Department of Pharmacology
GARY L. JOHNSON, Chair
Professors
*George R. Breese (15) Drugs and Neural Plasticity, Molecular Neurobiology
*Frank C. Church (107) Proteases and Their Inhibitors Involved in Regulating Thrombosis and Tumor Cell Invasion
Fulton T. Crews (88) Excitotoxicity, Gene Delivery, Neuroprogenetor Stem Cells and Addiction
Channing Der (74) Ras Protein Superfamily, Signal Transduction and Oncogenesis
Kenneth H. Dudley (28) Drug Biotransformation, Penicillin Hypersensitivity
*Linda Dykstra (55) Opioid Analgesics, Drugs of Abuse
*H. Shelton Earp (63) Growth Regulation, Growth Factor and Protein Kinases
Barry Goz (29) Virus and Cancer Chemotherapy
K. Hahn (126) Development of Fluorophores for Site-Specific Protein Labeling, Live Cell Biosensors and their Biological Applications, Motility, Apoptosis and Crosstalk in Signaling
T. Kendall Harden (37) Receptor Biochemistry, Regulation of Second-Messenger Signaling
Gary L. Johnson (124) Receptors/G-Proteins, Defining the Signal Relay Systems Initiated by Various Cellular Stimuli (Including Cytokines), Growth Factors, Antigens, and Drugs Used to Treat Human Disease
Rudolph L. Juliano (62) Membrane Biochemistry of Cell Interactions, Drug Delivery Systems
*J. Stephen Kizer (34) Molecular and Cellular Biology of Post-Translational Processing
Ryszard Kole (57) RNA Splicing, RNA-Protein Interactions, Antisense Oligonucleotides
*Richard B. Mailman (52) Neuropharmacology, Structure and Function of Dopamine Receptors, Molecular Drug Design
*William Maixner (64) Pain Research and Autonomic Nervous System Research
Ken D. McCarthy (42) Neuronalglial Interactions Studied in situ Using Electrophysiology, Confocal Imaging and Conditional Knockouts
*Leslie Morrow (105) Molecular Neuropharmacology of GABA Receptors and Alcohol
*Robert A. Mueller (32) Neuronal Stimulation and Oncogene Expression
Robert A. Nicholas (68) G-Protein-Coupled P2Y Receptors, Mechanisms of Antibiotic Resistance
*David A. Ontjes (30) Endocrine Pharmacology, Clinical Endocrinology
*Leslie V. Parise (70) Adhesion Receptors and Signal Transduction in Platelets, Sickle Cell Disease and Cancer
Robert L. Rosenberg (69) Regulation of Ion Channels
Bryan Roth (130) Regulation of Signaling and Trafficking, Drug Discovery
R. Jude Samulski (77) Development of Efficient Viral Vectors for Gene Delivery into Eukaryotic Genes
Gene A. Scarborough (36) Molecular Basis of Plasma Membrane Structure and Function
*Dhiren Thakker (97) Drug Delivery and Metabolism
Associate Professors
*Adrienne D. Cox (90) Ras Family Oncogenes, Lipid Modification and Protein Function
*H. G. Dohlman (127) Receptors and Signal Transduction: Mechanisms of Drug Desensitization
Tim Elston (129) MAPK Activation in the Pheromone Response Pathway of Yeast, Noise in Gene Regulatory Networks, Airway Surface Volume Regulation Diffusion in Viscoelastic Fluids, DlycineMetabolism and the Motion Protein Dynein
Lee M. Graves (89) Growth Factor-Mediated Signal Transduction
*Cam Patterson (115) Vascular Biology, Angiogenesis and Protein Folding and Degradation
David Siderovski (111) Structure and Function of Regulator of G-Protein Signaling (RGS) Proteins
John Sondek (100) X-Ray Crystallography and Transmembrane Signaling
Assistant Professors
Pilar Blancafort (128) Tumorigenesis and Tumor Progression
Franck Polleux (125) Signaling Pathways in the Mammalian Cerebral Cortex
Zefeng Wang (131) Splicing Regulation and Modulation
Research Associate Professors
Jozef Spychala (81) Regulation of Adenosine, Nucleotide and Nucleoside Analogues, Metabolism
Research Assistant Professors
Suresh K. Alahari (109) Integrin Associated Proteins and Antisense Therapeutics
Gavin E. Arteel (118) Alcohol-Induced Liver and Pancreatic Injury, Oxidative Stress
Bonita Blake (121) G-Protein Signaling in the Central Nervous System
James T. McLaughlin (117) Structure and Function of Ion Channels
Zhi Zhong (119) Hepatotoxicology, Renal Toxicology, Organ Transplantation
Adjunct Professors
Emmanuel J. Diliberto Jr. (61) Neuropharmacology
James W. Putney (84) Second Messenger Signaling
Adjunct Associate Professors
Jose Boyer (79) Regulation of Signal Transduction Mechanisms
Kenneth S. Korach (85) Biochemistry and Biology of Steroid Hormone Receptors
Howard A. Rockman (108) Molecular Modeling and Cardiovascular Disease
Adjunct Assistant Professor
John P. O'Bryan (114) Signal Transduction by Tryosine Kinases, Role of Adaptor Proteins, Oncogenesis
Professors Emeriti
Hugh J. Burford
Philip L. Carl (Research Associate Professor)
Curtis Harper
John T. Gatzy
Philip F. Hirsch
Tom S. Miya
Paul L. Munson
William Henry Pearlman
Doris T. Poole
Roy V. Talmage
Svein U. Toverud
* joint faculty members
The Department of Pharmacology offers a program of study that leads to the degree of doctor of philosophy in pharmacology. The curriculum is individualized in recognition of the diverse backgrounds and interests of students and the broad scope of the discipline of pharmacology. The basic course requirements for the Ph.D. degree include introductory and advanced courses in pharmacology and related programs in accord with the principal interest of the students in molecular pharmacology, neuropharmacology, or in toxicology. In addition, in order to satisfy the requirements of the department and The Graduate School, the student must pass written and oral doctoral examinations, write a dissertation based on original research, and submit to a final oral examination. Under special circumstances, the department will offer a program leading to the M.S. degree. The requirements are appropriate course work, a written comprehensive examination, a thesis based on original research and a final oral examination.
The department offers a variety of research areas including 1) receptors and signal transduction, 2) ion channels, 3) neuropharmacology, 4) cancer pharmacology, 5) gene therapy and 6) pharmacology of alcohol and drugs of abuse. The student is expected to begin independent research early in his or her training and to participate in an intensive program of research seminars. Close personal contact between preceptor and trainee is encouraged.
Research Facilities
Laboratory facilities and a wide variety of research equipment are available in the department, which is located primarily in the Mary Ellen Jones Building, where it occupies approximately 26,000 square feet (exclusive of classrooms and animal facilities). In addition, several faculty members are located in the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Thurston Bowles Alcohol Center, and the N.C. Neurosciences Hospital.
Assistantships and Other Student Aid
Financial assistance is provided to all students. The stipend is currently $24,000 per year. In addition, tuition, fees and health insurance coverage are provided.
Requirements for Admission
Beginning in 2008–09, all students in the basic science departments in the Medical School and the biological sciences divisions in Biology and Chemistry will enter graduate school through the Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program (BBSP). During the first year students will take courses and complete three rotations in labs from any of the participating departments or curricula.
After identifying a research mentor, if that faculty member is affilitated with the Pharmacology Department, students can choose to join the Pharmacology Graduate Program. Once in the program, students complete required course work and qualifying examinations, propose a research topic, choose a dissertation committee and engage in dissertation research. The anticipated duration of training is five years.
Our graduate program is dedicated to the training of outstanding scientists in the pharmacological sciences. An outstanding graduate program is a high priority of our department, and the training faculty participate fully at all levels. Our department has the highest level of NIH funding of all pharmacology departments (see News and Events! at www.med.unc.edu/pharm/news) and a great diversity of research areas is available to trainees. These areas include cell surface receptors, G proteins, protein kinases and signal transduction mechanisms, neuropharmacology, nucleic acids, cancer and antimicrobial pharmacology and experimental therapeutics. Cell and molecular approaches are particularly strong, but systems-level research such as behavioral pharmacology and analysis of knock-in and knock-out mice is also well represented. Excellent physical facilities are available for all research areas.
Students completing the training program will have acquired basic knowledge of pharmacology and related fields, in-depth knowledge in their dissertation research area, the ability to evaluate scientific literature, mastery of a variety of laboratory procedures, skill in planning and executing an important research project in pharmacology and the ability to communicate results, analysis and interpretation. These skills provide a sound basis for successful scientific careers in academia, government or industry.
The BBSP will begin accepting applications July 1, 2008. The final application deadline is December 15, 2008. Please review the BBSP admissions page at www.med.unc.edu/bbsp/apply.html.
To apply to BBSP you must use the Graduate School's online application form which can be accessed at gradschool.unc.edu/admissions/instructions.html#app. Please read the information for Domestic or International applicants at the above Web site before beginning your application. For Question 2 of the application scroll down to School of Medicine and select "Biological and Biomedical Sciences" from the drop down list.
Note: Students interested in the Program in Molecular and Cellular Biophysics must also apply directly to that program. Visit hekto.med.unc.edu:8080 to apply.
Note: Applicants to the NIN-UNC Graduate Partnership in Cell Motility and the Cytoskeleton should also file an application on the NIH GPP Web site (no fee required). Visit gpp.nih.gov/Prospective/InstitutionalPartnerships/CellMotility to apply.
The following are required for an application to be considered complete:
1. Nonrefundable $73 application fee (we cannot review your application until this is paid)
2. Official copies of each of your transcripts. Send one copy to The Graduate School and one copy directly to the BBSP office (see mailing information below)
3. letters of recommendation (submit online)
4. Personal statement (submit online)
5. GRE scores (must be less than five years old; UNC institution code is 5816)
6. TOEFL score (must be less than two years old, and is necessary only if you are an international applicant who does not have an undergraduate degree from a U.S. university)
For Graduate School information and submission of application materials:
UNC Graduate School
Admissions Office
CB# 4010, Bynum Hall
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, N.C. 27599-4010
For program information and submission of application materials:
BBSP Admissions
3110 Neurosciences Building, CB# 7108
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, N.C. 27599-7108
Telephone: (919) 843-6960
Email: bbsp@unc.edu
Courses for Graduates
643 [117] CELL STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND GROWTH CONTROL I (BIOC 643, CBIO 643, MCRO 643) (3). Prerequisite, undergraduate cell biology or biochemistry or permission of the instructor. Comprehensive introduction to cell structure, function and transformation. Fall. Cox, Jacobson, Lee, Meissner.
644 [118] CELL STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND GROWTH CONTROL II (BIOC 644, CBIO 644, MCRO 644) (3). Prerequisite, undergraduate cell biology or biochemistry or permission of the instructor. Comprehensive introduction to cell structure, function and transformation. Spring. Cox, Jacobson, Lee, Meissner.
701 [201] INTRODUCTION TO MOLECULAR PHARMACOLOGY (2). Permission of the instructor required. A first-year pharmacology course outlining the basic of molecular pharmacology, including molecular biology, drug/receptor interactions, receptors and ion channels, regulation of second messengers and drug metabolism. Two lecture hours a week. Fall. Trejo, Siderovski.
702 [202] PRINCIPLES OF PHARMACOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY (TOXC 702) (3). Permission of the instructor required. Introduces students to the major areas of pharmacology and toxicology and serves as a basis for more advanced courses. Three lecture hours a week. Spring. Parise.
705 [323] BEHAVIORAL PHARMACOLOGY (NBIO 705, PSYC 705) (3).
707 [207] ADVANCED TOXICOLOGY (TOXC 707) (3). Prerequisite, PHCO 702 or permission of the course director. Cellular and physiological basis of toxicity of environmental chemicals, with emphasis on: inhalation toxicology, developmental toxicology, immunotoxicology, radiation toxicology, renal toxicology and neurotoxicology. Three lecture hours a week. Fall. Swenberg.
710 [210] CELL MEMBRANES (2).
715 [205] THE MOLECULAR PHARMACOLOGY OF CANCER (2). Prerequisites, advanced graduate or advanced undergraduate courses in biochemistry and molecular biology. This course deals with the molecular and cellular basis of anticancer and antiviral chemotherapy, with emphasis on novel approaches including immunotherapy, antisense oligonucleotides and gene therapy. The course includes faculty lectures and student presentations. Fall. Kole.
721 [221] SEMINAR COURSES IN PHARMACOLOGY (1–3). This is a series of seminar courses dealing with advanced topics in modern molecular pharmacology based mainly on discussion of current literature.
722 [222] CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY I (PHYI 722) (Var.). Lecture/discussion course on the physiology, pharmacology, biochemistry and molecular biology of the nervous system. Topics include function and structure of ion channels, neurotransmitter biosynthesis and release mechanisms, neurotransmitter receptors and intracellular signaling pathways. Fall. Stuart.
722A [222A] INTRODUCTION TO CELL MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY (BIOC 722A, NBIO 722A, PHYI 722A) (2).
722B [222B] ELECTRICAL SIGNALING (BIOC 722B, NBIO 722B, PHYI 722B) (2).
722C [222C] CELL AND MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY (BIOC 722C, NBIO 722C, PHYI 722C) (2).
723 [223] CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY II (PHYI 723) (Var.). Lecture/discussion course on the physiology, pharmacology, biochemistry and molecular biology of the nervous system. Topics include: function and structure of ion channels, neurotransmitter biosynthesis and release mechanisms, neurotransmitter receptors and intracellular signaling pathways. Spring. Stuart.
723A [223A] SYNAPTIC MECHANISMS AND INTRACELLULAR SIGNALING (BIOC 723A, NBIO 723A, PHYI 723A) (2).
723B [223B] PRESYNAPTIC MECHANISMS (BIOC 723B, NBIO 723B, PHYI 723B) (2).
724 [221A] RAS SUPERFAMILY PROTEINS AND SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION (2). Seminar/discussion course covering recent advances in the role of these proteins in signaling and growth. Fall. (Alternate years.) Der, Cox.
725 [221B] SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION (2). Seminar/discussion course on molecular aspects of the receptors, G-proteins, effector proteins, kinases and phosphatases that mediate hormone, neurotransmitter, growth factor and sensory signaling. Spring. (Alternate years.) Harden.
726 [221C] ADHESION RECEPTORS AND SIGNALING IN CANCER AND CV DISEASE (2). Examines the growing number of families of cell adhesion receptors and their role in biological processes including signal transduction, control of gene expression, hemostasis, cancer, neuronal development, immunobiology and embryologic development. Spring. (Alternate years.) Juliano/Parise.
727 [221D] STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF ION CHANNELS (2). Seminar/discussion course on the physiology, pharmacology, biochemistry and molecular biology of ion channel proteins. Spring. (Alternate years.) Rosenberg, Oxford.
728 [221E] NEUROPHARMACOLOGY OF ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE (3). A lecture/discussion course on the biological bases of alcohol and substance abuse. Spring. (Alternate years.) Morrow.
729 [221F] GENE THERAPY: MEDICINE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY (2). A seminar/discussion course on recent advances in targeted gene delivery and gene therapy. Spring. (Alternate years.) Samulski.
730 [330] SEMINAR IN RECENT ADVANCES IN PHARMACOLOGY (1). Students meet as a group with faculty members to develop skills in critical reading and to summarize and discuss selected aspects of current pharmacological literature. Two hours a week. Fall and spring. Cox, Blancafort.
731 [331] SEMINAR IN GENERAL PHARMACOLOGY (1). A series of weekly lecture-seminars by graduate students, faculty members and visiting scientists on current research in pharmacology. One hour a week. Fall. McCarthy.
732 [332] GRANT WRITING (2). Prerequisites, PHCO 701 and permission of the course director. A discussion course covering the elements of successful grant proposals and scientific ethics. Fall, spring and summer. Parise.
733 [221G] DRUG DISCOVERY AND DEVELOPMENT (2). A seminar/discussion course on the research, development and regulatory processes involved in bringing new drugs to clinical use. Spring. (Alternate years.) Carl.
734 [221H] PAIN AND ANALGESIA (2). A lecture/discussion course on pain transmission and pain measurement. The neuropharmacological basis of pain modulation will be discussed. Fall. (Alternate years.) Maixner, Dykstra, Hollins, Light.
735 [221I] DISCOVERY BIOLOGY AND PHARMACOGENOMICS (2). Lecture/discussion course covering a variety of aspects of new biological and computational technologies. The course is predominantly in a lecture format with computer-based and literature assignments. Spring. (Alternate years.) Siderovski, Sondek.
736 [221J] PROTEIN KINASES AS TARGETS FOR NOVEL PHARMACOLOGICAL INHIBITORS (2). A seminar/discussion course to evaluate the use of small molecule inhibitors of protein kinases from a structural and signal transduction perspective. Spring. (Alternate years.) Graves, G. Johnson.
737 [221K] TARGET-BASED DRUG DISCOVERY AND CANCER TREATMENT (2). A lecture/discussion course that emphasizes preclinical and clinical studies for the development of anti-cancer drugs that target signal transduction. Topics include target identification and validation, drug discovery, the process of government approval for clinical trials, design of clinical trials and new genetic-based technologies to foster drug development. Spring, alternate years. Der, Cox.
738 NANOMEDICINE (2). Prerequisite, completion of undergraduate major in physical or biological science or permission of the instructor. This course offers an introduction to the nascent interdisciplinary field of nanomedicine for students with physical/biological science backgrounds; course will be based on student-led discussions of current literature.
750 [250 APPLIED BIOSTATISTICS (CBIO 750, PATH 750, TOXC 750) (1). This largely self-study course will deal with basic statistical and quantitative methods for the analysis and interpretation of biomedical data. This course is required for pharmacology, toxicology and pathology graduate students. Permission of the instructor is required for other students. Fall. Nicholas.
850 [290] SEMINAR IN NEUROBIOLOGY (BIOC 850, NBIO 850, PHYI 850) (3). Prerequisites, one graduate course in the biological sciences and permission of the director of the neurobiology program. An intensive consideration of selected topics and problems. Spring. Members of the neurobiology curriculum.
900 [499] SPECIAL PHARMACOLOGY RESEARCH (3–6).
901 [301] RESEARCH IN PHARMACOLOGY (5 or more). Prerequisite, permission of the staff. Fall, spring and summer. Graves.
911, 912 [211, 212] INTRODUCTION TO PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH (Var.). A course for first-year graduate students majoring in pharmacology. A series of research projects of limited scope, under the supervision of a different faculty member. Twelve laboratory hours a week. Fall and spring. Graves.
913 [213] INTRODUCTION TO PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH (Var.). Prerequisites, PHCO 911 and 912. This is a continuation of PHCO 911 and 912. Six laboratory hours a week, first summer session. Graves.
914 [214] INTRODUCTION TO PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH (Var.). Prerequisites, PHCO 911, 912 and 913. This is a continuation of PHCO 911, 912 and 913. Six laboratory hours a week, second summer session. Graves.
951 [310] RESEARCH IN NEUROBIOLOGY (BIOC 951, NBIO 951, PHYI 951, PSYC 951, BIOL 951) (3–12). Prerequisite, permission of a staff member of the neurobiology program. Research in various aspects of neurobiology. Six to 24 hours a week. Fall and spring. Members of the neurobiology curriculum.
989 [299] SPECIAL PHARMACOLOGY RESEARCH (3–6).
993 [393] THESIS FOR MASTER'S DEGREE (3 or more). Prerequisite, permission of the staff. Fall, spring and summer.
994 [394] DOCTORAL DISSERTATION (3 or more). Prerequisite, permission of the staff. Fall, spring and summer.