The University of Toledo

Thirty-fourth Annual Pharmacology Research Colloquium: June 15, 2007 

OnJune 15, 2007, the department hosted the 34th Annual Pharmacology Research Colloquium at the Dana Center on the Health Science Campus. This colloquium brought together about 140 graduate students and faculty from the “pharmacology” departments of the Michigan State University, the University of Michigan, Wayne State University, and the University of Toledo, College of Medicine for a day long scientific program. Each of the schools takes turns in hosting this annual event. The colloquium primarily provides a forum for doctoral students to present their research in both oral and poster presentations and an opportunity for all participants to exchange ideas.

These colloquia were initiated 34 years ago by Dr. Theodore M. Brody of Michigan State University and Dr. Benedict Lucchesi of the University of Michigan. Dr. Brody passed away on June 11th at the age of 87. Not many attendees could remember the first colloquium; however, Dr. Lucchesi is still an enthusiastic and active participant. Following the welcome address delivered by Dr. Doug Wilkerson, Associate Dean for Graduate Programs in the College of Medicine, Dr. Lucchesi made a tribute to Dr Brody's long and successful career and described the origins of the colloquia.

Dr. Lucchesi addressing Colloquium attendees

The program included 15 oral presentations from doctoral students and 46 poster presentations. A highlight of the afternoon was the seminar presented by James Putney, Ph.D. from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, in Research Triangle Park, N. Carolina. In his talk, entitled Mechanisms of Receptor-regulated Calcium Entry into Cells, he presented some important and exciting discoveries he has recently made on the mechanism by which intracellular calcium stores are able regulate the influx of extracellular calcium a problem that has puzzled researchers for many years.

Generous support for the colloquium was provided by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer Global Research and Development.

James Putney, Ph.D. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Research Triangle Park, North Carolina

Guillermo Vasquez, James Putney, Andrew Beavis and Amir Askari

Jehnan Liu discussing his poster

Nasser El-Okdi discussing his poster

Terry Hinds explains his work to Barbara Kaplan, MSU faculty

Cheryse Furman, U of Michigan discusses her work

Larisa Fedorova, Vanamala Raju and Jagannath Saikumar

Thomas Bowman platfrom presentation

Doug Wilkerson and Liz Tietz                        Beata Lecka-Czernik and Bill Messer

Deb Lebarr, Irene Wolf, Marianne Miller-Jasper, Martha Heck and Karen Edwards