Emory University School of Medicine
Emory University School of Medicine
Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology

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Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology

Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology

Welcome to Pharmacology and Chemical Biology

Haian Fu, PhD

We are proud to be celebrating 90 years of discovery, training, leadership, and impact!   

The leadership of past chairs  and the efforts of outstanding faculty and trainees have shaped our department into one of the leading pharmacology research and education programs in the nation. Our research has uncovered the molecular basis for the action of pharmacological agents and revealed actionable targets for new drug discovery. In addition, our faculty have impacted the growth and success of the pharmacology field by contributing five presidents of the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Biology (ASPET), and six Editors of ASPET journals. Our trainees have flourished across the nation and the world, becoming academic, industry, and government thought leaders, biomedical scientists and managers, and vibrant entrepreneurs.

Chair's Welcome


News Highlights

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Dr. Callie Wigington

Callie Wigington Honored with ​2025 Emory SOM Excellence in Innovation Award

Congratulations to Callie Wigington, PhD, Program Director of the Center for New Medicines and BDCI, who was honored with ​the 2025 Emory SOM Excellence in Innovation Award!


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Ivanov Lab Published Paper in JMC

Congratulations to the Ivanov lab group on their recent publication in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry titled, "Non-Catalytic Inhibitors of the p38/MK2 Interface: Repurposing Approved Drugs to Target Neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's Disease.”

This study reports the discovery of first-in-class small-molecule disruptors of the p38/MK2 protein–protein interaction, highlighting a novel therapeutic strategy for targeting neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s disease.

First author is Maylynn Hu and other authors include Andrew Li, Payton Fleming, Julia Gralla, Kristos Negrón Terón, Ying Zhou, Eric J. Miller, Tyler S. Beyett, Zhexing Wen, Yuhong Du, Haian Fu, and Andrey Ivanov.


headshot of woman, Dr. Lian Li
Dr. Lian Li

Dr. Lian Li Elected to American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET)​

Lian Li, PhD, Professor and Vice Chair of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, has been elected to American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET).​

​Selection as a Fellow of the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (FASPET) is an honor bestowed to our most distinguished members. Fellows are recognized for their meritorious efforts to advance pharmacology through their scientific achievements, mentorship, and service to the Society. ​​


Nicholas Varvel
Dr. Nicholas Varvel

Dr. Nick Varvel Co-Chair of Investigator Workshop

In December 2025, Nick Varvel, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, co-chaired the Investigator Workshop at the American Epilepsy Society Conference along with Dr. Amy Brewster of Southern Methodist University. The workshop was titled, Inflammation and Epilepsy: Unveiling Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets. 


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Left to right: Dr. Thomas Kukar and Dr. Wenming Li

Two Faculty Inducted into Emory MilliPub Club

Two faculty in Pharmacology and Chemical Biology were inducted into the Emory MilliPub Club for 2025: Dr. Thomas Kukar, Associate Professor, and Wenming Li, PhD, Instructor. The Emory MilliPub Club honors current Emory faculty who have published one or more individual papersthroughout their careers that have each garnered more than 1,000 citations.


Dr. Lian Li
Dr. Lian Li

Dr. Lian Li Honored for Two Awards During 2025 SOM Recognition Week

Lian Li, PhD, Professor and Vice Chair of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, received 2 awards during Emory School of Medicine Faculty Recognitions Week:

The 2025 Emory School of Medicine 1% Award for her grant, "Novel biomarkers and mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease". The Emory 1% Awards honors and recognizes faculty who have received study section scores in the top 1 percentile on a grant proposal. 

The 2025 Emory School of Medicine Mentoring Award. This honor is bestowed upon School of Medicine faculty members who have demonstrated outstanding mentoring and leadership to trainees or early-career faculty. Dr. Li was honored during the Celebration of Faculty Eminence Ceremony in October 2025.


Lih-Shen Chin, PhD
Dr. Lih-Shen Chin

Dr. Lih-Shen Chin Received 2025 SOM Hidden Gem Award.

Congratulations to Lih-Shen Chin, PhD, Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, for the 2025 SOM Hidden Gem Award.​ 

Emory SOM awards


Stephen Traynelis
Dr. Stephen F. Traynelis

Dr. Stephen F. Traynelis Elected to the National Academy of Medicine​

Congratulations to Dr. Stephen F. Traynelis for his election as a member of the National Academy of Medicine. Dr. Traynelis is a professor and dean’s eminent scholar in theDepartment of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology at Emory University School ofMedicine, and director of the Center for Functional Evaluation of Rare Variants. He is recognized for his leadership in glutamate receptor biology, the study of receptors forexcitatory neurotransmission. Their proper function is vital for brain processes likedevelopment, learning and memory. He developed first-in-class allosteric modulators ofglutamate receptors, an approach for treating various central nervous system disorders, aswell as advanced mechanistic understanding of synaptic transmission, epilepsy, neuroinflammation and ion channel-related genetic disorders. ​

Yuhong Du, PhD
Dr. Yuhong Du

Dr. Yuhong Du Named 2026 SLAS Fellow

Yuhong Du, PhD, Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, was named a fellow in the Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS). The SLAS Fellow Member Program launched in 2016 to recognize the exceptional contributions of SLAS’s most valued contributors. SLAS Fellow Members represent the epitome of SLAS as a mission-driven organization that focuses on serving life sciences professionals via practitioner-driven knowledge, education and peer-to-peer connections.


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Left to right: Dr. Yuhong Du and Dr. Jae Won Chang

Faculty Selected for the 2025 Emory SOM Researcher Appreciation Day​

Two Pharmacology and Chemical Biology were recognized during the 2025 Emory School of Medicine Researcher Appreciation Day: Yuhong Du, PhD, Associate Professor, and Jae Won Chang, PhD, Assistant Professor. Emory researchers are nominated by their peers and colleagues for their groundbreaking research, development of new technologies, and continued pursuit of novel and innovative ideas.​

​2025 Research Appreciation Day


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Clockwise from top left: Dr. Andrey Ivanov; Dr. Xiulei Mo; Dr. Stephen Traynelis; Dr. Yong Wan

Center for New Medicine Awards

Congratulations to Pharmacology and Chemical Biology awardees of the Center for New Medicines (CNM) Therapeutic Advancement Awards. ​Emory’s CNM announced the first cohort of therapeutic projects​. The Pharmacology and Chemical Biology recipients are:

Andrey Ivanov, PhD, Assistant Professor
Xiulei Mo, PhD, Assistant Professor
Stephen Traynelis, PhD, Professor
Yong Wan, PhD, Professor

​Emory News Center


Haian Fu, PhD
Dr. Haian Fu

Dr. Haian Fu New President-Elect of AMSPC

Haian Fu, PhD, Professor and Chair of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, has been selected by his peers as the new President-elect of the Association of Medical School Pharmacology Chairs (AMSPC). This is a great honor that is well deserved.​

​Dr. Fu will begin his service as AMSPC President next summer, June 2026.​

 


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Dr. Randy Hall

Dr. Randy Hall Elected ASPET President

Randy Hall began his term as President of ASPET on July 1, 2025.

Randy is the 6th member of our department to serve as ASPET President, more than any other university!

BRIMR

Emory PhCB Ranked Top 9 ​for NIH Funding 

Emory Pharmacology and Chemical Biology ranked number 9 ​for NIH Funding by the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research (BRIMR) 2024. Each year, the BRIMR publishes a ranking of U.S. academic institutions and health care systems based on the research funding they received from NIH the prior year. Congratulations ​to our faculty, staff, and trainees! 

Emory Report News Story


Department Events/Seminars

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