Earn a PhDDoctor of Philosophy in the biomedical science of Pharmacology. Participate in cardiovascular and neuroscience research which integrates a range of techniques from whole animal to cellular, and collaborate with faculty inside and outside of Augusta University. The department's labs' disease studies include: Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, schizophrenia, diabetes, and vascular dysfunction heart failure.
Dan Rudic, PhD
Graduate Program Director
Phone: (706) 721-7649
Email: rrudic@augusta.edu
Prospective students must apply to the Graduate School's Biomedical Sciences program. After completion of the 1st year, students may choose to work with a faculty mentor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology.
Pharmacology students in their 2nd year and beyond must register for Pharmacology & Therapeutics one time and Seminar in Pharmacology each semester. You will also conduct thesis research during these years. Required advisory committee meetings will annually assess your research and academic progress.
Every student works with their mentor to select a minimum of 8 hours of thesis project-specific
elective courses. These courses include: Scientific Grant Writing, Neuropharmacology and Cardiovascular
Pharmacology & Physiology.
The Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and The Graduate School of Augusta University
each provide annual awards to outstanding graduate students studying pharmacology.
Financial support for these awards is based on philanthropic donations on behalf of
prominent former faculty members in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology.
The awards are listed and described below.
Raymond P. Ahlquist Travel Award
Jerry J. Buccafusco Travel Award
Armand M. Karow, Jr. Pharmacology Scholarship Award
These competitive annual awards are granted to students for:
Ahlquist Presentation Award
Lowell M. Greenbaum Award in Recognition of Research Excellence in Pharmacology.
Raymond P. Ahlquist, Ph.D.
Dr. Raymond Ahlquist was a pharmacist and pharmacologist who is internationally recognized
as the originator of the alpha- and beta-receptor concept of the adrenergic system.
His investigations led the way of the development of beta-blocking drugs used to treat
blood pressure as well as a variety of other conditions. In 1976 Dr. Ahlquist was
honored with the Albert Lasker Clinical Medical Research Award and the Ciba Award
for Hypertension Research. From 1948 to 1963, Dr. Ahlquist served as the chair of
Pharmacology at the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) and in 1963 he was appointed
associate dean for basic sciences and research coordinator for the medical college.
Between 1970 and 1977 he again served as chair of pharmacology and in 1977 he was
appointed Charbonnier Professor of Pharmacology, a post he held until his death in
1983.
Lowell M Greenbaum, Ph.D.
Dr. Lowell Greenbaum was a pharmacologist who is recognized internationally as a pioneer
and leader in kinin research. He joined the faculty of the Medical College of Georgia
(MCG) in 1979 as Professor and successor of Dr. Raymond Ahlquist as Chairman of the
Department of Pharmacology at MCG. He was later appointed as Vice President for Research
and Dean of the School of Graduate Studies in 1986 and served in those roles until
1995. He was instrumental in the growth of MCG as a major research institution during
his tenure at our university. Dr. Greenbaum also founded the Southeastern Pharmacology
Society, implemented MCG’s Ph.D. program in nursing, and developed and taught a research
ethics course.
Armand M. Karow, Ph.D.
Dr. Armand Karow was recognized internationally as one of the world’s pioneers in
the field of cryopreservation of transplantable cells and tissues and published over
100 research articles in this area. He joined the faculty of the Medical College
of Georgia (MCG) in 1968 in the Schools of Medicine and Graduate Studies and rose
the ranks to Professor of Pharmacology and Research Associate Professor of Surgery
and was given the title of Professor Emeritus when he retired in 1997. He was also
the Founder and Chairman Emeritus in Perpetuity of Xytex International Ltd, a fertility-based
company that specializes cryopreservation of donor sperm.
Jerry J. Buccafusco, Ph.D.
Dr. Jerry Buccafusco is internationally recognized for his pioneering work in cholinergic
neuropharmacology and drug discovery and contributions to multiple fields including
hypertension, drug abuse, Gulf War Illness, Alzheimer's Disease and schizophrenia
research. He became Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
at the Medical College of Georgia in 1979 and rapidly rose the ranks to Associate
and later, full professor. Over the course of his career, Dr. Buccafusco received
numerous accolades including Regents’ Professor of the University of Georgia System,
the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New
Jersey, Research Career Scientist Award, Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Society
for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics – ASPET Award for Experimental Therapeutics.