School of Pharmacy

NewsEventsApply NowMake a Gift

Pharmacotherapy and Outcomes Science Research

Our researchers aim to optimize the use of medications to improve health outcomes through the application of evidence-based pharmacotherapy, personalized medicine, health economics and outcomes research.

Focus Areas

Health Economics and Outcomes Research

This area of research evaluates the impact of drugs and pharmacy services on economic, clinical and humanistic patient outcomes. Our researchers conduct quantitative and qualitative studies to help stakeholders make informed decisions about the most effective and affordable patient care. This is done in collaboration and with support from other health care professionals, government agencies, professional associations, health care insurers and pharmaceutical companies.

Faculty in this focus area:

Pharmacotherapy

Geriatrics

Our research in this area and in the Geriatric Pharmacotherapy Program centers on studying health and medication use in older adults. Our scientists are exploring how aging affects the body and the effectiveness of medications to better understand the unique needs of older adults and provide safer and more effective drug therapies for aging populations. Our team aims to bridge gaps in health care delivery for older adults by driving discovery and translational research and training the future pharmacist workforce.

Faculty in this focus area:

Heart, Kidney and Metabolic Diseases

This research focuses on the interplay between heart disease, kidney disease, obesity and diabetes. Our research includes clinical trials, systematic reviews and the implementation of novel pharmacy services to improve the clinical outcomes for patients with heart, kidney and metabolic diseases.

Faculty in this focus area:

Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS

This research focuses on studying infectious diseases and conditions including HIV/AIDS. Our researchers are exploring drug interaction, antibiotic resistance, the use of antibiotics in cases of critical illness, the use of antiretrovirals for HIV and the effectiveness of antiretrovirals in HIV to fight central nervous system-localized infection. Their findings contribute to identifying the ideal treatments and therapies for infectious diseases and viruses.

Faculty in this focus area:

Neurocritical Care

Our neurocritical care research program focuses on studying severe brain injuries, including traumatic brain injury (TBI) and stroke. Our researchers investigate and develop drug treatments that can help protect the brain, prevent further damage and promote healing.

Faculty in this focus area:

Oncology

This research focuses on improving treatments for cancer and the supportive care of patients with cancer. Specifically, projects evaluate adverse effect occurrence and dosing strategies in special populations to improve health disparities. Another area of focus is demonstrating the value of oncology pharmacy services and exploring ways to increase the oncology pharmacist pipeline.

Faculty members in this focus area:

Pediatrics

This area of research focuses on improving medication use in pediatric patients. Pharmacists can play a key role in a variety of settings to optimize, advocate for and educate children and their families on optimal medication use. This area includes both clinical research as well as educational scholarship to enhance the education of the general practicing pharmacist on the foundational concepts of caring for children.

Faculty members in this focus area:

Personalized Medicine

Personalized medicine research aims to tailor treatments to fit an individual's unique genetic makeup and biological characteristics. Our scientists study the building blocks and processes that make up our bodies, including genes, proteins, metabolism and fats, to target the specific biological factors influencing a person's health. By understanding these factors, researchers can identify potential drug targets, predict how a person will respond to treatment and optimize therapeutic outcomes.

Faculty in this focus area:

Psychiatry and Substance Use Disorders

This area of research focuses on improving access to substance use disorder treatment, the role of pharmacists in managing opioid use disorders and the role of long-acting options for opioid use and alcohol use disorders. Additionally, research in this area focuses on the interplay between HIV and substance use disorder in the brain and investigates how opioids alter the efficacy of antiretroviral drugs within the brain.

Faculty in this focus area:

Pharmacy Practice and Education

Community-Based Practice and Research

Our work in community-based pharmacy practice and research, along with the Center for Pharmacy Practice Innovation, develops the innovative patient-care strategies that providers put into practice across the country and around the world. Our research develops, implements and evaluates innovative and sustainable care models that incorporate pharmacists to optimize medication-related patient health outcomes. Our work also studies the impact of interprofessional health care teams on health and economic outcomes, particularly the impact of pharmacist involvement in collaboration among clinicians and outcomes researchers.

Faculty in this focus area:

Compounding Practice and Research

Our work in this area and with the Center for Compounding Practice and Research develops and enhances the standard of sterile compounding training. This research explores how best to train and educate both new learners and returning learners in continuing education, and our center pioneers those innovations on a national level.

Faculty in this focus area:

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

Work in this area of research examines the ways students are taught and learn in pharmacy education. Investigating different teaching methods, curriculum designs and assessment techniques to enhance student learning outcomes, our faculty want to understand how students learn best and how they as educators can improve teaching practices and create more effective learning environments.

Faculty in this focus area:

a health care worker at a clinic assists an elderly patient filling out paperwork

The Geriatric Pharmacotherapy Program is dedicated to enhancing the delivery of health care to older adults. It aims to bridge gaps in health care delivery for older adults by driving discovery and translational research and training the future pharmacist workforce. The program has provided more than 2,500 clinical experiences, served more than 50 graduates of the Pharm.D./Certificate in Aging Studies program and mentored more than 20 graduate students as well as a variety of clinical trainees.