Pharmacology & Toxicology Research

Gastrointestinal Pharmacology

Overview

• Gastrointestinal research at Virginia Commonwealth University has a long history of important and novel contributions in gut function and regulation.
• The investigators in the Department of Pharmacology work closely with GI researchers in other basic sciences and clinical departments.  A consortium of GI researchers at VCU have formed the VCU Program in Enteric Neuromuscular Sciences (VPENS) that interact at many levels, including regular Journal Club meetings, teaching advanced level graduate courses, and hosting eminent gastroenterology researchers for seminars.

Research Approaches

• mechanisms of opioid-induced bowel dysfunction
• drugs affecting colonic inflammation
• how bacterial proteins interact within the enteric nervous system
• the role of the microbiome in responses to drugs of abuse, including opioids and alcohol

Faculty Research Interests