Faculty & Staff - Pharmacology & Toxicology

Administrative Staff

  • Mirna Benhamou wearing a necklace and collared top.

    Mirna Benhamou

    Senior Administrative Program & Division Coordinator, Pharmacology & Toxicology

  • Gayla Goodman smiling in an outdoor setting

    Gayla Goodman

    Senior Administrative Associate, Pharmacology & Toxicology

  • Michelle Lee wearing glasses and smiling.

    Michelle Lee

    Senior Research Program Coordinator, The Center for Molecular Carcinogenesis & Toxicology and Training Grant

  • Steph Scott wearing tortoiseshell glasses and smiling.

    Stephanie Scott

    Administrative Program Coordinator, Pharmacology & Toxicology

Division Head

  • Karen Vasquez Profile Pic

    Karen Vasquez, Ph.D.

    Division Head and Professor of Pharmacology & Toxicology

    Jaime N. Delgado Endowed Chair in Pharmacy

Professional Track Research Faculty

Incoming Faculty - Spring 2027

Juliana Hofstatter Azambuja, Ph.D.

Juliana Yerneni smiling in an indoor setting

Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Email: juliana.hofstatterazambuja@austin.utexas.edu 

My research program integrates neuroscience, immunology, and cancer biology to understand how interactions among tumor cells, the immune system, and the brain shape pediatric and adult high-grade gliomas. We translate these insights into targeted therapies designed to overcome treatment resistance and improve antitumor responses, with rigorous preclinical evaluation of efficacy and safety.

Current projects explore complementary strategies, including immunotherapies that engineer microglia and macrophages to recognize and attack tumors, studies of how myeloid cell origins and functions influence tumor progression, and therapies targeting signaling pathways within the brain that support tumor growth. 

Affiliate & Adjunct Faculty

Acosta, Daniel, Ph.D.

Dominguez, Juan, Ph.D.

Donegan, Jennifer, Ph.D.

Frazer, Alan, Ph.D.

Gonzalez-Lima, Francisco, Ph.D.

Marinelli, Michela, Ph.D.

Messing, Robert O., M.D.

Mihic, John S., Ph.D.

Person, Maria, Ph.D.

Phillips, Tracie, Ph.D.

Powers, John, Ph.D.

Villanacci, John, Ph.D.

Retired and Emeritus Faculty

Duvauchelle, Christine L., Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Retired
duvauchelle@mail.utexas.edu

Erickson, Carlton K., Ph.D.

Professor Emeritus of Pharmacy
carl.erickson@austin.utexas.edu

Fineg, Jerry, D.V.M.

James T. Doluisio Regents Professor Emeritus
Professor Emeritus of Pharmacology & Toxicology
j.fineg@utexas.edu

Gonzales, Rueben A., Ph.D.

Professor Emeritus of Pharmacology & Toxicology
rgonzales@austin.utexas.edu

Leslie, Steven, Ph.D.

Professor of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Retired
Former Dean of the College of Pharmacy
Former Provost of The University of Texas at Austin
sleslie@austin.utexas.edu

Wilcox, Richard E., Ph.D.

James T. Doluisio Centennial Fellowship Professor Emeritus in Pharmacy
wilcoxrich@austin.utexas.edu

Faculty