University of Colorado Department of Pharmacology

Today, we highlight an exciting publication: Release Your Inhibitions: The Cell Biology of GABAergic Postsynaptic Plasticity by Theresa M. Welle, PhD, and Kathe Smith, PhD. This publication provides insights into how inhibitory synapses adapt and regulate brain activity—shaping learning, memory, and cognition. 🧠🔬 Read more: https://bit.ly/41b5DkU #Neuroscience #BrainPlasticity #Pharmacology #CUAnschutz

🎉 Congratulations to Professor Joaquin Espinosa, PhD, and Assistant Professor of Research Matthew Galbraith, PhD, on being part of the team honored with the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus 2025 Research Collaboration Team Award for their work at the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome! We are proud to have these outstanding faculty members leading groundbreaking research and fostering team collaboration at the Crnic Institute. Join us in congratulating Drs. Espinosa, Galbraith and the entire Crnic Institute team on this well-deserved accolade! #ResearchExcellence #DownSyndromeResearch #CUAnschutz #CUPharmacology

Harrison James Ramsay, a PhD candidate in the Kennedy Lab, has been awarded an NIH F31 grant to support his research entitled "Investigating the Mechanisms and Impact of Amyloid-Beta Mediated Disruption of Synaptic Nanoarchitecture." This two-year award will help advance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases. Way to go, Harrison! 👏 🔬 #Pharmacology #CUAnschutz #PharmacologyResearch

🌍🎗️ Today is World Cancer Day—a global effort to raise awareness, improve education, and inspire action for a cancer-free future. At the Department of Pharmacology, our researchers are dedicated to understanding the molecular mechanisms of cancer, identifying novel therapeutic targets, and advancing treatments that can improve patient outcomes. Together, we can close the care gap and drive progress in the fight against cancer. 💙 #WorldCancerDay #CloseTheCareGap #CancerResearch #Pharmacology

Congratulations to Dr. J. David Port on his well-deserved retirement! While he is stepping down from his role as a professor in the Department of Pharmacology's secondary faculty, we’re thrilled that he will continue to contribute as emeritus faculty, engaging in teaching and committee work. Thank you, Dr. Port, for your dedication and lasting impact on not only our department, but the Pharmacology Graduate Program and greater community at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. We are deeply grateful for your passion for pharmacology and your commitment to mentoring students!

At the Council of Graduate Schools 64th Annual Meeting, Dr. Bruce Mandt was presented with the Assistant and Associate Dean's Leadership Award 🏆 “The work we do in graduate education administration, while immensely rewarding, is often behind the scenes and seldom glamorous. Yet, it plays a critical role in shaping the success of our students, institutions, and the broader academic community,” Mandt said. “This recognition is not just about individual effort—it is a testament to the power of collaboration.” 

Congratulations to Amber Stewart, PhD candidate in Kate Smith's lab, on receiving a prestigious NIH F31 grant! Her project, titled "The role of subsynaptic nanoscale architecture in inhibitory synaptic plasticity," has been awarded funding for three years. 🎉

This week, our department had the privilege of hosting a retirement celebration for two exceptional faculty members in the Department of Pharmacology: Professor Dr. J. David Port and Senior Instructor Dr. Tom French. Their groundbreaking work and enduring legacy in the field of pharmacology have forever shaped our department and the broader scientific community, and we are deeply grateful for the countless contributions they have made throughout their careers. Please join us in congratulating Drs. Port and French on their well-deserved retirement and wishing them all the best in this next chapter! 🥂 🎉

🧠 Exciting Research News! 🧬 Congratulations to Katie Zent, PhD, and Mark Dell'Acqua, PhD, on their newly published paper in the Journal of Neuroscience! This groundbreaking study, which represents Dr. Zent's PhD thesis research, unravels the mechanisms behind long-distance communication in neurons—a critical process that supports the brain's plasticity and adaptability. Dr. Zent recently began her postdoctoral work here in the Department of Pharmacology, making this publication a remarkable milestone in her academic journey. 💡 Learn more and read here: https://bit.ly/4hpHM6i

Congratulations to Postdoc Dillon Boulton, PhD, and Associate Professor M. Cecilia Caino, PhD, on a new publication in Cell Reports by Cell Press! Read "Rho GTPase 2 (MIRO2) is required for breast and prostate cancer invasion and metastasis" here: https://bit.ly/4j4tMAx