Our Mission

We are proud to support the mission of the UNC School of Medicine, and grateful to serve the people of North Carolina.

The mission of the Department of Pharmacology is threefold: (1) to educate and train the next generation of research scientists, (2) determine the molecular and cellular basis of human disease, and (3) advance the development of novel therapeutics.

The department has consistently ranked in the top tier nationally for NIH funding. and in our global ranking for pharmacology research.

To accomplish our mission we have developed a multidisciplinary training program, engaging innovative scientists with distinct and complementary expertise. Our investigators are advancing the fields of chemical and structural biology, quantitative cell biology, proteomics, computational biology and drug design. Emerging therapeutics include nanoparticles, non-coding RNAs, stem cells and gene therapy, in addition to small molecules.

Our faculty and students have affiliations with specialized research centers focused on cancer biology, the neurosciences, cardiovascular biology, alcohol addiction, and gene therapy.

Research cores provide access and training in a wide range of sophisticated experimental and bioinformatics technologies.

Our success is due to our ability to recruit world-class graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, research staff, and faculty. There are thirty-two professors with primary appointments in the department, and greater than 70 who have adjunct, research, or joint appointments.

The Department of Pharmacology is housed in the Medical Genetics Building, a modern, state-of-the-art research facility. We share this facility with the departments of Biochemistry & Biophysics and Genetics as well as the divisions of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacogenomics in the School of Pharmacy. The building is designed to promote interactions between laboratories and across disciplines.

The Department of Pharmacology is committed to providing an outstanding training environment, one that promotes cooperation, values diversity, and fosters innovation towards the betterment of human health and understanding.