The Department of Pharmacology is home to several research laboratories. The quality of research is reflected in our ability to attract national funding from NIH and other sources. Each laboratory also participates in mentoring M.S. and Ph.D. students.
Dr Carvey The laboratory of Dr. Paul Carvey examines the pharmacology of the dopamine system in the brain with particular interest in Parkinson's disease. Using both in vitro and in vivo models he is currently looking at the role of the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) as it relates to the entry of environmental toxins as well its relationship to peripheral immune cell involvement of disease progression.
picture of Dr. Hendey

The laboratory of Dr. Bill Hendey examines how early stages of neutrophil apoptosis affect neutrophil response to inflammation. Other interests include how inflammation contributes to neurodegenerative diseases.
picture of Dr.Luborsky

The laboratory of Dr. Judith Luborsky examines immune responses in ovarian autoimmune disease and ovarian cancer in humans and in an animal model with a focus on early events and early detection.  Dr Luborsky is also Director of the Rush Proteomics Core Research Facility.
 

The laboratory of Dr. Hazel Lum investigates mechanisms of inflammatory injury of vascular endothelium, leading to increased permeability and leukocyte extravasation. Specific projects include study of pro-inflammatory lipids such as lysophospholipids and their receptors, signaling intermediates (i.e., Rho GTPases, PKC) and remodeling of endothelial junctional complexes.
picture of Dr. Napier

The laboratory of Dr. Celeste Napier examines changes in the adult mammalian brain that alter motivative behaviors, including those associated with drug addiction. Dr. Napier is also the director of the Research and Recovery Center for Compulsive Behaviors and Addiction.

 

The laboratory of Dr. John Somberg examines cardiovascular pharmacology with specific interest in drugs that affect the rapid potassium channel (IKr).  Interests also include chiral separation of drugs and how this effects drug action and the role of the nervous system in facilitating cardiac arrhythmias.
picture of Dr. Xiu-Ti The laboratory of Dr. Xiu-Ti Hu examines the cellular mechanism of cocaine withdrawal, which is associated with the chronic cocaine-induced neuroadaptations in voltage-gated ion channel function and signaling in the mesocorticolimbic system (as known as the reward pathway), particularly in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and nucleus accumbens (NAc).