Welcome to Pharmacology, Toxicology & Neuroscience
What is Pharmacology?
Pharmacology is a biomedical science devoted to studying the mechanisms and effects of drug action. Elucidating these mechanisms requires an understanding of the various basic and biomedical sciences, such as chemistry and biochemistry, cell biology, anatomy, and physiology. The study of pharmacology is unique, in that pharmacologists use drugs and other chemicals to explore complex cellular and subcellular processes not previously understood. For more information on pharmacology, please browse the American Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics website.
Graduate study in pharmacology emphasizes training in research design and implementation to prepare students for challenging careers in industry, government, and academia.
Career Opportunities
Career opportunities are vast within the field of Pharmacology, Toxicology & Neuroscience. Many of our recent graduates have progressed to work as research scientists in academia and in the pharmaceutical industry, forensic toxicologists, university faculty, patent attorneys and biomedical engineers. Our program offers an enrichment series that familiarizes students with career paths and opportunities, and provides the tools to successfully navigate graduate school and beyond.
We also offer many research opportunities for high school, undergraduate, and medical students.
Graduate Program Information
Learn more about our graduate program in Pharmacology. The application period for the summer of 2025 will open in GradCAS on September 7. View our admission requirements.
Latest News from Pharmacology, Toxicology & Neuroscience
![Graduate Student of the Month for February, 2025]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1738791047/lsuhscshreveportedu/rxuxin6rj7zwueefiyor/AliciaThomasnews.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1738791047/lsuhscshreveportedu/rxuxin6rj7zwueefiyor/AliciaThomasnews.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1738791047/lsuhscshreveportedu/rxuxin6rj7zwueefiyor/AliciaThomasnews.png","width":520}])
The February 2025 School of Graduate Studies Student of the Month is Alicia Thomas in the Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology & Neuroscience.
![methamphetamine, courtesy of Getty Images]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1611588764/lsuhscshreveportedu/a2rxgyyoypxi3d38oidx/meth.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1611588764/lsuhscshreveportedu/a2rxgyyoypxi3d38oidx/meth.jpg","width":500}])
Red River Radio - LSUHS Dr. Shawn McNeil, Dr. Kevin Murnane and PhD candidate Frances Vest talk about addiction to methamphetamines, its prevalence, and a new clinical trial at LSUHS with psilocybin as a possible treatment.
![Xiaohong Lu, PhD photo in an office with desk and computer screens]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1722521736/lsuhscshreveportedu/r4smwifdgflahdbeo0xr/XiaohongLunews.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1722521736/lsuhscshreveportedu/r4smwifdgflahdbeo0xr/XiaohongLunews.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1722521736/lsuhscshreveportedu/r4smwifdgflahdbeo0xr/XiaohongLunews.png","width":520}])
Xiaohong Lu, PhD, Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Neuroscience, awarded a one-year $506,052 R56 grant from the NIH National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
![woman in a white coat]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1717776760/lsuhscshreveportedu/bzac4foazowmskvmwftb/NoelJacquetnews.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1717776760/lsuhscshreveportedu/bzac4foazowmskvmwftb/NoelJacquetnews.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1717776760/lsuhscshreveportedu/bzac4foazowmskvmwftb/NoelJacquetnews.png","width":520}])
The June 2024 School of Graduate Studies Student of the Month is Noel Jacquet in the Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, & Neuroscience.
![group of people standing and holding certificates]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1717447179/lsuhscshreveportedu/pkyqdurjbkqc44hjhtls/GradResearchDay24winnersnews.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1717447179/lsuhscshreveportedu/pkyqdurjbkqc44hjhtls/GradResearchDay24winnersnews.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1717447179/lsuhscshreveportedu/pkyqdurjbkqc44hjhtls/GradResearchDay24winnersnews.png","width":520}])
The Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology & Neuroscience was well represented at Graduate Research Day this year. Graduate Students, Clifton Haacker and Adesewa Akande were award recipients and alumnus, Madison ElSaadi, PhD was the featured speaker.
![nurse in blue coverings in hospital room]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1715267896/lsuhscshreveportedu/jjoi6x5ovy2vyrkmo5xu/hospitalmethnews.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1715267896/lsuhscshreveportedu/jjoi6x5ovy2vyrkmo5xu/hospitalmethnews.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1715267896/lsuhscshreveportedu/jjoi6x5ovy2vyrkmo5xu/hospitalmethnews.png","width":520}])
A new study led by researchers at LSU Health Shreveport recently published in JACC: Advances found there has been a drastic increase in cardiomyopathy - associated hospital admissions among methamphetamine users in the United States, as well as significant social and geographic disparities associated with these cases.
![drinks on a bar with text: "Alcohol Use Disorder"]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1715264900/lsuhscshreveportedu/rkpbkdfiwgerlvgvm3ox/alcoholnews.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1715264900/lsuhscshreveportedu/rkpbkdfiwgerlvgvm3ox/alcoholnews.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1715264900/lsuhscshreveportedu/rkpbkdfiwgerlvgvm3ox/alcoholnews.png","width":520}])
KTBS3 - Dr. Armando Salinas, LSUHS Assistant Professor of Pharmacology, Toxicology & Neuroscience, shares that a brain neurotransmitter called acetylcholine is intricately involved in changing or altering behaviors and could assist with alcohol use disorder.
![Dr. McMartin receiving award from Dr. Hartmut Jaeschke, president of the SOT Clinical and Translational Toxicology Specialty]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1712240296/lsuhscshreveportedu/iedy3p31axj21vyyu6cs/McMartinSOTAward.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1712240296/lsuhscshreveportedu/iedy3p31axj21vyyu6cs/McMartinSOTAward.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1712240296/lsuhscshreveportedu/iedy3p31axj21vyyu6cs/McMartinSOTAward.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1712240296/lsuhscshreveportedu/iedy3p31axj21vyyu6cs/McMartinSOTAward.jpg","width":903}])
Dr. Kenneth McMartin, Emeritus Professor of Pharmacology, Toxicology & Neuroscience, received the Career Achievement Award from the Clinical and Translational Toxicology Specialty Section of the Society of Toxicology.
![boy wearing scientist white coat standing in a laboratory]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1696528058/lsuhscshreveportedu/pptwzguccahahsjaldps/Biostart10423news.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1696528058/lsuhscshreveportedu/pptwzguccahahsjaldps/Biostart10423news.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1696528058/lsuhscshreveportedu/pptwzguccahahsjaldps/Biostart10423news.jpg","width":520}])
KTAL 6 - Southwood High School seniors get the opportunity to explore the medical field away from the classroom and in a lab with a mentor through the BioStart program at LSUHS.
![man wearing suit presenting to a large crowd of people in a conference center]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1712679101/lsuhscshreveportedu/l3qonnnqa37woc3zqppj/McMartinAACTAward2023.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1712679101/lsuhscshreveportedu/l3qonnnqa37woc3zqppj/McMartinAACTAward2023.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1712679101/lsuhscshreveportedu/l3qonnnqa37woc3zqppj/McMartinAACTAward2023.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1712679101/lsuhscshreveportedu/l3qonnnqa37woc3zqppj/McMartinAACTAward2023.png","width":1195}])
Dr. Kenneth McMartin received the Career Achievement Award from the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology (AACT) at the North American Congress of Clinical Toxicology (NACCT) meeting in Montreal, Canada on September 28, 2023.
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