News

Taylor Mitchell, a third-year Pharm.D. student, founded the VCU chapter of the American College of Veterinary Pharmacists. (Contributed image)

Taylor Mitchell pursues a career in veterinary pharmacy and promotes the unsung field

Feb. 5, 2026

The third-year Pharm.D. student has taken university and national roles in advocating for a critical component of animal care.

Beloved mentor and champion of Pharm.D./Ph.D. dual degree program Jürgen Venitz dies at 70

Feb. 3, 2026

Generous with his time and ‘an authentic leader,’ Venitz was a role model for the students, postdocs and colleagues he mentored in his more than 30 years in the Department of Pharmaceutics at VCU School of Pharmacy.

Umesh Desai, Ph.D. (left), chair of medicinal chemistry in the VCU School of Pharmacy, and Bhaumik Patel, M.D., of the Central Virginia VA Health Care System, are developing novel therapies that target cancer stem cells to help prevent tumor recurrence. (Photo by Karl E. Steinbrenner

No short cuts – but a bit of sugar – in the quest to fight cancer relapse

Jan. 16, 2026

VCU medicinal chemist Umesh Desai has spent decades exploring a frontier of biology, and the molecule he helped develop shows notable promise.

Peter Pidcoe, Ph.D., a physical therapist and biomedical engineer with appointments in the College of Health Professions, College of Engineering and the School of Medicine, works with Susan Haynes, surgical simulation administrator in the Department of Surgery. Haynes said, “Peter has helped us bring surgical practice closer to the reality of the operating room.” (Kelley & Co.)

VCU innovators create device to mimic real blood flow to surgical training simulations

Jan. 8, 2026

Recent invention disclosure highlights a pump that could benefit physicians, military medics, educators and, ultimately, patients.

Introducing Voices in Pharmacy Innovation

Jan. 6, 2026

The new podcast, launching this week, will uncover how pharmacy practitioners and health care leaders can make change happen in pharmacy practice.

VCU’s research expenditures cross $500 million for first time, ranking 46th nationally for fiscal 2024

Dec. 29, 2025

The top 50 placement for the fourth straight year among public universities reflects the growing impact of VCU’s research and innovation enterprise.

VCU Pharmacy faculty help shape ADA’s 2026 Standards of Care in Diabetes

Dec. 19, 2025

Recommendations from Dr. Dave Dixon focus on addressing and preventing cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death among people with diabetes.

At VCU, impactful innovation follows multiple paths

Dec. 19, 2025

Here is how researchers turn inventions into ventures — and why industry and government are taking notice.

Sagun Poudel was the winner of VCU’s 3-Minute Thesis Competition in 2024. (Mary Kate Brogan, School of Pharmacy)

Class of 2025: Sagun Poudel trains her eye on novel drug delivery

Dec. 5, 2025

The Nepal native and new Ph.D. calls her time at the VCU School of Pharmacy ‘truly transformative.’

VCU produces more graduates in health-related degrees than any other university in the state, making VCU an unparalleled leader in shaping Virginia’s health care future. (VCU School of Dentistry)

Here is how VCU plays an unparalleled role in training Virginia’s health care workforce

Nov. 21, 2025

The state’s top producer of health sciences graduates is treating the critical need for more providers.