News

Camille Schrier’s impact “on health care and women in STEM is nothing short of incredible,” according to K.C. Ogbonna, Pharm.D., dean of the School of Pharmacy. (Photo by Rick Myers)

Class of 2024: Former Miss America Camille Schrier adding a new title: Doctor of Pharmacy

April 2, 2024

She credits the VCU School of Pharmacy for crucial support before, during and after her reign, and she continues to promote STEM to young people.

Left to right: Burnside Watstein Award recipients Emmin Bickford, an alum and a counselor with The Properties of Light; Aaliyah Freeman, Caroline Perez and AJ Jain, representing the Triangle Club at VCU; Tre Straughter, administrative support coordinator with University Student Commons; and Carol Schall, Ph.D., associate professor in the VCU School of Education. (Thomas Kojcsich, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Recipients of 2024 Burnside Watstein Awards demonstrate service to LGBTQIA+ community and VCU

March 29, 2024

From marriage equality to pharmacy work, the honorees have championed diversity and inclusion.

Youzhong Guo, Ph.D., an associate professor in the VCU School of Pharmacy, said “better research tools, such as CHEAPS, can help us understand the structure and active mechanisms of many human membrane proteins.” (File photo)

Chemical designed by pharmacy professor launches as tool for cholesterol research and future drug discovery

March 14, 2024

Youzhong Guo, Ph.D., and his team developed the chemical CHEAPS as part of ongoing research on membrane proteins as drug targets.

Thirteen staff members earned honors at this year’s Staff Senate Awards. Among the recipients, Camille Coy (second from right) said, “It’s wonderful to know that the work I do is seen and valued and that people have a positive experience because of the effort that I’m putting in.” (Thomas Kojcsich, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

VCU Staff Senate Awards recognize service to students, patients, colleagues and community

March 13, 2024

This year’s honorees reflect broad and deep impacts on the academic and medical campuses.

Nineteen VCU health sciences departments and schools ranked in the top 50 for NIH funding among public institutions, according to the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research. (File photo)

19 VCU health sciences departments and schools ranked in top 50 for NIH funding for public institutions

March 11, 2024

New rankings for biomedical research reflect the university’s growth as a national leader in science and medicine.

Roudabeh Moazeni-Ph.D.,VCU College of Engineering; Xuewei Wang, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Chemistry; Brent Fagg, senior licensing associate, and Ivelina Metcheva, Ph.D., assistant vice president for innovation, both with VCU TechTransfer and Ventures; Rodney Davis, VCU translational research fellow, Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering; P. Srirama Rao, Ph.D., vice president for research and innovation; L. Franklin Bost, professor emeritus in biomedical engineering innovation and development at the VCU Institute for Engineering and Medicine; Chandra Briggman, Activation Capital president and CEO. Seated: Gerard Eldering, entrepreneur-in-residence, and Magdalena Morgan, Ph.D., director of licensing, both with VCU TechTransfer and Ventures.

VCU’s new Startup Accelerator will propel university research that has market potential

March 6, 2024

Program to ‘fast-track’ emerging companies reflects how innovation and entrepreneurship are growing as VCU sets funding records.

Martin K. Safo, Ph.D., (left) and Richard T. Marconi, Ph.D., are the latest VCU researchers honored as senior members by the National Academy of Inventors. (File photos)

National Academy of Inventors names two VCU faculty as senior members for their research into treating diseases

March 1, 2024

Richard T. Marconi of the School of Medicine is developing new innovations for testing and preventing Lyme disease, and Martin K. Safo of the School of Pharmacy is targeting sickle cell disease.

Lemont “Monty” B. Kier, Ph.D., a professor emeritus in the VCU School of Pharmacy, had a long and varied career spanning science and the arts. (File photo)

Renowned medicinal chemist, mentor and lyricist of VCU alma mater Lemont Kier dies at 93

Jan. 12, 2024

‘A stalwart’ in his field and the community, Kier developed pioneering scientific concepts while emphasizing student achievement – and embodying the spirit of ‘We Gather Here.’

Jennifer Bucknam, a student member of the VCU Vaccine Corps, vaccinates a community member at the VCU Health Hub at 25th in January 2021. (File photo by Thomas Kojcsich, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

VCU recognized as first Pharm.D. program of merit by the Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education

Dec. 21, 2023

The designation, which recognizes excellence in gerontology and geriatrics education, stems in part from a 30-year relationship with the Department of Gerontology in the College of Health Professions.

Samuel Holmes, Ph.D., (left) poses at a presentation with his doctoral advisor Umesh Desai, Ph.D. (right). (Contributed photo)

Class of 2023: Doctoral student Samuel Holmes combines medicinal chemistry and computational modeling at a small scale

Dec. 19, 2023

Exploring the shape of heparin chains, he hopes his research could point to molecular designs for cancer treatment.