Pharmaceutical Sciences
About the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Pharmaceutical Science is an interdisciplinary field of applied sciences pertaining to the design, synthesis, action, delivery, manufacturing, disposition, and evaluation of drugs. The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences consists of about 25 PhD faculty members with expertise in pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, pharmaceutics, medicinal chemistry, molecular biology, immunology, biochemistry, microbiology, physiology, as well as the social and behavioral sciences. All faculty members are involved in classroom and/or laboratory instruction in the four-year professional pharmacy (PharmD) curriculum and graduate instruction with research. Pharmaceutical sciences faculty work together with clinical faculty in highly integrated courses as well as participate in other research/scholarship endeavors.
The department has active researchers with funding from the NIH, FDA, DoD, several State and National Foundations, and the pharmaceutical industry. The research spans the areas of cancer, diabetes, opioid/cannabinoids, drug delivery systems and formulations, manufacturing sciences, epigenetics, nanotechnology, 3D printing and emerging technologies among others. Research is performed in the Rangel School of Pharmacy laboratories in Kingsville and College Station.
Pharmaceutical Science Facilities
At the Kingsville location, the third floor of Rangel College of Pharmacy is designated primarily for the research which houses 12 faculty offices and laboratories with sizes ranging from approximately 470 to 780 square feet, a common core equipment laboratory, a freezer room, cold room, a computer server room and storage room and administrative offices. Additional space is in adjacent buildings (Kleberg Hall 7,200 square feet, Rhode Hall 1,170 square feet). The department also maintains an AALAAC-accredited state-of-the-art 5000 sq ft vivarium for research with animals in Kingsville campus.
On the College Station campus, about 27,000 square feet of space in the Reynolds Medical Building has been designated for the RCOP. This space houses 12 offices, an active learning laboratory, a sterile products and a compounding laboratory, 12 faculty research laboratories, a new state-of-the-art good manufacturing practice (GMP) facility with almost all the modern equipment for development and evaluation of dosage forms. Separate facilities exist for manufacturing, quality control, stability, and bioequivalence studies. The list of equipment essentially includes state-of-the-art manufacturing, analytical, on-line PAT sensors, near-infrared, FTIR, XRD, chemical imaging, confocal microscopy, Gas and liquid chromatographies with mass spectrometers, thermogravimetric analyzer, differential scanning calorimeters, microscopes, several cell-culture facilities, viscometer/rheometer, microfluidizer, freezers and stability chambers, dissolution and permeability equipment in addition to several basic science equipment in individual faculty laboratories. Please browse through the individual faculty bios to see the research in the department.
Mission
The mission of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences is to provide exemplary teaching, research and service in the pharmaceutical sciences.
The department offers an excellent education and training program through an integrated curriculum designed to develop lifelong learners who are independent and competent pharmacists. The department is committed to strong, integrated and cross-disciplinary biomedical research programs in translational research aimed at facilitating drug discovery and development as well as creating novel drug delivery systems. Other faculties perform research that evaluates pharmaceutical treatment paradigms as well as health-related service outcomes. Through these efforts, the department is dedicated to advancing pharmacy practice and pharmaceutical research.
Vision
The faculty in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences with its collaborative research in a comprehensive university will be a national and international leader in pharmaceutical sciences by achieving excellence in research, teaching and service to enhance the quality of life of the citizens of Texas and beyond.
Goals
- Develop a highly sought after pharmaceutical development center with State-of-the-Art facility to translate academic discoveries to therapeutically effective formulations.
- Increase and improve the overall quality of biomedical research
- Recruit and retain a distinguished and diverse faculty and staff
- Develop and maintain a vital, supportive and collegial research environment.
- Increase awareness of the contributions made by the department to health-related issues of regional and global importance.
- Seek competitive research funding from federal and State Agencies, foundations, Industry,
- Strengthen the scientific, economic and societal impact of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences' discoveries, innovations and achievements.
- Establish collaborative research projects within the Texas A&M Health Science Center, Texas A&M and beyond (Global Institute of Hispanic Health, Healthy South Texas, TAMU ASCEND Grants)
- File patent applications to secure intellectual property.
- Continue to improve the quality of teaching and develop innovative approaches to classroom instruction and student assessment
Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty
Kingsville Campus
Dr. Fadi Khasawneh
Department Head of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Dr. Khasawneh's bio
Dr. Juan J. Bustamante
Instructional Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Interim Director of Admissions
Dr. Bustamante's bio
Dr. Charles Douglas
Interim Director of Assessment
Instructional Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Dr. Douglas' bio
Dr. Ke Huang
Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Dr. Huang's bio
Dr. Sai Sudha Koka
Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Dr. Koka's bio
Dr. Narendra Kumar
Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences &
Interim Director of Graduate Studies
Dr. Kumar's bio
Dr. Dai Lu
Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Dr. Lu's bio
Dr. Jayshree Mishra
Research Associate Professor
Dr. Mishra's bio
Dr. Mohammad T. Nutan
Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Dr. Nutan's bio
Dr. Srinath Palakurthi
Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Dr. Palakurthi's bio
Dr. Jeremy Wood
Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Dr. Wood's bio
Dr. Wood's Lab
Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Dr. Zhu's bio
College Station Campus
Dr. Hamed I. Ali
Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Dr. Ali's bio
Dr. Joy Alonzo
Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Dr. Alonzo's bio
Dr. Mitchell Barnett, PharmD, MS
Instructional Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Dr. Barnett's bio
Dr. Mahua Choudhury
Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Dr. Choudhury's bio
Dr. Chendil Damodaran
Associate Dean of Research and Innovation
Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Dr. Damodaran's bio
Dr. Mansoor Khan
Dean of the Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy
Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
University Distinguished and Regents Professor
Dr. Khan's bio
Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Dr. Ziyaur Rahman
Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Dr. Rahman's bio
Professor of Pharamceutical Sciences
Interim Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President, Texas A&M Health
Dr. Samikkannu Thangavel
Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Dr. Ashish Tytagi
Research Assistant Professor
Dr. Tytagi's bio
Dr. Yinan Wei
Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Dr. Wei's bio
Dr. Erxi Wu
Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Dr. Wu's bio
Dr. Shiqing Xu
Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Joint Appointment: Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Shiqing Xu's bio
Dr. Lixian Zhong
Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Dr. Zhong's bio
Dr. Fadi Khasawneh
Professor & Departmental Head for Pharmaceutical Sciences
Pharmacy - Instruction
Phone: 361.221.0755 | Fax: 361.221.0793
fkhasawneh@tamu.edu | Dr. Fadi Khasawneh's bio
Dalia Cavazos, BGS
Executive Assistant I - Pharmacy - Academic Support
Phone: 361.221.0731 | Fax: 361.221.0793
dgcavazos@tamu.edu
Samantha Jo Ruiz
Administrative Coordinator I - Pharmacy - Instruction
Phone: 361.221.0732 | Fax: 361.221.0793
sjruiz@email.tamu.edu
Midwest Platelet Conference 2026
Texas A&M University — College of Pharmacy | Pharmaceutical Sciences
📅 October 7–9, 2026 | 📍 Corpus Christi, TX — Omni Hotel Downtown Corpus Christi
We are excited to host the 20th Biennial Midwest Platelet Conference 2026 in Corpus Christi as the Texas A&M University College of Pharmacy!
The Midwest Platelet Conference (MPC) is a biennial forum to showcase the latest, cutting edge basic, clinical, and translational research related to these amazing cells! In honor of the milestone 20th edition of this conference, this meeting will showcase the incredible breadth of platelet research, ranging from platelet signaling and metabolism to the role of platelets in disease to recent technological advances and pharmaceutical development. The exciting program will feature invited presentations, poster and oral presentations selected from the submitted abstracts, and special events! Stayed tuned for more information!
About the Conference
- Origins: The MPC developed out of joint lab meetings between groups in Chicago, Madison, and Milwaukee. It has since grown into one of the largest platelet-oriented conferences in the nation, drawing physicians, scientists, and students to advance research on platelet biology, thrombosis, and cardiovascular diseases.
- Format: This biennial conference features invited presentations, oral and poster abstract sessions, a career development session, and special events to promote networking.
- Audience: Physicians, scientists, and students working in platelet biology and related fields.
Focus Areas
Past Conference Hosts
| Year | Institution | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | University of Chicago & Michael Reese Hospital | Chicago, IL |
| 1988 | The Blood Center of Southeastern Wisconsin | Milwaukee, WI |
| 1989 | University of Wisconsin | Madison, WI |
| 1991 | University of Minnesota | Minneapolis, MN |
| 1993 | Mayo Clinic | Rochester, MN |
| 1996 | University of Illinois | Chicago, IL |
| 1998 | University of Tennessee & St. Jude's Children's Hospital | Memphis, TN |
| 2000 | Cleveland Clinic | Cleveland, OH |
| 2002 | Washington University St. Louis | St. Louis, MO |
| 2004 | The Blood Center of Southeastern Wisconsin | Milwaukee, WI |
| 2006 | University of Illinois | Chicago, IL |
| 2008 | University of Kentucky | Lexington, KY |
| 2010 | University of North Carolina | Chapel Hill, NC |
| 2012 | Cleveland Clinic & Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland, OH |
| 2014 | University of Illinois | Chicago, IL |
| 2016 | University of Tennessee | Memphis, TN |
| 2018 | Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation | Oklahoma City, OK |
| 2022 | University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI |
| 2024 | University of Kentucky | Lexington, KY |