At CU Pharmacy, we’re training scientists who make an impact. Our doctoral program in pharmaceutical sciences is focused on solving problems. In particular, the program covers the formulation, synthesis, manufacturing, development, stability, biophysical analysis, characterization, delivery, and biodistribution of small molecules and biopharmaceutical agents.
Our goals are to provide the best training for students interested in pursuing careers in biopharmaceutical drug development; conduct high-quality research relevant to pharmaceutical biotechnology; offer innovative educational programs; and to support the biopharmaceutical industry, especially in Colorado.
Here, you’ll have access to a wide range of researchers and research equipment; cross-training with chemical engineers; essential non-scientific training in regulatory affairs, business topics and pharmacoeconomics; experience with real world compounds and research and development problems; and interaction with industry scientists.
We have a strong track record of setting our students up for success. Graduates of our program have advanced into successful careers as senior scientists in the pharmaceutical industry and academia. We’re here to make sure you have the training you need to pursue a career in drug and biopharmaceutical discovery, development or clinical optimization.
As part of the CU Anschutz Graduate School, all PhD students in good academic standing are guaranteed financial support.
All regular full-time departmental faculty in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences are formal members of the pharmaceutical sciences graduate program and can take students into their laboratories if appropriate.
On average, students in this program earn their PhDs in 5.5 years.
Applications for all doctoral programs are submitted electronically through the Graduate School of the University of Colorado Denver. After signing up for an account, select 'PhD' under the 'Academic Interests' menu and scroll down to 'Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences' and select "PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences."
Application requirements are:
Additionally:
Application opens September 1, 2024. Applications will not be reviewed until all required materials have been received. The application deadline for Fall 2025 admission is December 1, 2024 for all students.
Admission to the program includes financial support via a stipend awarded on a 12-month basis. Based on the rules of the CU Anschutz Graduate School, all PhD students in good academic standing are guaranteed financial support.
Although a priority of the School of Pharmacy is to provide financial support to our graduate students, payment of stipend, tuition and any fees by the School of Pharmacy or by grants, contracts or gifts to the School of Pharmacy faculty is contingent upon satisfactory academic progress (as defined by the graduate school’s Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Student Handbook) and completion of required teaching duties, core courses, research rotations, seminars, and examinations (as listed on the progress report form). We also reserve the right to review and adjust our funding policies at any time. All students are expected to work full-time toward program requirements for 12 months of the year.
PHSC 7310 | Fundamentals of Pharmaceutical Sciences | 3 credits |
PHSC 7320 | Physical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences | 3 credits |
PHSC 7400 | Ethical Issues in Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Sciences | 1 credit |
PHSC 7650 | Research Rotation in Pharmaceutical Sciences (two required) | 1 credit |
PHSC 7568 | Seminar in Pharmaceutical Sciences (each semester) | 1 credit |
PHSC 7330 | Development of Drugs and Biologics | 2 credits |
PHSC 8990 | Doctoral Thesis | ≥30 credits |
PHSC 7608 | Molecular Interactions | 3 credits |
PHSC 7609 | Biophysics and Spectroscopy | 2 credits |
PHSC 7651/CHEN 5838 | Pharmaceutical Biotechnology | 3 credits |
PHSC 7345 | Nanotechnology and Drug Delivery | 2 credits |
PHSC 7353 | Protein Formulation | 2 credits |
PHSC 7660 | Liposome-based Drug Delivery | 2 credits |
PHSC 7665 | Pharmacokinetic Principles and Applications | 3 credits |
Through the pharmaceutical sciences graduate program, our goal is to educate pre-doctoral students to develop independent research careers in pharmaceutical sciences with a basic, clinical or pharmaceutical outcomes emphasis. Upon completion of the graduate program, our students use their training to make a difference in academia, industry or government. The learning objectives for the graduate program are:
The following are specific rules approved by the graduate faculty of the School of Pharmacy for graduate studies leading to doctor of philosophy degree in toxicology. All other requirements for these degrees will follow the guidelines of the Graduate School, which can be found in the Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Student Handbook. The student carries the major responsibility of meeting the rules of the School of Pharmacy and the Graduate School. Failure to meet the following rules and guidelines may result in delay of graduation.
Email Address:tom.anchordoquy@cuanschutz.edu
Primary Phone:303-724-6113
Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Building
12850 East Montview Boulevard
Lab: V20-4440A
Office: V20-4120
Aurora, CO 80045
I joined the faculty at the CU School of Pharmacy in 1998, and my early work focused on the stability of lipid-DNA complexes during freezing, drying, and storage. In attempting to assess “recovery” of these new pharmaceutical entities, I became interested in the mechanism by which they facilitated delivery to target cells after systemic delivery. We soon recognized that the exposure of particles to serum proteins caused massive aggregation that resulted in accumulation in the lung. In an attempt to avoid the use of PEGylated components, we used high cholesterol levels to impart resistance to protein-induced perturbations. In addition to imparting stability, we documented that cholesterol forms phase-separated lipid domains within our particles that offer an optimal location for targeting ligands. Our more recent work demonstrated that these particles were being avidly taken up by circulating immune cells that elicited a potent cytokine response upon intravenous injection. After expending considerable effort attempting to evade the immune response (with little success), we have shifted our focus toward exploiting the immunogenicity of particles to limit off-target accumulation of nanomedicines and promote tumor regression. For the past decade, we have also been studying exosomes as nature’s method of delivering nucleic acids to cells. While our initial work aimed to hijack exosomes as a delivery vehicle, we have found little value in this approach. In addition to these projects, my lab is constantly involved in multiple formulation studies (anticancer cream, eye drops, parenterals, ointments, injectable sustained release systems) that utilize small molecules to treat a variety of conditions.
2023 - Excellence in Pharmaceutical Sciences Doctoral Teaching Award
2023 - Chancellor’s Teaching Recognition Award
Isabella Jaramillo
Email: Isabella.Jaramillo@cuanschutz.edu
Phone: 303.724.7263
Email Address:tom.anchordoquy@cuanschutz.edu
Primary Phone:303-724-6113
Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Building
12850 East Montview Boulevard
Lab: V20-4440A
Office: V20-4120
Aurora, CO 80045
I joined the faculty at the CU School of Pharmacy in 1998, and my early work focused on the stability of lipid-DNA complexes during freezing, drying, and storage. In attempting to assess “recovery” of these new pharmaceutical entities, I became interested in the mechanism by which they facilitated delivery to target cells after systemic delivery. We soon recognized that the exposure of particles to serum proteins caused massive aggregation that resulted in accumulation in the lung. In an attempt to avoid the use of PEGylated components, we used high cholesterol levels to impart resistance to protein-induced perturbations. In addition to imparting stability, we documented that cholesterol forms phase-separated lipid domains within our particles that offer an optimal location for targeting ligands. Our more recent work demonstrated that these particles were being avidly taken up by circulating immune cells that elicited a potent cytokine response upon intravenous injection. After expending considerable effort attempting to evade the immune response (with little success), we have shifted our focus toward exploiting the immunogenicity of particles to limit off-target accumulation of nanomedicines and promote tumor regression. For the past decade, we have also been studying exosomes as nature’s method of delivering nucleic acids to cells. While our initial work aimed to hijack exosomes as a delivery vehicle, we have found little value in this approach. In addition to these projects, my lab is constantly involved in multiple formulation studies (anticancer cream, eye drops, parenterals, ointments, injectable sustained release systems) that utilize small molecules to treat a variety of conditions.
2023 - Excellence in Pharmaceutical Sciences Doctoral Teaching Award
2023 - Chancellor’s Teaching Recognition Award
Email Address:tom.anchordoquy@cuanschutz.edu
Primary Phone:303-724-6113
Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Building
12850 East Montview Boulevard
Lab: V20-4440A
Office: V20-4120
Aurora, CO 80045
I joined the faculty at the CU School of Pharmacy in 1998, and my early work focused on the stability of lipid-DNA complexes during freezing, drying, and storage. In attempting to assess “recovery” of these new pharmaceutical entities, I became interested in the mechanism by which they facilitated delivery to target cells after systemic delivery. We soon recognized that the exposure of particles to serum proteins caused massive aggregation that resulted in accumulation in the lung. In an attempt to avoid the use of PEGylated components, we used high cholesterol levels to impart resistance to protein-induced perturbations. In addition to imparting stability, we documented that cholesterol forms phase-separated lipid domains within our particles that offer an optimal location for targeting ligands. Our more recent work demonstrated that these particles were being avidly taken up by circulating immune cells that elicited a potent cytokine response upon intravenous injection. After expending considerable effort attempting to evade the immune response (with little success), we have shifted our focus toward exploiting the immunogenicity of particles to limit off-target accumulation of nanomedicines and promote tumor regression. For the past decade, we have also been studying exosomes as nature’s method of delivering nucleic acids to cells. While our initial work aimed to hijack exosomes as a delivery vehicle, we have found little value in this approach. In addition to these projects, my lab is constantly involved in multiple formulation studies (anticancer cream, eye drops, parenterals, ointments, injectable sustained release systems) that utilize small molecules to treat a variety of conditions.
2023 - Excellence in Pharmaceutical Sciences Doctoral Teaching Award
2023 - Chancellor’s Teaching Recognition Award