News

The Michigan State University Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology through the College of Osteopathic Medicine has named Andrea Joy Gonzales, Ph.D., as the new director of its Drug Discovery Program.

This honor recognizes her exceptional contributions to biomedical research, particularly in developing medical countermeasures against chemical threats and environmental exposures.

She has been researching how the proteins in the blood help the blood clot for more than 10 years in two postdoctoral position and now she has brought her skills to MSU's Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology.

Dr. Kurt Zinn, Dr. Jinda Fan and Dr. Carolina de Aguiar Ferreira have years of experience in the field and are anxious to merge their backgrounds in Drug Discovery research and more . "This is a really good fit," Dr. Zinn said.

Selected as an ambassador for the 2025 Students Exploring Academic Research Careers in Hematology Workshop, he hopes to bring a spirit of connection with other burgeoning researchers. “I’d like it to be more of a cohesive force to bring people together," he said.

On topics ranging from drug discovery to lung infections, second-year doctoral students presented research from their first year to a curious group of colleagues and faculty.

For Doctoral candidate Sera Sermet, understanding the interactions between cannabinoids and inflammation has become the subject of her overarching research as well as a recently published paper on the topic

From drug discovery to cancer research, Artificial Intelligence is proving to be a valuable tool in unlocking the secrets of helping keep the human body healthy. “I think it will become an essential tool in research,” said Dr. Bin Chen

Artificial Intelligence is being used to help researchers understand how a graph neural network can identify disruptions in metabolism resulting from chemical exposures. "There are things in that network that are hidden, which we can now detect,” Dr. Nault said.

The MSU Online Master's Program is offering a new course on a subject that should be studied and embraced, not feared

Marc Viens, aided by his Master's degree in Pharmacology & Toxicology from MSU, has continued his quest to learn and to discover what the medical education field has to offer.

For Dr. Kari Sant, this biennial event has always been a special combination of fellowship and talking about important science. Now as the current Chair of the GRC, she wants to continue that feeling of goodwill and creativity.

Dr. Anne Dorrance and her team recently published a paper showing that obesity can impact the tiny blood vessels in the brain and lead to the onset of dementia.

She has worked in the field of food research for three of the largest soft drink and snack food companies in the country and, thanks to her experience at Michigan State, "I definitely became more interested in toxicology, and the role toxicologists play in the food industry,” she said.

Sparked by interest in how pharmacology and toxicology can impact popular culture, three undergraduates have formed a club to ask questions, find answers and create a community of the curious.

She began her research almost by accident but she soon realized it was the direction she knew could make a difference in peoples' lives. "The opportunity to contribute to improving the quality of life of those affected is very moving and highly motivating," she said.

Nat Ato Yawson successfuly defended his dissertation

Her expertise as department office manager involves nearly every aspect from arranging meetings, coordinating Dr. Anne Dorrance’s calendar, helping students feel at home, and ensuring everyone has what they need when needed. "Everybody needs somebody like her in their corner," Dr. Dorrance said.

Marguerite Christian and Kacie Caldwell became friends while working at Charles River Laboratories and eventually decided to enroll in the MSU program at the same time to further their careers. It's been well worth the journey.

Carlye Szarowicz successfully defended her dissertation