Department of Pharmaceutics

Driving tomorrow’s innovations in the pharmaceutical sciences

Pharmaceutics, a multidisciplinary field integrating pharmacy and the life sciences, focuses on converting chemical entities into dosage forms that deliver and maintain the right drug levels at target sites in the body for safe and effective treatment. Our department brings expertise in physical pharmacy, biopharmaceutics, clinical pharmacokinetics, formulation, bioanalysis, drug metabolism and drug transport together to educate future researchers and industry experts and support advancements in discovering and developing drugs. Along with the Center for Biomarker Research and Precision Medicine and the Center for Pharmaceutical Engineering and Sciences, we are advancing the quality and safety of medications and pharmaceutical products that will allow for treatment or management of a variety of health conditions.

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Degree Offerings

Our M.S. and Ph.D. programs offer comprehensive training in advanced pharmaceutical sciences, robust research opportunities, and a collaborative learning environment.

Students in research lab using equipment.

Research

Our department is a leader in drug discovery and development.

Three students in a research lab.

Courses

Review a list of pharmaceutics courses on the VCU Bulletin site.

A researcher talking to students in lab.

Student Organizations

Explore our dynamic student organizations that offer opportunities for connection, professional development and leadership.

Student leaders, all wearing Pharmaceutics T-shirts, get together for a photo during Multicultural Potluck Day

Who We Are

Faculty and Staff

Meet our dedicated faculty and staff, whose expertise and commitment drive our mission and foster a dynamic learning environment.

Students

Meet our current students, who are actively contributing to cutting-edge research and advancing their fields within the department.

Alumni

Explore the achievements of our alumni, who exemplify the success and impact of our department's education and training.

Pharmaceutics News

The lineup of new academic programs for 2024-25 includes offerings in data science, child welfare, pharmaceutical sciences and more. (Allen Jones, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Aug. 6, 2024

New VCU school year features debut of 17 degrees, certificates and concentrations that are ‘future-proofing our students'

The programs, including several available online, will help fill gaps in the job market and give students new opportunities to address real-world problems.

Ivelina Metcheva, Ph.D., assistant vice president for innovation at VCU TechTransfer and Ventures; Lauren Siff, M.D., representing the winning team SurgicalED VR; and Brent Fagg, assistant director for innovation at VCU TechTransfer and Ventures, at the VCU Startup Accelerator’s first Pitch Day competition. (VCU TechTransfer and Ventures)

May 29, 2024

Virtual-reality surgical trainer earns top spot in first Pitch Day event for VCU faculty entrepreneurs

Urogynecology team led by Lauren Siff is among the inaugural cohort of the Startup Accelerator, which propels campus innovation toward commercial markets.

Sandro da Rocha, Ph.D., (right) who will serve as the inaugural director of the new B.S. in pharmaceutical sciences program, and his students inspect a medication as part of quality assurance testing in a lab at VCU School of Pharmacy. (Mary Kate Brogan/VCU School of Pharmacy)

May 9, 2024

VCU will offer a bachelor’s degree in pharmaceutical sciences that can help address medication shortages

Amid the nationwide need for skilled workers and Virginia’s growing life sciences industry, the VCU School of Pharmacy program will enroll its first undergraduate class this fall.