Established in 1974, the Department of Pharmacology is an integral component of medical and graduate education, postdoctoral training, and basic science and translational research activities. Sokol Todi, Ph.D., professor of Pharmacology and Neurology, was appointed chair of the department in October. Dr. Todi is widely published with international recognition. His research focuses on mechanisms of neurodegeneration and neuroprotection in age-dependent neurodegenerative diseases caused by misfolded proteins, with particular focus on polyglutamine disease proteins. To learn how Dr. Todi views the department's research strengths, faculty expertise and collaborations, read his interview below.

What are the major research areas of your department?
Dr. Todi: Our department has an outstanding history of research excellence in cancer pharmacology, neuropharmacology and environmental toxicology going all the way back to its establishment in 1974. Over the decades, our department has led the way in innovative cell culturing techniques and imaging, spearheaded by Drs. Sloane, Kessel and Moin; in cutting-edge modeling of various types of cancer, exemplified by Drs. List and Podgorski and more recently by Dr. Shen; and in the pharmacology of neuroscience and drug abuse, led by Drs. Andrade, Bannon, Davis and myself. Exceptional research by Drs. Reiners, Kocarek and more recently Drs. Baker, Petriello and Kassotis, has led to renewed interest in the impactful role of environmental toxicants in animal and human development and physiology.

What collaborations occur within your department?
Dr. Todi: A major strength is collaboration among faculty to help train our graduate students and postdocs. We have an “it takes a village” approach when it comes to mentorship. We work together to mentor our trainees even when research areas or interests do not overlap. Our collaborations also extend to research, with our members engaged in joint research programs, including Drs. Podgorski and Liu for lipid metabolism and kidney cancers, Drs. List and Shen for mechanisms of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer, Drs. Podgorski and Petriello on effects of PFAS accumulation on bone marrow adipogenesis and metastatic prostate cancer, Drs. Petriello and Ruden on environmental influences on child health outcomes, and Drs. Petriello and Kassotis on health effects of PFAS on lung health.

What collaborations occur with other departments/divisions/universities?
Dr. Todi: We have an extensive list of affiliated faculty at WSU and beyond, whose participation extends into research. Collaborations comprise joint research and training efforts with Physiology, Neurology, Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, and the Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics within the school; with the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy; with Biological Sciences and Chemistry; and with the College of Engineering. Collaborations with other institutions, including the University of Michigan, Universite de Sherbrooke (Canada), Duke University, Harvard University, Moffitt Cancer Center, Erasmus University (Netherlands) have led to successful grant applications and publications in leading journals for our faculty, including Drs. Andrade, Bannon, Kessel, List, Podgorski, Sloane and others.

What should other faculty know about your department’s expertise to collaborate more?
Dr. Todi: We are leaders in cell and neuronal pharmacology, in environmental toxicology, in animal modeling of cancer and neurodegeneration, and the testing of compounds in cells and animal models. The Microscopy, Imaging and Cytometry Resources core is based in our department, thus we have tremendous expertise in imaging technologies.

What makes your department great?
Dr. Todi: A comprehensive and inclusive vision for research, mentoring and training; a highly collaborative nature; exceptional personnel; and exciting, cutting-edge scientific research with productive collaborations across WSU and beyond.

What makes your staff great?
Dr. Todi: Passion for working in the department and helping it move forward successfully in challenging times.

For more information about the department visit https://pharmacology.med.wayne.edu/