Welcome to the School of Pharmacy’s News & Media Center!

January 2019

Faculty Feature: Manvi Sharma

January 14, 2019

OXFORD, Miss. – Manvi Sharma, assistant professor of pharmacy administration, joined the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy faculty in the fall after previously holding postdoctoral research fellow positions in the Department of Internal Medicine at the UTHealth McGovern Medical School and Health Services Research at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.

Learn more about Sharma in the Q&A below.

Ole Miss Professor Earns Grant to Produce Anticancer Natural Products from Bacteria

January 10, 2019

OXFORD, Miss. – Cole Stevens, a faculty member in the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy has been awarded a grant from the National Cancer Institute for cancer prevention research using natural products.

Stevens, an assistant professor of pharmacognosy in the Department of BioMolecular Sciences, is working to engineer bacteria to produce significant amounts of gephyronic acid, a polyketide that has potential as an anticancer therapy.

Faculty Feature: Amanda Capino

January 3, 2019

JACKSON, Miss. – Amanda Capino is a clinical assistant professor of pharmacy practice at the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy and a practicing pharmacist in the UMMC NICU. When she is not teaching on the school’s Jackson campus, she is helping infants born prematurely or who need special care in the NICU, providing guidance on their medication and precepting student pharmacists.

The School of Pharmacy spoke with Capino about her work in the NICU.

December 2018

International Mission Trip Gives Student Pharmacists Valuable Experience

December 20, 2018

OXFORD, Miss. – Social responsibility is one of the eight core values at the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy, emphasizing the importance of serving one’s local, state-wide, national and global communities.

Although global community service opportunities are harder to come by, this past summer, a group of 25 student pharmacists traveled to Peru to provide health services to local residents.

Pharmacology Professor Works to Reverse Impact of Opioids on HIV

December 20, 2018

OXFORD, Miss. – The opioid epidemic has reached new perils across the United States. Though opioid abuse can be dangerous for anyone, those diagnosed with HIV can see increased adverse effects on the brain and nervous system.

With a grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy pharmacology assistant professor Jason Paris is working to combat opioids’ harmful effects on the HIV-infected brain.

BioMolecular Sciences Advocacy Council Enhances Graduate Student Experience

December 17, 2018

OXFORD, Miss. – The graduate students and faculty of the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy’s Department of BioMolecular Sciences have worked together to reestablish an organization that will benefit the many graduate students within the department.

The BMS Graduate Student Advocacy Council formed during the fall of 2018 as the department renewed its official student registration of the former BMS Journal Club. The organization plans to include more opportunities for interaction outside of the labs with faculty and student networking events, journal club meetings and football tailgates.

Malones’ Major Gift to Help Pharmacy Students Attain Degree

December 12, 2018

OXFORD, Miss. – A new scholarship endowment at the University of Mississippi is poised to support students from impoverished areas who dream of becoming pharmacists.

With a $100,000 gift to the UM School of Pharmacy, Arkansas State Sen. Percy Malone and his wife, Donna, of Arkadelphia, Arkansas, created the AllCare Pharmacy Scholarship Endowment. Recipients will be selected by the School of Pharmacy Scholarship Committee and may retain the scholarship for eight semesters while in the professional program, provided they remain in good academic standing.

Federally Funded Marijuana Turns 50

December 5, 2018

OXFORD, Miss. – Fifty years ago, the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy was awarded a competitive contract from the government to grow marijuana that could be standardized for research.

Interest in marijuana research had grown throughout the late ’60s, and the government wanted to study the effects of cannabis on the brain and the body. To do that, it needed a source of certifiable plant material that was responsibly grown and harvested.

November 2018

Ole Miss Professor Awarded NIDA Grant to Fight Opioid Addiction

November 27, 2018

OXFORD, Miss. – David Colby, a University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy professor, received a grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to develop new treatments for addressing the opioid crisis.

Colby hopes to develop a therapy for drug addiction by studying the medicinal chemistry of certain compounds that can lower the anxiety some patients experience when withdrawing from an addiction.

School of Pharmacy Establishes Anne Marie Liles Memorial Scholarship

November 13, 2018

OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy has established a scholarship to honor the memory of Anne Marie Liles, the school’s former director of experiential affairs, who passed away Aug. 23.

The scholarship was founded with several gifts from School of Pharmacy faculty members who wanted to continue Liles’ legacy of community service. Once the scholarship is fully endowed, it will be awarded each spring to a rising fourth-year student pharmacist who has demonstrated a strong interest in community service during the first three years of the pharmacy professional program.

Clinical Trial for Marijuana-Derived Drug Under Way at UMMC

November 8, 2018

JACKSON, Miss. – A clinical trial of a new drug derived from marijuana may offer hope to children whose seizures are uncontrolled by other means.

Noted as a first among studies conducted by U.S. universities, the study’s focus is to determine the safety and tolerability of the medication for children with severe epilepsy whose seizures are not controlled by other medications, said principal investigator Dr. Brad Ingram, UMMC associate professor of pediatric neurology and director of the Pediatric Comprehensive Epilepsy Program.

Pharmacy Student Organization Educates Jackson Children on Health Safety

November 5, 2018

JACKSON, Miss. – Good health is no joke, but University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy students planned fun activities for children in the Jackson area last month to teach them about the importance of health safety.

Student pharmacist organization PediaRebs, which focuses on pediatric pharmacy education and service, sent volunteers to two community events in Jackson, BAPS Charities Children’s Health and Safety Day as well as Mississippi Science Fest hosted by the Mississippi Children’s Museum. At both events, student pharmacists taught children and their parents about medication and health safety.

October 2018

Pharmacy School Hosts Mississippi Walk for Diabetes

October 31, 2018

OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy, along with student pharmacist organization Prescription for Service, kicks off National Diabetes Awareness Month on Sunday (Nov. 4) with the Mississippi Walk for Diabetes, a fundraiser for the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi.

Registration will begin at 1 p.m. by the Lyceum, with team pictures taking place at 1:10 p.m. Family-friendly competitions and a short program will begin around 1:30 p.m. before the ribbon cutting and walk begin at 2 p.m. Two routes on the Ole Miss campus will be available, with 1- and 2-mile options.

UM External Research Funding Surpasses $134 Million in 2017-18

October 31, 2018

OXFORD, Miss. and JACKSON, Miss. – External funding for research at the University of Mississippi reached its highest level in four years in 2017-18, with more than $134 million in funding awarded.

A total of $134,735,332 in external funding was awarded to the Oxford campus and the University of Mississippi Medical Center, with research dollars being used to favorably impact lives in Mississippi and around the globe, fuel economic growth and prosperity, educate future leaders and innovators, and more.

Three Pharmaceutics Graduate Students Advance in Three Minute Thesis Competition

October 26, 2018

OXFORD, Miss. – Rishi Thakkar, Amit Pillai and Gauri Shadambikar, three graduate students in the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy’s Department of Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, have advanced to the next round of the UM Graduate School’s Three Minute Thesis competition.

The Three Minute Thesis competition celebrates the exciting research conducted by graduate students. Developed by the University of Queensland, the exercise cultivates students’ academic, presentation and research communication skills.

Marijuana Project Head to Deliver Pharmacy School’s Waller Lecture

October 17, 2018

OXFORD, Miss. – Mahmoud ElSohly, co-director of the University of Mississippi’s Marijuana Project, will deliver the School of Pharmacy’s 15th Coy W. Waller Distinguished Lecture at 11 a.m. Friday (Oct. 19) at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts.

The lecture series was established in 2004 to recognize the founder of UM’s marijuana cultivation program and former director of the pharmacy school’s Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Coy W. Waller. ElSohly’s talk, “Building on the Legacy of Coy Waller at Ole Miss,” will celebrate Waller’s vision for the Marijuana Project and expand on research developments.

Symposium on Opioid Crisis Brings Law and Pharmacy Together

October 12, 2018

OXFORD, Miss. – More than 115 people die each day in the United States from opioid overdoses, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

These statistics constitute a crisis, and the University of Mississippi schools of Law and Pharmacy are working together to combat that crisis in an interdisciplinary manner.

Student Pharmacists ‘Bowl for Breath’ in Cystic Fibrosis Fundraiser

October 11, 2018

OXFORD, Miss. – University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy student pharmacists bowled for a cause on Tuesday, Oct. 9, as a group of them formed a team for the Bowl for Breath fundraiser to support the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

The team finished second overall in the fundraising competition for the most money raised, totaling $3,422.

Second-year professional student Gaston Box, who serves as the student body’s interprofessional practice and education liaison, said a local resident’s son who has cystic fibrosis inspired the student pharmacists to participate in the fundraiser.

Pharmacy Graduate Students Place in Mississippi IDeA Conference Graduate Poster Competition

October 9, 2018

OXFORD, Miss. – Corinne Sweeney and Kai-Wei Wu, graduate students in the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy’s Department of Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, both placed in the top three of the graduate poster competition at the 2018 Mississippi IDeA conference held in July, in Jackson, MS.

Pharmacy School Administrators Celebrate 25 Years of Friendship

October 4, 2018

OXFORD, Miss. – University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy administrators Alicia Bouldin and John Bentley are proof that opposites can complement each other.

However, for all the pair’s differences, 25 years of working alongside each other created a bond of trust and appreciation that spurred them to celebrate their 25-year “friendiversary.”

September 2018

Pharmacy Ph.D. Graduate Wins Scholarship for Drug Discovery Research

September 21, 2018

OXFORD, Miss. – Mohamed A. Albadry, a recent Ph.D. graduate from the Department of BioMolecular Sciences in the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy, has won the 2018 Harvey W. Wiley Scholarship from AOAC International.

AOAC International develops global quality standards for microbiological and chemical materials, ranging from food to pharmaceuticals, in an effort to ensure public health.

Early Entry Pharmacy Class Earns Nearly $2 Million in Scholarships

September 18, 2018

OXFORD, Miss. – The Early Entry program at the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy has brought the best and brightest students to Oxford for more than 20 years.

The makeup of the 2018 freshman pre-pharmacy class is no different. The well-rounded group of nearly 100 scholars and leaders earned nearly $2 million in scholarships to cover their next four years of undergraduate studies.

Ole Miss Pharmacy Becomes Tradition for Yielding Family

September 11, 2018

OXFORD, Miss. – First-year student pharmacists and cousins Lauren Yielding Black and Audrey Yielding looked no further than their own dinner table when they were searching for their career paths.

The University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy students found inspiration from 1992 Ole Miss pharmacy alum Frank Yielding, who is Lauren’s dad and Audrey’s uncle.

Alumni Insight: Wilma Wilbanks, ’81

September 7, 2018

OXFORD, Miss. – Wilma Wilbanks, UM School of Pharmacy BSPH class of 1981, is a pharmacist with Walgreens in Cleveland, Mississippi. She was recently installed as president of Delta Gamma Fraternity’s 2018-2020 Council. The School of Pharmacy spoke with her about her history with pharmacy and the University of Mississippi.

August 2018

UM Student Pharmacist Begins Journey to Dream Career

August 31, 2018

OXFORD, Miss. – What started out as a high school class assignment turned into a career path for Jackson, Mississippi, native Tia Holloway. The University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy student’s journey to pharmacy took a different route than she originally planned, but Holloway is excited to reach her destination.

As a freshman at McLaurin High School, Holloway took a career placement test that suggested she explore a career in pharmacy. She then began to research the field and developed a 10-year plan for entering the profession.

Pharmacy School Remembers Anne Marie Liles as ‘Shining Star’ Teacher

August 29, 2018

OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy family is mourning the loss of Anne Marie Liles, director of experiential affairs and clinical associate professor of pharmacy practice, who died Thursday (Aug. 23).

Liles was beloved by students and colleagues. Student pharmacists, faculty and staff have expressed how much Liles meant to them as a mentor, friend and pharmacist, many of them noting her constant practice of going above and beyond in every aspect of her work.

UM Pharmacy Diabetes Research Moves Forward with Project Proposals

August 28, 2018

OXFORD, Miss. – After completing in-depth discussions with diabetes patients and stakeholders throughout the state, University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy faculty and students are turning research questions from the “PaRTICIpate in Diabetes Self-Management Research Collaborative” into project proposals.

This research development project, which began in September of 2016, resulted in 20 patient-centered research questions aimed at helping to manage Type 2 diabetes. Now the focus is on turning three of these questions into three separate research project proposals in hopes of leveraging the research into something greater.

Pharmacy First-Years Receive White Coats

August 21, 2018

OXFORD, Miss. – Some 105 first-year student pharmacists received their white coats Friday (Aug. 17), at a ceremony conducted by the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy.

The white coat is a symbol of professionalism, and this ceremony marks the beginning of their professional journey toward becoming a pharmacist.

David D. Allen, UM pharmacy dean, charged the Doctor of Pharmacy class of 2022 with helping those around them improve and maintain health and quality of life.

Student Successes Allow UM Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery Program to Flourish

August 16, 2018

OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Mississippi Department of Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery is making a strong commitment to students’ futures. Whether a student goes into the pharmaceutical job market or wants to further their education, students of the master’s program are prepared when graduation arrives.

The success of the program is evident in its numbers, as the department had its largest graduating class of 17 students hooded at the 2018 commencement ceremony.

Forensic Chemist Named Ole Miss 2018 Joseph Sam Distinguished Alumnus

August 13, 2018

OXFORD, Miss. – Randall Clark, a 1973 University of Mississippi graduate with a doctoral degree in medicinal chemistry, has been named the School of Pharmacy Department of BioMolecular Sciences’ 2018 Joseph Sam Distinguished Alumnus Award honoree.

Clark earned degrees in both biology and chemistry from Berry College in Mt. Berry, Georgia, before receiving his Ph.D. under the direction of late Ole Miss professor Ronald F. Borne. He has spent his 45-year academic career at Auburn University, where he is a professor of medicinal chemistry, mentoring over 50 Master’s and Ph.D. students.

Pharmaceutics Grad Student Honored for 3D Printing Research

August 10, 2018

OXFORD, Miss. – Jiaxiang Zhang, a graduate student in the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy’s Department of Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, was awarded Best Oral Presentation at the Controlled Release Society Meeting in New York City last month.

Zhang’s presentation focused on combining 3D printing with hot-melt extrusion – a process that melts and mixes polymers and drugs into rod-like shapes. Once formed, the rods can be immediately delivered into the 3D printer to create personalized drug dosages in the forms of tablets, capsules and films.

Student Health Pharmacy Changes Name, Expands Operations

August 7, 2018

OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Mississippi’s Student Health Pharmacy has changed its name to Student and Employee Health Services and expanded its offerings to provide pharmacy services to employees.

“The main goal of Pharmacy Health Services and the pharmacy school is to improve health care and make it more available,” said David D. Allen, dean of the School of Pharmacy. “Providing pharmacy services to the entire Ole Miss community was a natural next step in fulfilling the school’s mission of improving health, well-being and quality of life.”

July 2018

Two Pharmacy Faculty to Lead Mississippi Pharmacists Association

July 31, 2018

OXFORD, Miss. – The Mississippi Pharmacists Association welcomed two University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy faculty members into leadership positions for the organization.

Lauren Bloodworth, clinical associate professor of pharmacy practice, will serve as the organization’s president for the 2018-2019 term, while Phil Ayers, also a clinical associate professor of pharmacy practice, is now MPhA’s interim executive director.

UM Dean Becomes National Pharmacy Association President

July 23, 2018

OXFORD, Miss. – David D. Allen, dean of the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy, will be inducted as the president of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy on Wednesday (July 25) at the organization’s annual meeting.

“From the moment I joined the organization, I had opportunities to learn, develop, grow and make contacts, and then later, opportunities to serve and give back,” said Allen, who has been involved with AACP for more than 20 years.

Pharmacy Postdoctoral Fellow Honored for Outstanding Poster Presentation

July 20, 2018

OXFORD, Miss. – Pankaj Pandey, a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy, won the Ronald F. Borne Outstanding Postdoctoral Poster Presentation Award at the 45^th Annual MALTO Meeting in College Station, Texas.

The MALTO conference, for medicinal and natural product chemists from Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Texas and Oklahoma, gives the Borne Award to one postdoctoral fellow at the conference each year based on their interview and research poster.

University Joins Pharmaceutical Research Collective

July 16, 2018

OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Mississippi is the newest member of an elite group of 18 universities that make up the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Technology & Education.

NIPTE is a nonprofit organization that works to improve the design, development and manufacturing processes of pharmaceutical products by connecting members of the pharmaceutical industry with top-ranked pharmaceutical educational programs.

UM Pharmacy Welcomes Tougaloo College to Preferred Admission Program

July 13, 2018

OXFORD, Miss. – In an effort to expand access to pharmacy education within the state, the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy has completed its third admission agreement in a year with a Mississippi college.

Tougaloo College and the UM School of Pharmacy have partnered in a Preferred Admission Program that offers admission to the pharmacy school for Tougaloo freshmen who excel in pre-pharmacy classes and demonstrate a passion for service activities.