A large amount of the research in our department is centered around the area of Neuropharmacology . This discipline focuses on drugs which act primarily on the central nervous system. Within this broad category are projects aimed at understanding the action of Neuropeptides , an important class of signaling molecules found in the brain and other tissues. In addition, researchers in our department are trying to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the process of Drug Abuse . Laboratories which concentrate on the field of Behavioral Pharmacology analyze the behavioral effects of drugs which primarily have their effect on the brain.
Many diseases involve disruption of particular organ systems or our body's natural defense systems.
Cardiovascular Pharmacology explores the agents that can be used to intervene in cardiovascular diseases. The genetic revolution has led to an explosion of information about the specific genes or gene products that are targets of drug action. Molecular Pharmacology involves the characterization of these target drug receptors. The goal of these studies is to understand the relationship between drug structure and function. These experiments can provide the basis for rational Drug Design in which a specific chemical is synthesized and tested with a therapeutic target in mind.