Research News
NCNPR Scientist Honored for Cannabis Research
March 14, 2018
OXFORD, Miss. – Suman Chandra, senior research scientist in the National Center for Natural Products Research, was honored with an Outstanding Scientist Award at the International Conference on Recent Advances in Agriculture and Horticulture Sciences in New Delhi, India.
The Society of Tropical Agriculture gives this annual award to a scientist who has contributed to the study of agriculture and horticulture. Chandra works with NCNPR’s Marijuana Project, housed within the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy, studying the propagation of cannabis intended for research purposes.
Read more: “NCNPR Scientist Honored for Cannabis Research”
NCNPR Receives Award to Research Common Military Dietary Supplements
March 1, 2018
OXFORD, Miss. – The National Center for Natural Products Research received an award of over $225,000 from the Henry M. Jackson Foundation to study the ingredients found in popular dietary supplements used by military personnel.
As a result, NCNPR will conduct collaborative research, known as Collaborative Analytics for Safer Supplements, in conjunction with the Consortium for Health and Military Performance at the Uniformed Services University.
Read more: “NCNPR Receives Award to Research Common Military Dietary Supplements”
Two Pharmacy Faculty Win New Investigator Awards
February 27, 2018
OXFORD, Miss. – Two assistant professors in the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy, both from the Department of BioMolecular Sciences, have won prestigious 2018 New Investigator Awards from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.
Hoang Le, assistant professor of medicinal chemistry, and Cole Stevens, assistant professor of pharmacognosy, each won one of only 16 new investigator awards bestowed by AACP this year.
Read more: “Two Pharmacy Faculty Win New Investigator Awards”
Pharmaceutics Grad Student Wins Scholarship for Alzheimer’s Research
February 23, 2018
OXFORD, Miss. – Purnendu Sharma, a fourth-year Ph.D. student in the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy’s Department of Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, received an Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation Young Investigator Scholarship for his research on the natural product, Resiniferatoxin, or RTX.
Sharma’s project, titled “Effect of Resiniferatoxin, a TrpV1 Receptor Agonist on Neuronal Cells and evaluating it In vitro Neurotrophic Activity for Neurodegenerative Disorders,” showed the potential of RTX to help in the treatment of diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Read more: “Pharmaceutics Grad Student Wins Scholarship for Alzheimer’s Research”
University Wins NSF Award for Electron Microscope
January 29, 2018
OXFORD, Miss. – A collaborative effort by researchers from multiple schools and departments earned the University of Mississippi a $346,641 Major Research Instrumentation award from the National Science Foundation for the acquisition of a new field-emission scanning electron microscope.
The state-of-the-art microscope will enhance research capabilities for the School of Pharmacy, the School of Engineering and the College of Liberal Arts. Expected to arrive in October, the instrument will be housed in the School of Pharmacy, a convenient location for many of the departments involved.
Read more: “University Wins NSF Award for Electron Microscope”
University Begins Cooperation with University of Chile Faculty
December 20, 2017
OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Mississippi has signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of Chile’s Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences to collaborate on graduate education and research.
Although details of the collaborations are yet to be finalized, the MOU will initially focus on research collaborations and graduate and post-doctoral student exchanges between the School of Pharmacy and the University of Chile’s Santiago campus.
Read more: “University Begins Cooperation with University of Chile Faculty”
Universities Take on Health Care Challenges on Many Fronts
December 18, 2017
OXFORD, Miss. – It is no secret that many Mississippians face health challenges, but the University of Mississippi and the state’s other public universities are attacking these challenges on many fronts.
Universities treat patients, train the next generation of health care providers and conduct research that will help prevent disease and improve outcomes. While Mississippi’s health issues cannot be solved overnight, progress is being made every day.
Read more: “Universities Take on Health Care Challenges on Many Fronts”
University Researchers Discover Key Ingredient for Skin Care Line
December 11, 2017
OXFORD, Miss. – Scientists at the University of Mississippi’s National Center for Natural Products Research spend much of their time working to discover new pharmaceutical products, botanical dietary supplements and agrichemicals. Once in a while, however, discoveries made at the center benefit something a little more cosmetic.
November 28, 2017
OXFORD, Miss. – The National Center for Natural Products Research at the University of Mississippi and Beijing 302 Hospital of China have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on the quality of traditional Chinese medicine.
The Institute of Chinese Herbal Medicine Beijing, located at the hospital, analyzes traditional medicines taken by hospital patients and screens for any contaminants that may have contributed to a patient’s condition. As per the agreement, NCNPR will use its technology and expertise to help with the chemistry-related needs of this analysis.
Read more: “Natural Products Center to Collaborate with Beijing Hospital”
Pharmacy Professor Wins Grant to Improve Pharmacy Practice
November 6, 2017
JACKSON, Miss. – Clinical associate professor of pharmacy practice Anastasia Jenkins received a grant from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Foundation to help advance and improve pharmacy practice and ambulatory care in the state of Mississippi.
ASHP’s Ambulatory Care State Affiliate Workshop grant, which Jenkins accepted on behalf of the Mississippi Society of Health-System Pharmacists, will support a workshop for pharmacy leaders in Mississippi to share ideas about how the state can improve the pharmacy care it provides. As part of the workshop, a representative from ASHP will present information to attendees about what is needed to develop an action plan and identify top areas of potential impact.
Read more: “Pharmacy Professor Wins Grant to Improve Pharmacy Practice”
Attendees Participate in First Natural Products Training Lab Course
October 30, 2017
OXFORD, Miss. – A year and a half after its dedication, the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy and the National Center for Natural Products Research held its first course within the Natural Products Training Lab from Sep. 19-21, which covered various aspects and techniques of botanical authentication.
“I am very pleased with how the first training lab course went,” said Ikhlas Khan, NCNPR director. “This will be a great resource moving forward, and I’m looking forward to many more courses in the future.”
Read more: “Attendees Participate in First Natural Products Training Lab Course”
Pharmacy Professor Wins UM Faculty Achievement Award
September 7, 2017
OXFORD, Miss. –For the second consecutive year, a pharmacy professor has won the University of Mississippi’s Faculty Achievement Award.
Kristie Willett, chair of the Department of BioMolecular Sciences in the School of Pharmacy and professor of pharmacology and environmental toxicology, was presented the 2017 award at the Aug. 25 fall faculty meeting.
Read more: “Pharmacy Professor Wins UM Faculty Achievement Award”
UM Cancer Institute Researchers Receive International Recognition
September 5, 2017
OXFORD, Miss. – For two decades, David Pasco has pursued the discovery of plants that can enhance a person’s immune system.
Pasco, a pharmacognosist, is a longtime researcher and associate director of the University of Mississippi’s National Center for Natural Products Research and director of the Drug Discovery Core at the University of Mississippi Medical Center Cancer Institute.
Read more: “UM Cancer Institute Researchers Receive International Recognition”
USDA and NCNPR Partner to Create Natural Insect Repellents
May 3, 2017
A decades-long partnership between the Natural Products Utilization Research Unit at USDA and the National Center for Natural Products Research at the UM School of Pharmacy is looking to nature to develop environmentally safe chemicals to manage pests.
The collaboration includes roughly a dozen research projects dedicated to creating natural agrochemicals, such as insecticides, fungicides and herbicides. Charles Cantrell, a…
Read more: “USDA and NCNPR Partner to Create Natural Insect Repellents”
UM Pharmacy Students to Present at Veterinary Conference
April 21, 2017
Two UM School of Pharmacy students are to speak this weekend at the Annual Veterinary Pharmacy Conference in Memphis, Tennessee, hosted by the American College of Veterinary Pharmacists.
Second-year pharmacy students Robert Ross and Alexandria Gochenauer, who are both interested in veterinary pharmacy, were recommended to speak at the April 20-22 conference.
Read more: “UM Pharmacy Students to Present at Veterinary Conference”
School of Pharmacy Begins Clinical Study of Antimalarial Drug
April 11, 2017
The University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy Research Clinic is looking for students and residents in the Oxford and Lafayette County area to participate in a clinical study for the antimalarial drug primaquine.
The World Health Organization lists primaquine as one of the safest and most essential medications in the world.
Read more: “School of Pharmacy Begins Clinical Study of Antimalarial Drug
School of Pharmacy Hosts International Botanical Conference
March 31, 2017
Oxford is again the destination for scientists and other visitors from around the world gathering to discuss the ancient, yet rapidly evolving, study of botanical medicines.
The 17th annual International Conference on the Science of Botanicals is set for April 3-6 at the Oxford Conference Center. The National Center for Natural Products Research at the…
Read more: “School of Pharmacy Hosts International Botanical Conference”
Rho Chi Hosts Annual Research Day
March 17, 2017
The UM School of Pharmacy chapter of the Rho Chi Society, a pharmacy academic honor society, is hosting a research day on March 21 for pharmacy students to present posters detailing their ongoing research. Judges will evaluate the posters and choose three winners from among the displays. (Update, March 21, 3 p.m.: The winning posters of Rho Chi Research Day were announced here.)
Erin Holmes, associate professor of pharmacy administration at UM and treasurer of the chapter, said the event is a great way to…
Read more: “Rho Chi Hosts Annual Research Day”
School of Pharmacy Partners to Create New Pharmaceutical Technology
February 24, 2017
As part of its roster of scientific research, the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy will join technology group STEERLife in a four-year collaborative project to revamp pharmaceutical drug development and manufacturing.
STEERLife designs, creates and implements technology and processes for improving the quality of pharmaceutical products. The company approached Narasimha Murthy, professor of pharmaceutics and drug delivery, and Michael Repka, professor and chair of the Department of Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, about combining its industrial…
Read more: “School of Pharmacy Partners to Create New Pharmaceutical Technology”
Pharmacy Professor Co-Authors Winning Paper
February 8, 2017
Meagen Rosenthal, assistant professor of pharmacy administration at the University of Mississippi, is co-author of a report that won the 2016 Best Paper award from the journal Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy.
The paper, titled “Confronting inequities: A scoping review of the literature on pharmacist practice and health-related disparities,” reviews and summarizes research on interactions between pharmacists and patients from potentially…
Read more: “Pharmacy Professor Co-Authors Winning Paper”
More Research News
UM Natural Products Center Designated as Center of Excellence
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has renewed the National Center for Natural Products Research’s designation as a Center of Excellence in recognition of its work in botanical dietary supplement research. This is the 15th consecutive year the NCNPR has received this recognition.
As part of its partnership with the FDA, which began in 2001, the NCNPR focuses on developing scientific tools for assessing the…
USDA Renews Drug Discovery Grant for Natural Products Center
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has renewed a grant for the National Center for Natural Products Research to work on the discovery and development of bioactive products that have potential to become pharmaceuticals, agrichemicals or alternative crops for small farmers.
The grant project, “Discovery and Development of Natural Products for Pharmaceutical and Agrichemical Applications,” has been renewed…
School of Pharmacy Awarded Funds for Diabetes Self-Management Project
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute granted a Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Award of $214,084 to a team of University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy researchers to support a project that aids patients’ self-management of diabetes.
The project, titled “PaRTICIpate in Diabetes Self-Management Research Collaborative: A Conference Series,” will build on research that shows improvement in the health of diabetes patients when they are able to self-manage their treatment. (The “PaRTICI” in “PaRTICIpate” stands for….
NCNPR Scientist Awarded for Parasitic Diseases Research
Babu Tekwani, principal scientist in the University of Mississippi’s National Center for Natural Products Research and professor of pharmacology in the School of Pharmacy, was honored for his outstanding research contributions to global health drug discovery in tropical parasitic diseases at an international conference in León, Spain, on July 15.
He received the Distinguished Scientist Award at the inaugural conference “Global Challenges in Neglected Tropical Diseases,” hosted by the Universidad de León and Fundación General Universidad de León y Empresa.
Tekwani has researched neglected tropical parasitic diseases such as malaria, leishmaniasis…
Professor Receives Third Honor from Kazakh University
A professor at the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy was awarded a Silver Medal from Kazakh National Medical University in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Samir Ross, professor of pharmacognosy and research professor in the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, was honored with the medal on Oct. 2. Ross received the medal for his long history of scientific and collaborative work with the university, which includes supervising graduate students and writing grant proposals with Kazakh researchers.
Marc Slattery Named NIUST Director
Marc Slattery, professor of pharmacognosy, has been named director of the National Institute for Undersea Science and Technology, which is headquartered at the University of Mississippi.
NIUST, which has been based at UM since its establishment in 2002, is a joint effort between Ole Miss and the University of Southern Mississippi in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NIUST’s overall goal is “to bring together academic or other research organizations to promote, conduct and lead integrated, multidisciplinary undersea research commensurate with the directives of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.”
National Center for Natural Products Research Marks 20th Anniversary
Since 1995, the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy‘s inaugural research center has been setting the bar in the areas of natural products chemistry, botanical supplements development and marijuana research – and more.
“We’re delighted to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the National Center for Natural Products Research this year,” said Larry A. Walker, NCNPR director. “This is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on our growth and successes over the past two decades.”
The center was created to discover, develop and commercialize natural products as pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. It is the only university-affiliated research center devoted to improving human health and agricultural productivity through the discovery, development and commercialization of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals derived from natural products.
Students Conduct Research in Ancient Polish Forest
A 7,000-year-old forest in Poland could hold the key to solving some of the world’s major health problems, and several University of Mississippi researchers and students are working to unlock the potential of the forest’s ancient ecosystem.
UM researchers often travel to exotic locations, such as tropical rainforests or deep beneath the ocean, to search for plants and creatures that contain compounds that can be used against a variety of human illnesses. This Polish forest might seem an unlikely place to search for new medications, but it actually is a perfect spot, said Jordan Zjawiony, native of Poland and UM professor of pharmacognosy.
Hapten Sciences to Begin Clinical Trials for Poison Ivy Vaccine
Hapten Sciences Inc., a privately held biotechnology company, will soon conduct a Phase I clinical trial of its lead product candidate, a compound based on research conducted at the University of Mississippi and ElSohly Laboratories that could prevent contact dermatitis due to exposure to poison ivy, oak and sumac.
The company obtained a worldwide, exclusive license for the technology from UM, submitted an Investigational New Drug application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is able to initiate dosing of the compound, PDC-APB, in healthy volunteers
Graduate Student Receives AAPS Research Award
Manal Nael, a graduate student in the Department of BioMolecular Sciences, received the 2015 American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists Graduate Student Research Award in Drug Discovery and Development Interface.
The $1,250 award was in connection to a presentation by Nael and Robert Doerksen, associate professor of medicinal chemistry, at the AAPS Annual Meeting and Exposition meeting in Orlando, Florida, on Oct. 27: “Virtual screening of new inhibitors of the protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK).”
UM Researcher Receives International Award
Mahmoud ElSohly, research professor in the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and professor of pharmaceutics, was recently presented with an award from the International Association for Cannabinoids in Medicine.
The award was presented to ElSohly for “Major Contributions to the Reintroduction of Cannabis as a Medicine.”
NEMUS Bioscience Advances Lead Candidate Through Formulation Testing Prior to IND-Enabling Studies
NEMUS Bioscience, Inc. (OTCQB: NMUS) has entered into a research agreement with the Company’s scientific collaborator, the University of Mississippi (UM), to advance NEMUS’ lead proprietary cannabinoid-based therapy developed for the treatment and management of glaucoma into an optimized once-daily treatment formulation.
UM Pharmacy School Ranks in Top 10 for Funding
The University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy has landed in the nation’s top 10 for total extramural funding, according to the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. Ranked No. 7 for the 2014 calendar year, the school jumped from No. 12 in 2013.
The school received $15.6 million in total extramural funding, which includes $4.7 million awarded by the National Institutes of Health. The funds garnered by the school support a variety of research projects including drug discovery and development.
NEMUS Announces Research Agreement with the University OF Mississippi to Develop Proprietary Cannabidiol (CBD) Molecules
NEMUS Bioscience, Inc. (OTCQB:NMUS) announced the signing of a research agreement with the University of Mississippi (UM) to study and conduct research and development on cannabidiol (CBD) containing formulations.
“CBD has shown evidence of therapeutic activity in a variety of diseases, particularly those involving the nervous system, immune reactivity and inflammation. Determining effective means of administering this molecule was a primary goal for NEMUS this year and we are excited to commence further development with our partner, the University of Mississippi,” reports John Hollister, CEO of NEMUS.
Student Conducts First Study on Autistic Adults’ Quality of Life
A doctoral student in the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy has conducted the first U.S. study on quality of life among adults with autism.
Krutika Jariwala-Parikh, who graduated in May with a Ph.D. in pharmacy administration, wrote her dissertation on “Quality of Life and Health Care Utilization and Costs among Adults with Autism.”
Soumyajit Majumdar Assumes Associate Dean Role
After a national search, the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy has named Soumyajit Majumdar associate dean for research and graduate programs.
“We are thrilled to have such a talented individual on our administrative team,” said David D. Allen, the school’s dean. “I have great confidence in Jit’s ability to move our school to the next level. His enthusiasm for excellence is infectious, and I can’t wait to see what new opportunities will arise with his leadership.”
Pharmacy School to Install New NMR Spectrometers
Known worldwide for its excellence in drug-discovery research, the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy is installing three new nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers to complete a suite of eight and enhance its research capabilities.
The machines, which analyze chemical and physical properties of molecules, are part of an overhaul of the school’s NMR capabilities.
Game Changing Charlie
It was 42 years ago when Charles D. Hufford first climbed the stairs to his new office on the fourth floor of Faser Hall, home to the University of Mississippi’s School of Pharmacy. The then-new Ohio State University Ph.D. graduate had no clue that, more than four decades later, his UM colleagues would credit him with helping transform their pharmacy school into one of the world’s powerhouses in his field – the study of natural compounds – or for vastly enhancing and equipping it for education and research.
But that’s exactly what his colleagues say Hufford has done.
Professor Meets Criteria for Elite Research Award
A University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy professor was honored by the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists at its annual meeting in November.
Soumyajit Majumdar, associate director of the Pii Center for Pharmaceutical Technology and associate professor of pharmaceutics and drug delivery, was presented with the Lipid-Based Drug Delivery Outstanding Research Award.
UM Vice Chancellor Honored as Prestigious AAAS Fellow
Alice M. Clark, vice chancellor for research and sponsored programs and Frederick A.P. Barnard Distinguished Professor of Pharmacognosy at the University of Mississippi, has been named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Election as a fellow is bestowed upon AAAS members by their peers based on the candidates’ scientifically or socially distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications. This year’s 401 new AAAS fellows will be formally announced in the Nov. 28 issue of the journal Science, the largest peer-reviewed general science journal in the world, with 1 million readers.
Undergraduates Participate in Advanced Research Internship
Two students received a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity this summer to work with Robert Doerksen, associate professor of medicinal chemistry at the University of Mississippi, as part of the Research Experiences for Undergraduates program.
Funded by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. CHE-1156713, the program is commonly referred to at Ole Miss as the Physical Chemistry Summer Research Program. The program is directed by Nathan Hammer, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry and principal investigator on the grant. Its purpose is to recruit students from other universities who are interested in gaining hands-on experience covering a broad range of topics primarily related to chemistry.
UM Researchers Study Novel Drug-Delivery System
University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy researchers are studying an improved method for delivering drugs that treat pain and inflammation.
Narasimha Murthy, associate professor of pharmaceutics, and Abhishek Juluri, a pharmaceutics doctoral student, are pursuing new compounds that enable easier drug delivery through the skin. Their work is supported by a collaborative agreement with Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Professor Receives DOD Grant for Cancer Research
A University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy professor has been awarded a $333,878 grant from the Department of Defense to study a cancer gene called kRAS.
“This gene is important in the progression of pancreatic, lung, colorectal and other cancers,” said Tracy Brooks, assistant professor of pharmacology and the grant’s primary investigator. “We are focusing on the region of DNA that controls how much kRAS gets produced, with the ultimate goal of using the knowledge gained in a targeted drug-discovery program to develop new agents with better safety and efficacy against many cancers.”