dominguez

NEW! UNDERGRADUATE MINOR IN PHARMACOLOGY Beginning this year, the Department of Pharmacology is now offering an undergraduate minor in pharmacology! Students with varying career aspirations can elect the minor to learn about pharmaceutical drugs and their effects on living systems. The minor requires a minimum of 15 credits total: nine core credits and at least six elective credits offered across different departments including chemistry, biology, neuroscience and biophysics.

Congratulations to our Pharmacology MS students who completed their degrees in 2026! Congratulations to Badria Alhanfoush, Grace Gleason, Frederick Lee, Daeun Nam, Emma Oren, Musab Alsufayan, Xiao Han, Anu Mallela, and Adi Narayanan!

HONORS, AWARDS, AND NEWS Dr. Rowan Calkins featured during Postdoc Appreciation Week In honor of Postdoc Appreciation Week, Postdoctoral fellow, Dr. Rowan Calkins, was featured in a video describing their research and how they spend a typical day in their lab. In the Ferrario Lab, Rowan studies the electrical activity of neurons in a region of the brain associated with reward signaling and addiction. Follow along as Rowan takes us through a day of preparing lab materials, recording neurons and sharing what brought them to Michigan. Watch the full video HERE.

Congratulations to Dr. Ben Clements on being ASPET’s highlighted trainee author for June! Ben Clements, PhD, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Pharmacology, was ASPET’s Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Highlighted Trainee Author for June 2026. His research focuses on the characterization of novel pain therapeutics, ranging from NMDA receptor antagonists to opioid receptor allosteric modulators. Read the article HERE. Congratulations, Ben!

Congratulations to Dr. Michael Holinstat on being recognized as a 2026 Fellow of ACTS! The Association for Clinical and Translational Science (ACTS), a non-profit membership association of translational scientists from the nation’s leading academic medical centers, honored its Fellows at Translational Science 2026. Pharmacology faculty colleague, Michael Holinstat, Ph.D., was recognized as a 2026 Fellow of ACTS. This year, ACTS launched the Fellows of ACTS (FACTS) program. FACTS is a premier membership program for individuals who have made substantial contributions to and service within the clinical and translational science field. FACTS recognizes those who are an essential part of the clinical and translational community. This inaugural application process was rigorous and competitive, with 36 individuals selected from ACTS’ almost 6,000-person membership. “The Fellows of ACTS program recognizes those whose impact on the clinical and translational space and the Association for Clinical and Translational Science is undeniable. The fellowship celebrates the work of the entire translational science community—from researchers to administrative staff. These fellows and their contributions truly embody the values and mission of ACTS for innovation, team science and community. We are pleased to celebrate their achievements and impact at Translational Science 2026” said ACTS President Allan R. Brasier, M.D. The Association for Clinical and Translational Science (ACTS) uniquely provides an outstanding platform for enhancing education, research, and public policy related to clinical and translational science. ACTS members consist of leaders, investigators, and trainees from academic medical centers, government, industry, and philanthropy. ACTS focuses on four realms: research, education, advocacy, and mentoring. Additional information is available at the ACTS website at www.actscience.org.

Congratulations to Yan Chen on receiving the 2026 Pharmacology Research Staff Award!

Congratulations to Dr. Lori Isom on her 2026 Cinda Sue Davis STEM Equity Leadership Award!

Please join us in congratulating Yan Chen on his selection by the Pharmacology Awards Committee to receive the 2026 Pharmacology Research Staff Award, given by the EBS. Yan, who serves as Research Lab Specialist Senior in the Isom Lab, is a world-class expert in the development and analysis of transgenic models of developmental and epileptic encephalopathy. Congratulations, Yan!

Congratulations to Dr. Manoj Puthenveedu and Dr. Greg Tall on being named 2025 ASPET fellows! Congratulations to Dr. Manoj Puthenveedu and Dr. Greg Tall on being selected as 2025 ASPET fellows! Selection as a fellow of the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (FASPET) is an honor bestowed to our most distinguished members. Fellows are recognized for their meritorious efforts to advance pharmacology through their scientific achievements, mentorship, and service to the Society.

Congratulations to Dr. Lori Isom on winning the 2026 Cinda Sue Davis STEM Equity Leadership Award. This University-wide award is given by WISE (Women In Science and Engineering) to “an inclusive leader who has, throughout their time as a member of the University of Michigan community, worked consistently to make STEM an accessible path for all learners who want to pursue degrees and careers in science, engineering, or math.” Congratulations, Dr. Isom!

HONORS, AWARDS, AND NEWS Congratulations to Dr. Michelle Hastings and her team on receiving a $3.9 million NIH grant to develop first targeted therapy for fatal childhood brain disorder! For children with CLN3 Batten disease, the first symptom is often vision loss. What follows is relentless neurological decline and currently there is no effective treatment. Now, University of Michigan researchers are working to change that. The University of Michigan has received a $3.9 million award from the National Institutes of Health’s Ultra-rare Gene-based Therapy (URGenT) Program to develop a novel antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) medicine for CLN3 Batten disease, a rare, fatal genetic disorder. The funding will move the therapy into clinical development, targeting the most common genetic variant behind the disease. The project is led by Michelle Hastings, Ph.D., the Pfizer Upjohn Research Professor of Pharmacology at the U-M Medical School, Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the College of Pharmacy, and Director of the Nucleic Acid Therapeutics (NATx) Core at the Life Sciences Institute. “Our goal is to treat a small group of children first, evaluating safety, biomarkers and initial effectiveness,” Hastings said. “Given the severity of the disease and the lack of other treatments, we want to move quickly to adapt and expand treatment to additional children, with the ultimate goal of making a disease-modifying drug widely available.” The work builds on a productive collaboration between the Hastings laboratory and numerous partners including groups at Vanguard Clinical, University of North Carolina, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Sanford Research and coordinated by the ForeBatten Foundation, a patient advocacy nonprofit founded by David and Karen Kahn, whose twin daughters live with CLN3 Batten disease. Together, the partnership previously produced a personalized therapy for a different genetic cause of the disease. The new funding aims to deliver a broader drug for the most common variant. “We have been working towards this day since our girls were diagnosed. We are so proud of this team, and the incredible work of Dr. Hastings.” says Karen Kahn. Hastings is a leader in the development of antisense oligonucleotides, short synthetic RNA molecules designed to bind precise genetic targets and adjust gene expression, with the aim of reversing or halting disease progression. To power this work, she established the NATx Core at U-M’s Life Sciences Institute together with Michigan Medicine. The core offers end-to-end RNA synthesis, molecular design and testing, and translational guidance to researchers at Michigan and institutions around the world. “This core supports the effort not only by producing the test molecules, but by enabling translational studies like this one, helping with sequence design, synthesizing oligonucleotides and guiding preclinical testing,” Hastings said. Congratulations, Dr. Hastings!

Congratulations to Dr. Emily Scott on being named the College of Pharmacy’s 2026 Distinguished Mentor Award recipient! The College of Pharmacy is pleased to announce that Dr. Emily Scott, F. F. Blicke Collegiate Professor in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Professor of Pharmacology, has been named the recipient of the College’s 2026 Distinguished Mentor Award. This award recognizes exceptional mentoring in the Ph.D. programs. Dr. Scott is widely recognized for her dedication to mentoring graduate students and trainees, both within her laboratory and across the University of Michigan biosciences community. Her mentoring philosophy centers on the belief that excellence is cultivated through consistent modeling, supported practice and the reinforcement and celebration of progress, whether in research, career development or personal growth. “To me, mentoring means helping trainees become resourceful, confident, ethical and independent scientists by combining high expectations with individualized, steady support that helps them thrive in research progress, in their careers, and as people,” Scott reflected. “I’m tremendously proud of both my lab alumni and current trainees, whose achievements and mutual support reflect the strong community we’ve built together and from which we all benefit.” In addition to her mentorship, Dr. Scott leads an accomplished research program focused on human cytochrome P450 enzymes, with the goal of better understanding drug clearance and advancing drug design. Her work has provided groundbreaking insights into the structures of complex membrane P450 enzymes, contributing to significant advancements in the field. Throughout her career, Dr. Scott has mentored approximately 80 trainees, helping them pursue successful careers across the pharmaceutical industry, clinical trials, consulting, academia and biotechnology. By aligning opportunities with each individual’s goals and aspirations, she has made a lasting impact on the next generation of scientists and leaders. “Dr. Scott’s commitment to mentorship has shaped the careers of countless trainees and strengthened our research community. Being a mentor is a cornerstone to our programs, and Dr. Scott exemplifies what it means to do this for our Ph.D. students,” said Dean Vicki Ellingrod. Her contributions to research and mentorship have earned her numerous honors, including an NIH MERIT Award, the 2026 B. B. Brodie Award and recognition as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET). Congratulations, Dr. Scott!

Congratulations to Dr. Adam Courtney on his appointment as the Pfizer Upjohn Early Career Research Professor in Molecular Pharmacology! Please join us in congratulating Dr. Adam Courtney on his appointment as the Pfizer Upjohn Early Career Research Professor in Molecular Pharmacology! This professorship was established in October 2023 and stems from a gift from the Pfizer Professorship Fund to support the research efforts of tenure track faculty members with the Department of Pharmacology whose research efforts include clinical or translational work. Congratulations, Adam!

HONORS, AWARDS, AND NEWS Congratulations to Drs. Levitt, Scott, and Smrcka on being named 2026 ASPET Award winners! Congratulations to the 2026 ASPET Award winners who were recognized for their excellence in the field of pharmacology Drs. Erica Levitt, Emily Scott, and Alan Smrcka! From early-career researchers to lifetime achievers, these awards recognize excellence at every stage of a scientific career. Read more here.

Congratulations to Dr. Carrie Ferrario on her election as a senior fellow in the Michigan Society of Fellows! Please join us in congratulating Dr. Carrie Ferrario, who was invited by President Grasso to serve as a senior fellow in the Michigan Society of Fellows. The Society of Fellows serves a unique and important function in the University, particularly by creating a context in which sustained conversation can take place across disciplinary and generational lines. Dr. Ferrario’s appointment is not merely honorary, but rather an active role. The Society meets monthly during the academic year for dinner, followed by presentations and conversation. These gatherings are intended to offer stimulating and fruitful discussion across disciplines. Beyond participating in the Society’s intellectual life, members also help sustain and shape its future. The Society’s most crucial duty is the selection of new postdoctoral fellows, a task fundamental to the charge it has undertaken. This work includes preliminary file review in late September and October, finalist review in early January, participation in the new fellows selection meeting, and selection of new senior fellows in the spring. Although it requires dedicated time, engaging with such exceptional candidates makes the process deeply rewarding. Senior fellows participate in these processes, especially in evaluating candidate materials, and typical commitments need not prevent thoughtful engagement except in cases such as absences longer than one year, planned sabbaticals, or leaves. The Society of Fellows unites some of the University’s most esteemed faculty with an extraordinary cohort of postdoctoral fellows. Its work is central to fostering vibrant scholarly exchange. We are so excited that she was chosen to become a member of this remarkable community. Congratulations, Dr. Ferrario!

Congratulations to Manoj Puthenveedu on being appointed Rackham Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Initiatives! Rackham Graduate School welcomed Manoj Puthenveedu as associate dean for academic programs and initiatives. His appointment was approved by the U-M Board of Regents to begin July 1. Puthenveedu is the Pfizer Upjohn Research Professor of Pharmacology II and a professor of pharmacology in the U-M Medical School. As associate dean, he will have responsibility for relationships with Rackham master’s and Ph.D. degree-granting programs in the biological and health sciences. Puthenveedu enters his role having previously served as the director of the Cellular and Molecular Biology Graduate Program from 2020 to 2024, and as a member of Rackham’s faculty committee on mentoring, the MORE Committee, from 2019 to 2025. “I look forward to working with Professor Puthenveedu to support our strong relationships with graduate programs in the health and biological sciences, and to explore new ways to collaborate with others on campus to advance the success of Rackham students,” says Rackham Dean Mike Solomon. “His prior graduate program and training grant leadership, as well as his prior Rackham service, make him an excellent fit with the needs of graduate students, programs, and the graduate school.” Puthenveedu’s research group studies how patterns of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling are disrupted in addiction, heart disease, and cancer, and how these patterns can be re-engineered and corrected. This is a new idea based on recent data that the same drug/receptor pair can signal differently from different locations in the cell, and that the full effect of a drug is based on the pattern generated by signaling from all these locations. They use innovative fluorescence microscopy techniques to directly visualize and study receptor movement to and activation at different locations in real time. The long-term goal is to identify factors that will allow them to actively relocate receptors to specific sites in the cell and fine-tune receptor physiology, offering a brand-new and potentially transformative approach to receptor pharmacology and drug development. “I feel honored to join the Rackham leadership team, and to work with colleagues across the university to strengthen Rackham’s mission of advancing graduate education,” Puthenveedu says. “My own experience, moving to the United States to pursue graduate studies and navigating an unfamiliar environment, left a lasting impact on my approach to graduate education and mentoring. For me, it became obvious that graduate education is not only about scholarship, but also about intellectual and personal growth. “What excites me most about this role is the opportunity for connections and stewardship, by facilitating conversations across programs, learning from each other, shaping thoughtful policies, and building resources to support students and faculty. I look forward to working with Rackham and the programs to strengthen partnerships across campus and help ensure that students and faculty of all backgrounds have the support they need to grow and thrive at Michigan.” Puthenveedu earned his M.B.B.S. from the Government Medical College in Calicut, India, in 1996, and his Ph.D. in biological sciences from Carnegie Mellon University in 2004. He then completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the departments of psychiatry and molecular pharmacology at the University of California, San Francisco. He served as an assistant professor of biological sciences at Carnegie Mellon University from 2009 to 2015, before being promoted to associate professor in 2015. He joined the U-M faculty as an associate professor of pharmacology, with tenure, in 2017, and was promoted to professor in 2023. In 2025, he was appointed as the Pfizer Upjohn Research Professor of Pharmacology II in the Medical School, and was elected as a Fellow of the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. Congratulations, Dr. Puthenveedu!

HONORS, AWARDS, AND NEWS Congratulations to Dr. Erica Levitt on receiving the 2026 Pharmacology Teaching Award! Please join us in congratulating Dr. Erica Levitt, who was selected to receive the 2026 Pharmacology Teaching Award, given by the EBS. Dr. Levitt serves as the Dr. Emily Jutkiewicz Memorial Pfizer Upjohn Research Professor in Translational Pharmacology, Associate Professor of Pharmacology, and Assocate Professor of Anesthesiology. In addition to her extensive research and training program focusing on brainstem circuit mechanisms underlying opioid-induced respiratory depression, she serves as Director of Education and Training for the Opioid Research Institute, co-chairs the Pharmacology PIBS Admissions Committee, serves on the Pharmacology Graduate Program Committee, chaired our faculty search committee, directs PHRMACOL 604 and PHRMACOL 646, and leads a short-course that is part of PHRMACOL 710.

Dr. Puthenveedu awarded one of the UM Strategic Initiative Fund First-Round Projects! Please join us in congratulating Dr. Puthenveedu and his team on receiving one of the first-round UM Strategic Initiative Fund awards! Their award, A Novel Strategy for Effective and Non-Addictive Pain Management, proposes a strategy for effective, nonaddictive pain management aimed at addressing the major public health and economic burden of acute and chronic pain. Pain affects a large share of adults in the U.S., reduces quality of life, and costs the economy an estimated hundreds of billions of dollars annually. Current pain treatments remain inadequate: opioids are effective but carry serious risks of addiction, overdose, constipation, nausea, dizziness, and dependence, while many nonopioid alternatives have limited efficacy or problematic side effects. The project seeks to develop a safer, non-opioid therapeutic approach that could improve pain treatment while avoiding the addiction risks and other adverse effects associated with current opioid-based care. If successful, the project could establish a new class of non-addictive pain therapeutics and position U-M as a leader in next-generation pain management. Read more about their award and the SIF program HERE. Congratulations, Dr. Puthenveedu and team!

Congratulations to our Pharmacology faculty colleagues on their promotions!

Dr. Matthew Brody: Promoted to Associate Professor of Pharmacology, with tenure and Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, without tenure

Dr. Paul Buscaglia: Promoted to Research Investigator

Dr. Michael Holinstat: Promoted to Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, without tenure, in the College of Engineering

Dr. Aditya Kumar: Promoted to Research Investigator

Dr. Frank Kwarcinski: Promoted to Research Assistant Professor of Pharmacology

Dr. Eric Jimenez Vazquez: Promoted to Research Assistant Professor of Pharmacology

Dr. Mengchu Li: Promoted to Research Investigator

DEPARTMENT EVENTS

Pharmacology in Color Symposium - June 19, 2026 The Pharmacology in Color Symposium is a day to foster an inclusive space for trainees from all backgrounds by showcasing the science and experience of alumni and trainees and by cultivating a lasting network of support. This year’s symposium featured research of current trainees, the wisdom of alumni leading wide-ranging careers, and Dr. Lola Eniola-Adefeso, Dean of Engineering, Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Director of the Cell Adhesion and Drug Delivery (CADD) Lab, Director of the NIH NIBIB Humanity Unlocking Biomaterials Coordinating Center at the University of Illinois Chicago, President of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), and Deputy Editor of Science Advances, as the keynote speaker.

Osawaffles - February 27, 2026 In February, the Department of Pharmacology enjoyed some “Osawaffles” in room 1301. This event has become an annual tradition for students, staff, and faculty to informally chat while waiting for waffles to be cooked. The tradition of Osawaffles was started about 20 years ago upon a chance conversation between Professor Osawa and then student, Cheryse Sankar, about finding a way to unite fellow students and colleagues. The event is one of many that continues to reflect the collegiality of the Department.

Pharmacology for Everyone - June 6, 2026 Pharmacology for Everyone held its inaugural public event on June 6, 2026 with an interactive talk given by Dr. George Mashour, former Chair of Anesthesiology at the University of Michigan.This event is a new initiative aimed at engaging the broader community with educational content beyond the walls of the university with the goal to make expert knowledge accessible to anyone curious enough to attend. Dr. Mashour’s talk gave an introduction to anesthetic agents and what those drugs are, how they work and are used in medicine, and the questions they raise about the brain and consciousness itself.

DEPARTMENT EVENTS

Pharmacology Colloquium - June 26, 2026 Congratulations to our Michigan Medicine Michigan Pharmacology trainees who received awards for their amazing research accomplishments at the 52nd Annual Midwest Pharmacology Research Colloquium hosted by our colleagues at Wayne State University Department of Pharmacology! Oral presentations: 1st prize - Alex Powell (Traynor Lab) 2nd prize - Dr. Manuj Bandral (Lorberbaum Lab) Posters: 1st prize - Kate Bowman (Sebag Lab) 2nd prize - Ayushi Mittal (Sebag Lab) Honorable Mention - Elise Tahti (Scott Lab) and Jimena Alvarez Castenon (Lorberbaum Lab) Also - congratulations to their mentors and Dr. Paul Jenkins, Associate Chair for Education, for leading the charge!

Pharmacology Department Welcome Picnic - July 31, 2026 The Department of Pharmacology held its annual Welcome Picnic on Friday, July 31, 2026 at Olson Park. Faculty, staff, and students attended and the picnic. The event is one of many that continues to reflect the collegiality of the Department.

DEPARTMENT EVENTS Pharmacology Retreat - September 28, 2026 The Pharmacology Department held their annual retreat this year on September 28th at Fox Hills Golf and Banquet Center in Plymouth, MI. The event consisted of an interactive workshop: The Art of Science Communication (presented by Kara Gavin and Kelly Malcom), a new department safety initiative (presented by Dyke McEwen), games, a poster session, a jeopardy game (organized by Dr. Jorge Iniguez-Lluhi), an award ceremony, and presentations from the Shaomeng Wang and Ju-Yun Li awardees.

Best Poster Winners: Kate Bowman, Vikram Bagchi, Jimena Alvarez-Castanon, Gracie Kmiec

Shaomeng Wang and Ju-Yun Li Graduate Student Award Winner: Cat Demery

Shaomeng Wang and Ju-Yun Li Graduate Student Award Winner: Michael Young

Shaomeng Wang and Ju-Yun Li Postdoc Award Winner: Ben Clements, Ph.D.

Shaomeng Wang and Ju-Yun Li Junior Faculty Award Winner: Chunling Chen, M.D., M.S.

Prevention in Action: A Narcan Distribution and Education Event On Tuesday, August 25th, the Pharmacology Outreach Committee hosted Prevention in Action, a Narcan distribution and education event near the Michigan Union. The committee distributed 144 boxes of Narcan (naloxone) to students and community members while also providing information about what naloxone is, how it works, and how to use it. Based on the strong response, the committee hopes to organize another Narcan distribution event on campus in the future and during Welcome Week again next year. The committee has also placed an order for free Narcan/naloxone that will be made available to members of the department who would like to keep it on hand. If you would like to obtain Narcan for yourself, you can also request it using this request form. Thank you to everyone who helped support this event!

Department Happy Hour at Rappourt In September, the Pharmacology department got together for a happy hour at Rappourt to unwind, catch up with friends, and meet new faces to kick off the semester. A great time was had by all!

WELCOME TO U-M PHARMACOLOGY! NEW POSTDOC: Dr. Rehana Akter (Satin Lab) Dr. Rehana Akter received her B.Sc. from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, and her Ph.D. in Chemistry from Stony Brook University, where she studied the molecular mechanisms of islet amyloid formation. She subsequently completed her postdoctoral training at the University of Washington and the VA Puget Sound Health Care System, where her research focused on the roles of the mitochondrial cholesterol transporter steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and mitochondrial cholesterol metabolism in pancreatic β-cell dysfunction in diabetes. She is trained in peptide chemistry, amyloid biophysics, and islet biology. In the Satin Lab, she is interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying islet oscillations during diabetes progression. Her long-term research interests focus on understanding the mechanisms underlying β-cell dysfunction, with a particular focus on islet amyloid, metabolic stress, and mitochondrial biology, with the goal of advancing novel therapeutic strategies to preserve β-cell function.

NEW POSTDOC: Dr. Jeremy Canfield (Levitt & Collins Labs) Dr. Jeremy Canfield obtained his Ph.D. in 2025 from Bowling Green State University in Biology under the mentorship of Dr. Jon Sprague. The title of his dissertation was “Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characterization of illicitly manufactured fentanyls”. His research interests revolve around the study of opioids, particularly fentanyl and fentanyl analogs and examining how their pharmacological profiles change based on the altering of the chemical structure. He began his postdoc initially in the laboratory of Dr. Erica Levitt at the beginning of 2026 and has now transitioned to the laboratory of Dr. Greg Collins.

NEW POSTDOC: Dr. Nicole Desmet (Jenkins Lab) Dr. Nicole Desmet is a postdoctoral fellow in the Jenkins laboratory. She graduated from Dartmouth College with her Ph.D. in Molecular and Systems Biology in 2026. Her research interests include protein subcellular localization with regards to Autism Spectrum Disorders. Dr. Desmet is a Michigan native and MSU alum, she is excited to explore all that the University of Michigan has to offer.

NEW POSTDOC: Dr. William Doyle (Collins Lab) Dr. William Doyle joined the Ph.D. in Neuroscience program at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in August 2020. In January 2026 he completed his dissertation defense. His graduate research was completed under the mentorship of Dr. Sally Huskinson and focused on the role of uncertainty as an environmental factor contributing to resistance to extinction and punishment in the context of substance use disorders. His current primary research interest has expanded to identifying environmental and pharmacological factors that contribute to worsened outcomes regarding the development and maintenance of substance use disorders and how these factors can be taken into consideration when evaluating treatment for substance use disorders.

NEW POSTDOC: Dr. Michaela Everly (Hastings Lab) Dr. Michaela Everly is an oligonucleotide chemist who earned her B.S. Chemistry (2019), B.S. Biochemistry (2019), and Ph.D. Chemistry (2025) from the University of Idaho. She completed her doctoral research in the lab of Dr. Patrick J. Hrdlicka which focused on designing, synthesizing, and characterizing oligonucleotide-based probe duplexes for specific and efficient recognition of mixed-sequence double-stranded DNA targets. Michaela has now joined the Department of Pharmacology as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to assist with the development and operations of the new Nucleic Acid Therapeutics (NATx) Core under the direction of Dr. Michelle Hastings.

NEW POSTDOC: Dr. Lindsey Galbo-Thomma (Collins Lab) Dr. Lindsey Galbo-Thomma obtained her B.S. at Allegheny College, M.S. in Psychological Science at Northern Michigan University under the mentorship of Dr. Adam Prus, Ph.D. in Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology at Wake Forest University Graduate School under the mentorship of Dr. Paul Czoty, and conducted postdoctoral studies with Dr. Charles France in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Her research interests include characterizing the behavioral pharmacology of drugs, such as opioids and stimulants, and evaluating putative pharmacotherapies for treating substance use disorders using highly translational preclinical models. Dr. Galbo-Thomma is also involved in various science and drug policy advocacy and outreach activities with multiple professional societies and organizations.

WELCOME TO U-M PHARMACOLOGY! NEW POSTDOC: Dr. Carolina Fuentes-Hernandez (Smrcka Lab) Dr. Carolina Fuentes-Hernandez was born in Santiago, Chile. She earned her B.Sc. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile in 2017 and her Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Chile in 2023. Her doctoral research focused on lipotoxicity-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and signaling pathways involved in cardiac remodeling. She later worked as a postdoctoral researcher at UT Southwestern Medical Center, studying macrophage recruitment in a model of atrial remodeling associated with heart failure. Carolina has now joined the University of Michigan as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Dr. Alan Smrcka’s laboratory under the NIH-sponsored T32 Cardiovascular Research Training Grant. Her future work will focus on adrenergic regulation of cardiac hypertrophic signaling using cellular and physiological models. Her broader research interests include understanding how metabolic and inflammatory stressors drive cardiac remodeling and developing translational models of cardiometabolic disease, an area she plans to expand in the future. Long term, Carolina aspires to lead an independent research program exploring sex-specific mechanisms and therapeutic strategies for cardiovascular disorders.

NEW POSTDOC: Dr. Claudia Muñoz Rodríguez (Smrcka Lab) Dr. Claudia Muñoz Rodríguez is a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Michigan, where she works in Dr. Alan Smrcka’s laboratory. She earned her degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and her Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Chile. Her research interests center on cardiovascular biology, with a particular focus on the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying cardiac remodeling and heart disease, including heart failure. Throughout her research career, Claudia has developed experience in cardiovascular physiology, mouse models of heart disease, cardiac phenotyping, molecular and cellular biology, fluorescence imaging, and the study of immune and vascular mechanisms involved in cardiac dysfunction. Her previous work has included investigating heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and the contribution of cardiac immune cells and vascular alterations to disease progression.

NEW RESEARCH STAFF: Georgina Ayala (Birdsong Lab)

NEW RESEARCH STAFF: Delaney Christy (Lorberbaum Lab)

Georgina Ayala joined the Birdsong Lab as a Laboratory Technician Associate. She is a recent graduate from the University of Michigan with a B.S. in Neuroscience. Her work in the Birdsong Lab includes conducting and supporting experiments that investigate the effects of opioids on the properties of different neuronal populations through electrophysiological techniques, while also helping manage everyday lab operations. Her previous work includes studying language processes through fNIRS neuroimaging to investigate brain activity in relation to different language tasks.

Delaney Christy joined the Lorberbaum Lab as a full-time Laboratory Research Technician Associate, while also supporting lab operations as the acting lab manager. Within the lab, she contributes to the research on pancreas development as part of a larger effort to advance a cure for Type 1 Diabetes. She graduated from the University of Michigan earlier this year with a Bachelor of Science in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (MCDB). She is passionate about molecular physiology and the development of novel treatment strategies for metabolic and neuromuscular diseases, especially those with histological and physiological pathology.

NEW RESEARCH STAFF: Christina George (Collins Lab)

NEW RESEARCH STAFF: Diego Sotelo (Holinstat Lab)

Christina George joined the Collins Lab as a Research Laboratory Specialist Associate. Her most recent project in the lab utilized a polypharmacy approach to develop candidate medications to treat opioid and stimulant use disorder. The lab selectively targeted serotonin (5-HT) 2C receptors and dopamine D3 receptors in combination to reduce the self-administration of fentanyl, methamphetamine, or cocaine. Findings suggest that combining drugs acting at 5-HT2C and dopamine D3 receptors could result in a broad-spectrum treatment for (poly)substance use disorders.

Diego Sotelo joined the Holinstat Lab as a Research Laboratory Technician and Phlebotomist He received his B.A. in Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology from Harvard University and recently earned a Master of Management from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. Diego is a former collegiate wrestler at Harvard and the University of Michigan.

WELCOME TO U-M PHARMACOLOGY! NEW FACULTY: Dr. Arianne Caudal

NEW FACULTY: Dr. Eliza Tsou

Dr. Arianne Caudal is an incoming Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and the Frankel Institute for Heart and Brain Health. Dr. Caudal completed her Ph.D. training at the University of Washington, elucidating structure-function relationships in the mitochondrial landscape of the failing heart using cross-linking mass spectrometry. As a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University, she expanded this work to human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes and engineered heart tissues, earning her an NHLBI K99/R00 Transition to Independence Award. Her ongoing work combines iPSC-based models, quantitative proteomics, and metabolic engineering to elucidate the physical interactions driving cardiovascular pathogenesis. This lens includes mitochondrial proteins that play key roles in the heart and brain, as well as circulating pro-arrhythmic proteins. She hopes to further advance human-centered disease modeling by elucidating key protein-protein interactions that sustain molecular communication between cell types and organ systems in cardiac health and disease.

Dr. Eliza Tsou joined the Department of Pharmacology as Assistant Professor. She holds her primary appointment in the Division of Rheumatology within the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan. Her research seeks to elucidate the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (scleroderma), a complex autoimmune disease. Her work focuses on the epigenetic mechanisms that drive tissue fibrosis and the role of cutaneous microvascular endotheliopathy in disease initiation and progression. She also serves as Co-Director of the University of Michigan Scleroderma Program Biorepository, where she supports translational research in systemic sclerosis. Dr. Tsou earned a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy, summa cum laude, from National Taiwan University and a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University at Buffalo, State University of New York. Her doctoral research examined the mechanisms underlying nitrate tolerance, providing a strong foundation in pharmacology that continues to shape her approach to autoimmune disease research and her connection with the Depment of Pharmacology.

NEW FACULTY: Dr. Gregory Collins

NEW FACULTY: Dr. Peter Toogood

Dr. Greg Collins joined the Department as Associate Professor of Pharmacology. In addition to his primary faculty appointment in Pharmacology, Dr. Collins has become a member of the Department of Anesthesiology, the Michigan Neuroscience Institute, and the Domino Research Center within the Department of Pharmacology.

Dr. Peter Toogood joined the Department as Research Associate Professor of Pharmacology. He is also the Director of Michigan Drug Discovery (MDD). He joined U-M in 2020 after two decades in pharma and biotech. Dr. Toogood has helped advance multiple compounds into human clinical trials, most notably the CDK4/6 inhibitor, palbociclib. His current interests include cancer metabolism as a therapeutic target and the use of AI in drug discovery.

NEW STAFF: Autum Wiles

NEW STAFF: Rachel Harbach

Pharmacology Administration welcomed Autumn Wiles as a Research Administrator! Autumn is transferring from the EECS department on North Campus, where she has spent the last 2 years supporting the building’s 2nd floor Faculty in their research with the Lurie Nanofabrication Facility. She is currently working towards her Masters degree in Business Analytics, which she expects to complete next year.

Pharmacology Administration welcomed Rachel Harbach as the new Student Affairs Program Manager! In her previous role, Rachel served as the Student Services Administrator for the Neuroscience Graduate Program, where she has served since 2010.

NEW FACULTY: Dr. Geoffrey Siwo

NEW VISITING SCHOLAR: Dr. Jay (Zhe) Zhang

Dr. Geoffrey Siwo joined the Department as a Research Assistant Professor with joint appointments in the Department of Learning Health Sciences and Department of Pharmacology at the University of Michigan. He also serves as AI Lead at the Michigan Center for Global Health Equity and as a Research Associate at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. His research interests are in encoding and programmable modulation of biological systems to accelerate the discovery of fundamental biological principles and their translation into therapeutic decisions and public health interventions. In addition to his academic experience, Dr. Siwo has performed research in industry including at IBM Research and served as a co-founder and/ or advisor to biotech startups including two- Helix Nanotechnologies and Immusoft Corp- with clinical stage products.

Dr. Jay (Zhe) Zhang joined the Isom Lab as a visiting scholar and will be at U-M for two years. He is a resident physician in the Department of Neurology at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. He graduated with honors in 2015 from the College of Life Sciences at Peking University, earning a Bachelor of Science. In 2019, he received his Doctor of Medicine from the School of Medicine at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. He is currently a neurology resident physician at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Dr. Zhang’s research interests include genetic mechanisms of epilepsy, and the role of neuro-immune mechanisms in epilepsy. His clinical interests focus on dizziness and vestibular disorders, epileptology, and hereditary neurological disorders.

WELCOME TO U-M PHARMACOLOGY!

Welcome to our new MS students! From left to right: Aziz Alanazi, Khalid Mahboob, Claire Zhang, Sathwik Reddy, Katie Zhang, Yuesong Bai, Carly Carbery, Zach Schafer, Paige Skaff, Dhivya Ganesh

Welcome to our new PhD students! From left to right: Lu Paris, Kevin Kereakos-Fairbanks, Aditya Narayanan, Lauren Conrad (Missing from photo: Grace Lombardo)

RESEARCH LAB SPOTLIGHTS Skiba Lab

From left to right: Meredith Skiba, Ph.D., Courtney Masarik, Brendan Fosgitt, Marissa Bivins, Luis Schmid, Samantha McLean The Skiba Lab studies how cells encode and decode hormonal information to control reproductive physiology. We focus on G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that regulate fertility and childbirth, including the gonadotropin-releasing hormone, kisspeptin, and oxytocin receptors. Although some of these receptors are already targeted by clinically used drugs in obstetrics and assisted reproductive medicine, the molecular mechanisms governing their signaling remain poorly understood compared to GPCRs involved in cardiovascular and neurological function. We are particularly interested in how the timing of hormonal signals and the molecular state of a receptor shape cellular responses. We combine cellular biochemistry, receptor pharmacology, structural biology, and protein engineering to characterize receptor function from the molecular to the cellular level. Our laboratory designs custom antibody fragments, called nanobodies, which can both detect and precisely manipulate receptor signaling. These tools allow us to investigate how, where, and when cells sense and interpret hormonal signals. Specifically, we are interested in how temporal patterns of hormone signaling convey information across the reproductive axis and how the oxytocin receptor regulates both uterine contractility and inflammatory signaling. Through this work, we aim to uncover the general principles cells use to respond to hormonal cues and apply this knowledge to develop more precise therapies for infertility, pregnancy-associated disorders, and other unmet needs in women’s health.

Collins Lab

From left to right: William Doyle, Ph.D., Lindsey Galbo-Thomma, Ph.D., Simon Tangen, Greg Collins, Ph.D., Gorana Puzovic, Jeremy Canfield, Ph.D., and Christina George The Collins Lab relocated to the University of Michigan from UT Health San Antonio in February 2026. The lab investigates the behavioral and neurobiological determinants of substance use disorders, with the ultimate goal of developing novel pharmacological and behavioral interventions. We use behavioral pharmacology techniques, including drug discrimination and intravenous self-administration, to characterize the reinforcing and abuse-related effects of drugs. We also employ implantable telemetry and pulse oximetry to obtain real-time measures of cardiovascular and respiratory function, which are highly relevant to overdose. Our work focuses on the mechanisms underlying the abuse-related and toxic effects of stimulants (e.g., cocaine and methamphetamine) and opioids (e.g., fentanyl and heroin), and we have developed a number of quantitative methods to define complex interactions between commonly co-used drugs (e.g., fentanyl and methamphetamine, fentanyl and xylazine). In addition to evaluating antagonist-based approaches to reduce drug taking and reverse overdose, we are working to validate novel targets for stimulant use disorder, such as the organic cation transporter 3 (OCT3), and to develop polypharmacy strategies as broad-spectrum treatments for (poly)substance use disorders.

DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACOLOGY University of Michigan Medical School 2301 MSRB III 1150 W. Medical Center Dr. Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5632 (734) 764-8165

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