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Keynote speaker Anna Prilutsky addresses the audience in the Library of Virginia auditorium at the 3rd Annual School of Pharmacy Convocation.

Haleon R&D leader at Convocation: Innovation is ‘figuring out how to open doors for those who will make a difference’

Aug. 22, 2025

Keynote speaker Anna Prilutsky addressed faculty, staff and new students to share how she got her start in her career as an innovator before the community celebrated seven faculty and staff honorees and five faculty promotions.

Jannatun Namme stands next to a research poster she shared during VCU Research Day

Small molecule could alleviate acetaminophen-induced liver injury, Medicinal Chemistry student's research reveals

Aug. 21, 2025

Jannatun Nayem Namme, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry at VCU School of Pharmacy, is presenting her team's results at the fall meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS) this week.

Under the leadership of new director Yan Zhang, Ph.D., the Center for Drug Discovery has realigned its structure to mirror the industry-standard drug development pipeline and expanded to become a true universitywide hub for translational research. (Photo by Christopher Kendall)

VCU Center for Drug Discovery realigns to advance innovative therapies

May 30, 2025

Led by new director Yan Zhang and working with TechTransfer and Ventures, the center aims to commercialize treatments for sickle cell disease, opioid addiction, dementia and other conditions.

A professor in a dress shirt and blazer sits smiling in his lab in front of a projector with a 2-D representation of the interconnection of molecules while holding two vials of different liquids as additional vials of liquid sit on his desk in front of him

Dr. Youzhong Guo pioneers a new biopharma blueprint

May 23, 2025

A commitment to membrane proteins has rendered technology that has placed Youzhong Guo, Ph.D., an associate professor in our Department of Medicinal Chemistry, on the radar of some of the largest players in the biopharmaceutical industry.

Michael Hindle, Ph.D., left, and Worth Longest, Ph.D., right, in the aerosol research lab on VCU’s MCV Campus. The longtime collaborators are developing a hand-actuated dry powder inhaler to deliver aerosolized surfactant noninvasively to premature infants.

VCU inventors take a big step toward lifesaving therapy for premature infants in respiratory distress

May 16, 2025

The simple-to-use powder inhaler from Michael Hindle and Worth Longest shows strong test results and moves closer to market.

Audience members seated and listening attentively during a School of Pharmacy event

Computational Medicinal Chemistry Conference 2025

April 17, 2025

The Department of Medicinal Chemistry in the VCU School of Pharmacy held a recent symposium to celebrate 50 years of computational medicinal chemistry research at VCU.

A research team led by Virginia Commonwealth University and Columbia University has gained novel insights into a protein suspected to be involved in benzodiazepine-related inflammation. (Getty Images)

Researchers may have solved decades-old mystery behind benzodiazepine side effects

April 14, 2025

Identifying a key protein’s role could improve the common mental health medications and point to new treatments for inflammation-related diseases, VCU medicinal chemist Youzhong Guo says.

yan zhang

Y. Zhang gives seminar as part of a VCU Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology seminar series

March 18, 2025

Yan Zhang, Ph.D., is director of the Center for Drug Discovery.

Keith Ellis

Ellis appointed Director of B.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences program

March 18, 2025

After serving as interim director since August, Keith C. Ellis, Ph.D., began his role as the Director of the B.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences program, effective March 17.

Qingguo Xu, Ph.D., an associate professor in the VCU School of Pharmacy, and Matthew Banks, Ph.D., a professor in the VCU School of Medicine, co-led a study reformulating an opioid use disorder medication to extend its therapeutic effect. (Thomas Kojcsich, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

VCU researchers are developing a long-acting medication for opioid addiction

March 18, 2025

Their latest preclinical study showed promising results in reducing opioid use and withdrawal symptoms.