Clinical Pharmacology, Drug Action and Pharmacogenetics

Enter the text here that is the new abstract information for your application. This section must be no longer than 30 lines of text. Transformative breakthroughs in technology – including innovations such as the revolutionary gene-editing tool CRISPR-Cas9, groundbreaking mRNA vaccines, and 3D bioprinting, as well as ongoing progress in precision medicine and data science – underscore the unprecedented pace of discovery in biomedical research today. Integration of new technologies, fueled by AI and substantial funding, have led to remarkable strides in comprehending basic human biology and disease. Despite this, translation of this knowledge into the discovery, development, and optimal use of pharmacological therapies in patients has not kept pace. Slower progress can be primarily ascribed to two key factors: firstly, a severe national scarcity of well-trained and qualified clinical pharmacology investigators, capable of spearheading translational research; and secondly, a shortage of training opportunities for clinical pharmacologists within the US. At UCSF, we are committed to training the next generation of clinical pharmacologist researchers and leaders. Uniquely positioned to address the growing need for well-trained and versatile clinical pharmacologists, we recruit a highly motivated pool of M.D., Pharm.D., and Ph.D. trainees into our research-intensive Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (CPT) Postdoctoral Training Program (https://pharm.ucsf.edu/cpt). With a 58-year legacy, the UCSF CPT Training program has consistently produced clinical pharmacologists of the highest caliber. Our fellows will be educated in translational research – from basic science to clinical application with strong integration of computational sciences – through our mentored research training, didactic coursework, and participation in a biweekly seminar series. Faculty mentors, committed to training our fellows, are world leaders with high-impact NIH-funded research programs. Drs. Savic and Floren lead the program. Dr. Savic, Ph.D., is a world-recognized clinical pharmacologist who applies innovative computational and translational pharmacology methods to design drug regimens and optimize dosing across the infectious diseases landscape. Dr. Floren, PharmD., Ph.D., M.A.Ed., is a clinical pharmacologist, core teaching faculty, and Associate Dean for Fellowships in the School of Pharmacy. Our research strengths include pediatric pharmacology, pharmacogenomics, pharmacometrics, systems pharmacology, artificial intelligence, real-world data/real world evidence, and regulatory sciences. Our program will create a well-trained, forward-thinking group of clinical-scientist investigators – tomorrow’s leaders and innovators in clinical pharmacology research and practice in academia, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, and in regulatory agencies.