Youssef Sari, Ph.D.
Professor and Vice-Chair
Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
Frederic and Mary Wolfe Center 282G
Phone: 419.383.1507
E-mail: youssef.sari@utoledo.edu
Area of Research
Sari's laboratory is currently investigating the neuropharmacology of modulating glutamate transport in drugs of abuse. Sari's laboratory has recently identified several FDA-approved drugs that can cross the brain blood barrier and facilitate glutamate neurotransmission and upregulate glutamate transporters. Sari's laboratory is currently investigating the pharmacological actions, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of these drugs for the treatment of drugs of abuse, including ethanol, opioids, nicotine, methamphetamine, cocaine, and cannabis.
Dr. Sari's research programs have been funded for several years by prestigious awards from the National Institutes of Health. Based on his meritorious scientific achievements, he has secured several NIH funding for the last 15 years for over $5M. He is member of several editorial boards, including Frontiers in Neuropharmacology. He has an incredible record of mentoring and tirelessly interacting with his mentees and other junior colleagues in and outside the laboratory. Most of his mentees are currently holding the title of Assistant Professor, Assistant Professor/Head of the Department and Associate Professor at National and International Universities. He also mentored junior faculty in his Department as well as faculty from International Universities (Brazil and Jordan). He has been recently selected as a fellow of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Academic Leadership Development Program (ADLP).
Educational Background
| Ph.D., Neuroscience | Pierre and Marie Curie University, Institute of Neuroscience (Current name: Sorbonne University, Pierre Marie and Curie Campus), 1998 |
| M.S., Biomechanics and Physiology of Movement | Orsay University (Paris 11, France), 1994 |
| B.S., Cellular Biology | Denis Diderot University (Paris 7, France), 1993 |
| B.S. General Biology | Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco, 1992 |
Training
Dr. Youssef Sari received his BS in General Biology and Cellular Biology. He then received his MS in Biomechanics and Physiology of Movement from Orsay University (Paris, France). He received his Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Pierre and Marie Curie University (Sorbonne University), Institute of Neurosciences (Paris, France). He subsequently held postdoctoral fellowship and faculty research positions at Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis and Bloomington, Indiana, where he gained experience in medical neurobiology and psychopharmacological sciences. Dr. Sari moved to The University of Toledo, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences to conduct his research in neuropharmacology of drug dependence and teach pharmacology to Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. He is also teaching pharmacology to medical students.
Scope of Practice
- 2017-present: Director of Graduate Program, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Toledo, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
- 2017-present: Vice Chair, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Toledo Health Science Campus, Toledo, Ohio.
- 2017-present: Professor (tenured), Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Toledo Health Science Campus, Toledo, Ohio.
- 2017-present: Professor (Joint appointment), Department of Medicinal and Biological Chemistry, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toledo Health Science Campus, Toledo, Ohio.
- 2019-present: Professor (Joint appointment) and Mission Director, Department of Medical Education, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo Health Science Campus, Toledo, Ohio.
Awards, Honors and Grants
- 2021 President's Award, Excellence in Creative and Scholarly Activity, The University of Toledo
- 2021 Nominated for the Outstanding Adviser Award, The University of Toledo
- 2020-2021 Fellow of Mid-American Conference- Academic Leadership Development Program. USA. https://www.utoledo.edu/offices/provost/mac-aldp/
- 2020 Nominated for the Outstanding Adviser Award, The University of Toledo
- 2019-2020 Listed as Top #2 Expert Worldwide in the field of Amino Acid Transport System X-AG by Expertscape Inc. http://expertscape.com/ex/glutamate+transporter
- 2019-2020 Listed as Top #1 Expert Worldwide in the field of Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 2 (EAAT2, GLT-1) by Expertscape Inc. http://expertscape.com/ex/excitatory+amino+acid+transporter+2
- 2019 Nominated for the Outstanding Adviser Award, The University of Toledo
- 2019 Outstanding Faculty Research and Scholarship Award, The University Of Toledo
- 2018-2019 University of Toledo Leadership Institute program, monthly workshop during the academic year 2018-2019.
- 2018 Travel Grant Award from the Foy & Phyllis Penn Kohler Fund for International Studies ($760), University of Toledo.
- 2017 Travel Grant Award from the Foy & Phyllis Penn Kohler Fund for International Studies ($1000), University of Toledo.