College of Pharmacy News

College of Pharmacy Dean Sam Poloyac participated in a panel discussion from the 2023 Texas Leadership Society Luncheon on The University of Texas at Austin's bold pursuits in health and well-being. The discussion was moderated by UT President Jay Hartzell.

Jurata Thin Film, a startup based on the research discoveries of the College of Pharmacy's Maria Croyle, Ph.D., a professor in the Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, is listed as a finalist in the 2023 SXSW Innovation Awards in Patient Safety. Researchers in Dr. Croyle's lab have developed a peelable lightweight film that stabilizes biologics, is inexpensive and withstands extreme temperature changes. Jurata Thin Film works to bring Dr. Croyle's thin film technology to market.

Two of the college's distinguished faculty in the Division of Health Outcomes and Division of Pharmacy Practice were recommended for promotion by President Hartzell due to their outstanding accomplishments in research, outreach and education. Dr. Tish Moczygemba will assume the rank of professor and Dr. Kristin Janzen will become a clinical associate professor.

The newly-created UT Seed Fund, which will provide funds to the most promising new startups built on university-owned intellectual property, will first invest in Jurata Thin Film, a startup based on the research discoveries of the College of Pharmacy's Maria Croyle, Ph.D., a professor in the Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery. Founded in 2019, Jurata has revolutionized the way vaccines and biologics are manufactured, distributed, stored and delivered across the world.

Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery professor Maria A. Croyle, Ph.D. earned this year's Best Paper Award from the University Co-op Research Excellence Awards, presented by UT's Office of the Vice President for Research, Scholarship and Creative Endeavors and the University Co-operative Society.

The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) has released its grant research funding awards for the upcoming year. All three awarded research projects at The University of Texas at Austin involve College of Pharmacy faculty.

P4 students, Megan Yeung, Kami Johnston and Morgan Murchison co-author a peer-reviewed blog in Pulses encouraging educators to adapt to reflect the specific needs of people who use drugs and patients with substance use disorders. This blog also highlights UT Pharmacy as a U.S. leader in substance use disorder and harm reduction education for Pharm.D. students.

From student scholarships to national recognition awards to prestigious appointments, the UT Pharmacy community has a lot to celebrate and be proud of right now.

Tara Law from Time writes about how few pharmacies carry buprenorphine, a life-saving drug to help treat opioid use disorder (OUD). Lucas Hill, Pharm.D., BCACP, director of the college's Pharmacy Addictions Research & Medicine (PhARM) program, offers his insight on the issue, and how the DEA's crackdown of the drug puts OUD patients at risk.

Dr. Diane Ginsburg has been appointed to the Provost’s Distinguished Service Academy for her excellence in mentorship and demonstrated mastery across scholarship, teaching, leadership and service.