The Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics at LSUHSC is undergoing a significant expansion. We will be focusing on further development of the Department in cardiovascular biology, oral biology and neurosciences. The Department has current strengths in:

• Cell signaling and disease
  
• Molecular pharmacology of signal transduction cascades involved in cell growth and survival
  
• Central control of cardiovascular, renal and respiratory function
  
• Mechanisms of pain and therapeutic management of pain
  
• Regulation of fluid and electrolyte balance
  
• Substance abuse and cardiac myopathies
  
• Substance abuse and learning
  
• Behavioral pharmacology
  
• Cytochrome p450 variants in metabolism of drugs and xenobiotics
  
• Vascular biology

The overall mission for the Department is to develop a research and educational program that integrates molecular-based technologies, animal model systems and genomic profiling as a platform for novel therapeutics.

One of the greatest opportunities for discovery and benefits to society lies in a basic understanding of cell signaling at the molecular level, the missignaling events that occur in disease and the manipulation of these events with novel therapeutics.

With the recent advances made in the field of cell signaling and the establishment of technology platforms in genomics, model organisms and structural biology, one is presented with unprecedented opportunities to make significant contributions in this field. The rush to understand the functional role of newly discovered genes and to turn this knowledge into therapeutics require pharmacologists with a conceptual understanding of systems biology and experimental talents for investigations in the intact animal (i.e. transgenic animals). By virtue of the whole animal and systems biology expertise of departmental faculty, the molecular expertise of newly recruited faculty and integration of the program with the Oral Biology Center and other Centers of Excellence on campus, the Department of Pharmacology at LSUMC is particularly well-positioned for such an adventure.

Departmental faculty are actively involved in the research and discovery mission of the Center of Oral Biology. In addition to the professional courses in Dental Pharmacology, Dental Hygiene Pharmacology and a special course in pain management, the Faculty also participat in the Board review for fourth year Dental Students and Continuing Education in Dental Pharmacology for Health Professionals throughout the State of Louisiana.

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