VETERINARY PHYSIOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY (VTPP)

VTPP is a multidisciplinary basic science department that strives to shape the future of research and education in human and veterinary medicine. Research in VTPP is expansive and incorporates excellence in toxicology, cardiovascular biology, regenerative sciences, bone biology, reproductive and developmental biology, and pharmacology. The cooperation among the various departments within the VMBS and the Texas A&M University scientific community produces an unparalleled research and teaching environment.

VTPP faculty are integral to many of the leading research centers both on and off the Texas A&M University campus. VTPP faculty are members of the Interdisciplinary Faculties of Toxicology, Genetics, and Reproductive Biology. VTPP is also home to the Texas A&M Superfund Research Center, the Michael E. DeBakey Institute for Cardiovascular Science and Biomedical Devices and the foundational basis for the Aggie Research Program.

VTPP boasts a scientific community that fosters excellence in teaching and research to train the next generation of biomedical professionals through the concerted efforts of faculty, students, and staff. VTPP affirms and supports many different dimensions of diversity and is fully committed to ensuring a climate of inclusion where all our faculty, students, and staff are empowered to achieve their full potential. Collaboration is the essence of the VTPP faculty and drives our commitment to excellence in a highly interactive, collaborative, and multidisciplinary teaching and research environment.

In 2021, 60 peer-reviewed publications appeared in PubMed and 41 extramural grant submissions with 4 awarded.

Highlights from FY22 include:

Faculty

• Dr. Annie Newell-Fugate was presented with the Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences 2022 Richard H. Davis Award

• VTPP welcomed four new faculty: Dr. Ivan Rusyn, Dr. Weston Porter, Dr. Tim Phillips, and Dr. Weihsueh Chiu (originally in VIBS) and leadership of the VMBS Interdisciplinary Toxicology Program to VTPP

School

• VTPP welcomed a new group of outstanding Adjunct Faculty approved by VTPP faculty and the Office of Faculty Affairs: Dr. George Daston, Dr. Peter Friedman, Dr. Dana Gaddy, Dr. Valerie Ryder and Dr. Fred Wright

Departmental

• Kalen Johnson was 2021 VTPP Graduate Student of the Year

• Mr. Jeff Bray was the 2021 VTPP Staff Member of the Year

• Dr. Mike Golding was the 2021 VTPP Faculty Mentor of the Year

• VTPP website continues to gather traction and increased hits: https://physiology.tamu.edu

• VTPP Teaching Tuesday initiated with the goal to begin to “brand” VTPP teaching and highlight the expertise that exists in VTPP at the UG, graduate and professional teaching levels

• Dr. Chris Quick, PI and Dr. Marissa Cisneros (Co-I) were awarded an NIH R25 (1R25MH129792-01) entitled “Cultivating a sustainable neuroscience research-intensive community to build equity”

• Ms. Kirby Sherman (VTPP PhD candidate) was awarded an NIH F31 entitled “Investigating injury response and bone regeneration in down syndrome mouse models”