Research

Hallmarks of department research include the development of personalized, precision medicine by revealing genetic differences underlying disease prevalence, severity, and drug response. Techniques developed here identify and detect biomarkers of disease sub-types, progression, and treatment response, from tissue imaging to genetic testing and individual cell analysis, that aid the more rapid development of new treatments and guide their clinical applications.

Department scientists use computational modeling, bioinformatics, and quantitative pharmacology to integrate data from diverse experimental and clinical sources to discover new drugs and drug targets, as well as to design more efficient and informative preclinical and clinical safety and efficacy studies.

Research areas

  • Therapeutic Bioengineering

    Develops materials, devices, and techniques to detect and differentiate disease states and treatment response, aid tissue healing, precisely deliver treatments to tissues or cells, signal early changes in health status, and provide implantable bioartificial replacement organs.

  • Pharmacogenomics and Genomics

    Discovers genomic variations contributing to disease development and congenital conditions as well as those affecting response to vital medications. Findings support preventative intervention, personalized regimens, and the development of new medicines.

  • Computational Biology and Systems Pharmacology

    Applies computational algorithms and bioinformatics to discover new molecular and sub-cellular drug targets and potential drugs as well as to design molecular interventions to probe biological systems. Computation is also applied to simulate and predict the interplay between multiple variables affecting drug efficacy and safety to improve study design and analysis of results.

  • Drug Development and Regulatory Sciences

    Provides more efficient drug development by discovering and analyzing key factors that determine how the body interacts with a given drug (e.g., absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion). Regulatory science develops new tools, standards, and approaches to assess drug safety and efficacy.

Research services and facilities

Research programs and collaborations