When Wei Li, PhD moved to Memphis in 1999, drug discovery was not necessarily what he thought he would be doing for a career. Growing up in China, Dr. Li has always been passionate about chemistry, conducting home experiments after being introduced to the topic in middle school. He won the first-place prize in the… Read More
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center convened the first Tennessee Statewide Cancer Collaborative Scientific Meeting in Nashville on October 29-30, bringing together researchers, clinicians, and institutional partners from across the state to chart a unified course in the fight against cancer. With the theme “Advancing Cancer Research Across Tennessee,” the inaugural two-day conference highlighted… Read More
Blockbuster drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound have transformed obesity care for millions of Americans, making them some of the most talked-about medical breakthroughs of the decade. Yet several questions remain, including their long-term effects on cancer risk. A new commentary co-authored by Professor Liza Makowski, PhD, associate director for Education and Development in the… Read More
P. David Rogers, PharmD, PhD, an alumnus of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Pharmacy and an affiliate professor in the college’s Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, has been elected to the esteemed National Academy of Medicine (NAM) for his pioneering work in medical mycology and antifungal pharmacology. Election to… Read More
When Brendan Tunstall, PhD, looks at the science of addiction, he sees something missing. “For all we’ve learned about the pharmacology and neurobiology of alcohol use disorder,” he said, “in preclinical behavioral research, historically, we’ve largely ignored one factor known to powerfully influence human behavior—other people.” Dr. Tunstall, assistant professor of Pharmacology in the College… Read More
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center will host the inaugural Tennessee Statewide Cancer Collaborative on October 29–30, 2025, at the Hutton Hotel in Nashville. The two-day conference aims to unite researchers, clinicians, and policymakers to chart a path toward a stronger, more coordinated statewide cancer strategy. With the theme “Advancing Cancer Research Across Tennessee,”… Read More
The Office of Research has named Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, PhD, as executive director of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s research core laboratories, effective September 19, 2025. A long-time leader in research infrastructure, Dr. Fitzpatrick is a professor in the College of Medicine’s Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Biochemistry, associate director of the Regional Biocontainment… Read More
After 16 years of stellar leadership as the chair of the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Ashley Harkrider, PhD, has been named the new dean of the university’s College of Health Professions, effective Wednesday, October 1. A respected leader, strategic innovator, enthusiastic collaborator, and dedicated mentor to… Read More
