The University of Toledo College of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences

09/10/2026

🧠 How do scientists figure out what psychoactive drugs actually do to the brain?

It may involve more than microscopes and brain scans.

In a recent Toledo Blade article, Logan Kountz, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, explains how researchers can use behavioral “fingerprints” to better understand how different drugs affect the brain.

“I have found that these drugs do not produce identical behavioral fingerprints.”

Fentanyl, M**A and other psychoactive drugs can produce distinct patterns of behavioral changes—even when some drugs have similar chemical structures.

By combining behavioral measurements with computer-based statistical methods, researchers can identify which drugs produce similar patterns and which ones stand apart. But for Kountz, that’s only part of the story.

The next question: What’s happening inside the brain? 🧠

Learn more about Kountz’s research and how zebrafish are helping scientists better understand psychoactive drugs in The Blade.

Have you ever wondered how scientists know what a drug does to your brain? You might imagine scientists looking through microscopes or studying brain scans. ...

09/09/2026

🔬✨ Women in Science Wednesday!

What if we could slow light down to a crawl… and even stop it?

Meet Lene Vestergaard Hau, a Danish physicist whose groundbreaking research made that sound like science fiction a reality. 🌟

In 1999, Hau and her team slowed a pulse of light to just 17 meters per second—incredibly slow compared with light’s usual speed of about 300 million meters per second! 🤯

Using an ultracold cloud of atoms, her research demonstrated remarkable ways that light can interact with matter. She later showed that light could even be brought to a complete stop and stored in an atomic medium before being released again.

🧪 Her work has helped scientists better understand quantum physics and the fascinating relationship between light and matter.

And what makes this especially cool? Her research connects beautifully to neon, element #10, which is famous for its glowing interaction with light. 💡

🌟 Science reminds us that sometimes the most extraordinary discoveries happen when we ask a simple question: “What if?”

09/08/2026

🌿 Student Tip Tuesdays: Take a Moment to Pause

College life can get busy. Sometimes you just need a few quiet minutes to reset, breathe, and recharge.

Did you know we have a Quiet Room available for students in the Wolf Center? 🧘‍♀️✨

Whether you want to:
🙏 Pray or reflect
🧘 Meditate
🧩 Work on a puzzle
📚 Take a quiet break between classes
💭 Simply step away from the hustle and bustle for a few minutes

…the Quiet Room is here for you.

📍 Find it in the Wolf Center, diagonally across from the Kroger Professional Development Lab.

Because taking care of yourself is part of being a successful student, too. 💙

09/04/2026

🔬 What if we could understand exactly what synthetic opioids are doing inside the body—and find ways to reverse that damage?

That’s the kind of question researchers at the University of Toledo College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences are working to answer.

We’re celebrating a major research accomplishment! 🎉 Isaac T. Schiefer, Ph.D., Professor of Medicinal and Biological Chemistry and Director of the Center for Drug Design and Development (CD3), has received a $455,827 NIH R56 award, co-funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

The project, “Photoaffinity and Multi-Omic Analysis of Targets Pathways Driving Synthetic Opioid-Induced Toxicity and Reversal,” will use innovative chemical probes and multi-omic approaches to identify the molecular targets and pathways driving toxicity from ultra-potent synthetic opioids—and investigate how those harmful effects can be reversed.

The project builds on Dr. Schiefer’s ongoing synthetic opioid and CounterACT research program and is part of the NIH’s Chemical Countermeasures Research Program.

Dr. Schiefer serves as Principal Investigator, with Frederick Williams and Robert McCullumsmith as Co-Investigators.

🧪 This is research happening right here at UT—and it has the potential to contribute to a better understanding of one of today’s important public health challenges.

Congratulations to Dr. Schiefer and the entire research team! 👏🔬

09/03/2026

🧪✨ Internship Spotlight Thursday! ✨🧪

Meet Benisha Gurung, a Cosmetic Science & Formulation Design student who spent her summer gaining hands-on industry experience as a Cosmetic Science Lab Technician at Chemspire Ingredients!

Throughout her internship, Benisha worked across suncare, skincare, haircare and bodycare, developing a variety of cosmetic formulations including sunscreens, moisturizers, milk toner, cleansers, shampoo and hair gel. She also gained experience with in-vitro sunscreen testing, laboratory equipment, raw materials and the product development process.

One of her favorite parts of the experience? Creating her own formulations from scratch and learning how to troubleshoot when things didn’t go as planned. 🔬

“This experience allowed me to apply what I’ve learned in class to real-world cosmetic science while expanding my knowledge, building my laboratory skills, and gaining a better understanding of the cosmetic industry.”

Experiences like Benisha’s are a great example of how hands-on learning and industry internships help our students turn what they learn in the classroom into real-world skills. 💄🧴🧪

We’re proud to see where our students take their passion for cosmetic science!

09/02/2026

🔬✨ Women in Science Wednesday! ✨🔬

Today we’re celebrating Sandra Faber, an accomplished astronomer whose work has helped us better understand the formation and evolution of galaxies. 🌌🔭

And for this week’s Periodic Table spotlight, we’re highlighting Element #9: Fluorine (F)! 🧪

Fluorine is the most reactive and electronegative of all the elements and is found in compounds used in everything from toothpaste to specialized materials.

From studying the stars and galaxies to exploring the elements that make up our world, women in science continue to expand what we know about the universe around us! 💜

🌟 Women in Science Wednesday
🧪 Element #9: Fluorine
🔭 Scientist Spotlight: Sandra Faber

09/01/2026

💜 International Overdose Awareness Day 💜

Yesterday, our students came together to wear purple ribbons in recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day—a day to remember those we have lost, support those affected, and raise awareness about the impact of overdose in our communities.

As future healthcare professionals, our students have an important role in promoting compassion, education, prevention, and reducing the stigma surrounding substance use and overdose.

Thank you to everyone who wore a ribbon and helped us spread awareness. 💜

Remember. Educate. Support. Prevent.

08/31/2026

“All of the faculty were so welcoming and inviting, same with all of the students,” Kish said. “I love it here.”

This year’s class carries some notable numbers. The 96 incoming Pharm.D. students represent the largest professional pharmacy class in five years, with enrollment growing steadily.

The 39 Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences students include the college’s largest Cosmetic Science and Formulation Design class in five years and the largest Drug Discovery and Design class since the program launched.

The White Coat Ceremony marks the start of the professional journey for 135 incoming pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences students.

08/31/2026

Proud to have our Rockets back in the 419

08/31/2026