The office will provide centralized leadership for animal research, biosafety, chemical safety, laboratory safety, laboratory equipment, and the Animal Research Facility. It will also support both research and teaching laboratories and oversee the institution’s compliance with applicable federal and state requirements.

The IACUC and the Institutional Laboratory Safety and Biosafety Committee will be aligned with this office. The Lab Safety Officer, Animal Research Facility Manager and Veterinary Technician, and Attending Veterinarian will report to Dr. Singh in this capacity.

To support the College’s biosafety measures, Rachel Toshkoff has joined ACPHS as Laboratory Safety Officer. In her role, Rachel will oversee the maintenance of a safe and compliant environment for all activities involving biological materials, ensuring the protection of students, faculty, staff, the community and the environment. The Biosafety Program provides guidance and training to support the safe handling, storage, transportation, and disposal of biological agents and materials used in research and educational settings. Through established policies, risk assessment processes, and regulatory compliance, we promote a culture of safety and accountability across campus.

For the past decade, Rachel worked as a Health and Safety Specialist for the Department of Forensic Sciences in Washington, DC. She holds a BS in Forensic Science.

The creation of a new Institutional Biosafety Committee to oversee the lab’s safety needs has been formed with Nick O’Donnell serving as Chair of our committee. It also includes the following members:

• Rachel Toshkoff, Laboratory Safety Officer and Biological Safety Officer, ex-officio voting member
• Michelle Parent, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Allied Health Sciences, voting member
• Michelle Lewis, Executive Director of CBET, voting member
• Marcel Musteata, Associate Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences, voting member
• Mary Ellen Piche, unaffiliated community voting member
• Andrew Peifer, unaffiliated community voting member
• Shannon Magari, Colden Corporation, Biosafety Consultant, ex-officio non-voting member

The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs will remain in place, with Jo Carreno continuing to lead this area. ORSP will focus on the full lifecycle of sponsored and institutional research funding, including funding opportunities, proposal development and submission, post-award administration, sponsor compliance, internal research awards, and research dissemination activities. The team also includes Grants Administrator, Tiffany Catalfamo; Grants Accountant, Frank Stadtlander; and Administrative Specialist, Mel Quinlan.

ACPHS Interim Executive, Theresa Hand, said about these efforts, “This restructuring retains our existing staffing while realigning responsibilities to provide clearer ownership, stronger accountability, more effective risk management, and better support for our faculty and research programs.”

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Gimichi was one of only 27 pharmacy students from across the country chosen for the program.

Working with mentor from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), she and another student researcher explored HIV-associated cachexia and the potential role of cannabinoids in mitigating disease progression.

For Christine, HIV research hits home. More than 3 percent of the population of Kenya, her native country, is HIV positive.�� And stigma around the disease often shaped how people treated those living with it.

Over the summer months, her AACP SAS research team completed the literature search, identified relevant peer-reviewed articles for review and drafted a manuscript.

According to Christine, working on a research project with a professor who has expertise in a specific research area was a great opportunity. The mentorship component guided her through every stage of the research process from identifying a meaningful research question to conducting a comprehensive literature search, evaluating and organizing scientific evidence and developing a literature review.

“This experience has given me a much better understanding of what goes into conducting research and has strengthened my confidence in reading and interpreting scientific literature,” Christine said. “Dr. Joshi gave me insight into how research questions are developed and the importance of generating new knowledge to address unmet problems in healthcare and science.”

Christine also works with Dr. Vir Singh in his lab on HIV research, most recently on his latest research. This past June, Dr. Singh began exploring a novel approach to achieve sustained drug-free viral remission and a functional cure for HIV, commonly referred to as ‘Blocking and Locking of HIV.’ The work is supported by three-year, $493,213 National Institute of Health Research Enhancement Award grant, which allows undergraduate and graduate students like Christine to conduct hands-on biomedical research.

“We are actually working on ways to prevent or even give more people ways that you’re not replicating — in a way, silencing the virus. It doesn’t spread that idea of staying away from people. The virus itself is separate from that individual,” said Christine.

Christine would highly encourage other students to participate in the AACP SAS Summer Research Exchange Program. Now in its tenth year, the program provides student pharmacists an opportunity to participate in summer research projects. More than 100 students have been paired with mentors since the program began. Exchange program students have completed research projects, presented their results at conferences and published peer reviewed articles based on their work.

“For PharmD students who are interested in research, whether in academia, clinical research, or the pharmaceutical industry, this program is an excellent opportunity to strengthen critical thinking, scientific writing and collaboration with researchers from other institutions. It has been a rewarding experience that has helped me grow both professionally and personally.”

If interested, watch for the call for program applications that comes out during the spring semester.

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Here’s our annual compilation of time-honored institutional events and some fun festivities planned by the Office of Student Engagement and Leadership for Fall 2026.����

August��

On Thursday, August 27, join the campus community at the annual Involvement Fair in the Albert M. White Gymnasium from 5:30 – 7 pm. The popular event is co-sponsored by the Office of Student Engagement and Leadership and the Student Government Association. With more than 55+ clubs and professional organizations, this is a perfect opportunity to see where your interests fit best here.

After your first week of classes, gather your fellow classmates for Game Night in the South Hall Courtyard from 6-7 pm on Saturday, August 29. Join the RAs for lawn games, board games, and snacks! If rain is in the forecast, we’ll move to South Hall, first floor lounge.��

Finish off your week with a beach-themed ice cream social on Sunday, August 30 from 2-3 pm in the South Hall Recreation Room. The RAs are throwing and will bring the board games! 🏖️

September��

Be sure to cancel that alarm before bed on Sunday, September 6 since Monday is Labor Day and there are no classes – time to catch up on some sleep or explore parts of Albany including Lark Street, the Capital and Empire State Plaza, or do some shopping! FYI – Tuesday classes will follow a Monday schedule.��

Towards the end of September, ACPHS will host its time-honored White Coat Ceremony to welcome first-year Doctor of Pharmacy students into the initial stages of the pharmacy profession. The event takes place on Friday, September 25 at 4 pm in the gym. Alumna, Dr. Leigh Briscoe-Dwyer ’87 will be the keynote speaker.

In addition, we’ll host Family Fun Day on Saturday, September 26. Bring your family friends to campus to check out your dorm set up and explore the city. ��More details coming soon!

October��

Reunion Weekend kicks off Friday, October 2-3. All alumni are welcome to join the festivities including Alumni soccer and basketball games, an Alumni Awards Celebration Dinner, a Milestone Brunch, Alumni Spirit Night and more.

The Center for Student Success joins the Russell Sage College��Career and Self-Discovery Center to host the Career Expo on Tuesday, October 6, in the RSC Armory, from 11 am to 2 pm. This exciting new event is open to students and – in a first for ACPHS – alumni from both colleges. Find more information around campus and on Handshake.��

On Monday, October 12, there will be no classes in observance of Indigenous Peoples Day. Join ACPHS in honoring and recognizing the Indigenous inhabitants of the land where the campus now sits, specifically the Mohawk, Mohican, and Schaghticoke tribes.��

The American Pharmacist Association Academy of Student Pharmacists at ����vlog will host the Health and Wellness Expo at Crossgates Mall on Saturday, October 24 from 12-3 pm. The annual event is open to the entire community and will feature a variety of free services such as blood pressure screenings, flu shot clinics, bone density screenings, and much more.�� 🩺 😷

Also in October, our admissions team will host the first of two Open Houses for prospective students on October 17 in the Gozzo Center. The day provides an opportunity for students to tour campus, learn about academic programs, meet faculty, and attend sessions designed to help guide students on their interests.

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The second Open House will take place on Saturday, November 21 in the Gozzo Center. Stop by and share your ‘why’ with these prospective students.��

The campus will break from November 25-27 to honor the Thanksgiving holiday. ��Students are encouraged to rest in advance of finals week which will begin on December 7 and end on the 11th.����

And once the semester ends, there is an extended opportunity to recharge for the spring semester which won’t commence until Monday, January 19, 2026!��

To keep abreast of all events and opportunities, be sure to check out . Anything published with a panther paw and a gator claw will be open to all students.��

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Allow us to introduce Executive Chef Jonathan Woodrow. He’ll be overseeing the kitchen team under the leadership of Director of Dining Operations, Alisa Mathis-Peterson.

Chef Jonathan recently joined ����vlog as part of the Chartwells Compass USA team to oversee the big changes coming to the Gozzo Dining Hall. With culinary training from Schenectady County Community College’s renowned program and more than 30 years’ experience in the food industry with respected names like Mazzone Dining, Chef Jonathan is well poised to take on this new venture.

Does his name sound familiar to you? Chef Jonathan was formerly ACPHS Coach Woodrow and brought more than a decade of coaching experience to that post. He spent six seasons in different coaching capacities with the women’s soccer team.

In 2022, as head coach, the team capped a historic season by winning the USCAA Division II National Championship in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Entering the tournament as the sixth seed, the women’s team defeated conference rivals Paul Smith’s College and Southern Maine Community College in a dramatic shootout to claim the title.

He remembers the dark, 6 am team trainings scheduled to avoid conflicts with ACPHS labwork and classes. But most of all, he fondly recalls the energy and pride he felt as a coach.

Chef Jonathan spent this past summer refining menus and preparing the kitchen for the campus community’s return. With the impending Russell Sage merger, he’ll be serving up to a much bigger crowd. Capital Eats has designated dinners for both campuses��on the ACPHS campus, while the dining hall still remains a food option for Albany Law students.

The chef, who is also a private life and health coach, grew up around good food with a Jamaican mom. But he is also committed to healthy options for all students.

He quipped, “I always say, you can spend money on quality food or quality heathcare. It’s your choice.”

As a father with young adults of his own, he knows the discerning tastes of today’s students. They have grown up with innumerous food options, both from an access perspective and with diverse cuisines.

But he’s more than ready to show us what his team has in store. And he’s looking forward to a winning season at ����vlog!

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In January 2024, ACPHS rolled out an ambitious strategic plan roadmap at its annual State of the College Address including five strategic pillars that support our mission, vision and core values:

• Academic Excellence
• Quality Student Experience
• People and Culture
• Engaging with Communities
• Financial Strength & Stewardship��

Each pillar below includes SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-based) that will guide our actions in the years ahead. Altogether, there are 18 goals and 108 underlying objectives.

As the College enters year three of this plan, a new report featuring the progress of year two is now available.

〉〉��Strategic Plan Year Two Progress Report

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As America celebrates its 250th anniversary,������vlog contributed its story to the recognitions on the digital��AIHP Atlas of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical History. AIHP is the American Institute of the History of Pharmacy, based at the University of Wisconsin—Madison.

ACPHS appears among more than 2,500 key events in America’s pharmacy heritage cited on the atlas, located at�� Each of the virtual global map pins tells a bite-sized story. Zoom in on the map and learn about both scientific history and popular culture.

Located on the first floor of ACPHS’ O’Brien Building, the Throop Museum visualizes life more than a century ago. The various pieces in the collection combined with the prescription and business records kept by meticulous shopkeepers give a glimpse into life in rural America during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

History of the Throop Museum

The Throop Drug Store was established in 1800 in Schoharie, NY (40 miles SW of Albany), and run by the Throop family for the next 136 years. In 1938, ACPHS acquired the Throop Drugstore as an historical museum. It was moved to the College in its entirety where it was reconstructed using the original contents and materials that were available. It has remained a source of pride ever since.

To improve the facility and give it a prominent location, the Museum was moved to the first floor of the O’Brien Building in 2001. During the move, attention was given to maintain the integrity of the original structure. The tin ceiling, tile floor, and even the paint colors were thoroughly researched to ensure they were appropriate to the period.

The expanded Throop Museums includes collections of:

• Show globes
• Porcelain, wooden, and metal mortars and pestles
• An extensive collection of apothecary bottles and jars

Lee Anna Obos, RPh, is the curator of the��Throop Pharmacy Museum at the ����vlog.

Founded in 1881, ACPHS remains one of America’s��earliest schools��of pharmacy. It is consistently ranked for value and return-on-investment both in New York state and across the country.

Learn more by visiting the Throop Museum online.

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These grants support scholarly activity that expands knowledge within an investigator’s field. Projects may be scientific, clinical, historical, cultural, literary or interdisciplinary. The goal is to encourage research that results in peer-reviewed presentation, publications and successful application for external funding.��

“Each of these proposals offers a glimpse of the creative, forward-looking research being done by ACPHS faculty, and the College is glad to support it,” said Director of Research and Sponsored Projects, Joseph Carreno’10, PharmD, MPH. “These awards are intended not as an endpoint but as a launchpad, and we look forward to seeing how this seed investment grows into the next chapter of each researcher’s work.”��

Characterizing the Development of Antibiotic Resistance in Natural Environments��

Kelly Hallstrom, PhD, Life Sciences��

We all rely on antibiotics to treat everything from common infections like strep throat to more serious conditions like pneumonia. But bacteria continue to develop resistance to these lifesaving medications and contribute to the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).����

“AMR is so pressing that the World Health Organization lists it as a top threat to global public health that could cause an estimated 40 million deaths globally by 2050 without any significant changes,” said Dr. Hallstrom.��

In addition to needing new antibiotics, it is critical for us to understand the range of natural processes that lead to AMR, which this project addresses. While soil is known to be an important environment for the development of AMR, why this happens, especially in soil with limited human involvement, is not fully understood. Knowing how soil bacteria naturally develop AMR is important for developing better ways of using existing drugs and for developing new drugs that are less likely to exacerbate the problem. ��

Role of SAMD9 Protein in Flavivirus Replication��

Eric Yager, PhD, Life Sciences��

Though most infections are mild, mosquito-transmitted Zika and Dengue viruses can cause serious health issues such as birth defects, miscarriages, Guillain-Barré syndrome, dengue hemorrhagic fever, and death. An estimated 3-6 billion people live in regions globally suitable for Zika virus or Dengue virus transmission, making large-scale outbreaks a significant threat.��

Currently, there is no approved antiviral or vaccine for Zika. Though a Dengue vaccine exists, it is only recommended for children 9-16 years of age and it can increase the risk for severe disease and hospitalization in children who have no prior DENV infection.��

“Increased understanding of how human cells naturally defend themselves against Zika and Dengue virus infections has the potential to reveal new antiviral strategies and lay the foundation for future research aimed at developing host directed therapies against other emerging flaviviruses,” said Dr. Yager.����

Developing Endocannabinoid Biomarkers from Skin Surface for Eating Disorders��

Andy Zheng, PhD, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Ross Krawczyk, PhD, Life Sciences ��

Eating disorders (EDs) are characterized by disturbances in eating behavior and body image and have some of the highest mortality rates of all psychiatric disorders. They are primarily understood as psychiatric issues, but are heavily associated with metabolic disorders, either causatively or consequentially. ��

Endocannabinoids (eCBs) directly moderate appetite, reward circuits, and eating behavior. Circulating eCBs have been shown to be related to disordered eating in both animal models and human clinical trials.������

Establishing circulating eCBs as biomarkers will enable clinicians and patients to know their “endocannabinoid tone” and confirm their metabolic subtypes/disorder, so personalized therapies can be prescribed more precisely for optimized clinical outcomes.     ��

Researchers, clinicians, and patients would benefit from a better understanding of the relationship between eCBs and EDs and using validated lipidomic methods to study more similar biomarkers for related diseases.����

“We have been doing endocannabinoid research for years at ����vlog,” said Dr. Zheng. “This translational collaboration is timely and needed to confirm our hypothesis by clinical diagnosis with practical approach, to guide proper, precise and personalized usage of cannabinoid-based products, including identifying the populations and individuals that are not suitable for cannabis-use, because it can worsen their condition with additional risks.”����

Read the full research abstracts below.

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The event serves as a vehicle for��facilitating��inter-disciplinary collaborations and provides students with the opportunity to build and grow a professional network of research peers that will serve them well throughout their time at ����vlog and beyond.

Following this event, the College was pleased to share the recipients of the 2026 ACPHS Student Research Award Program (SRAP) designed to promote student engagement in diverse research and scholarly activities; encourage mentoring relationships between students and faculty; and provide students with practical research skills and experience.

“We are excited by the breadth of this year’s funded projects — from basic and applied scientific research to work in the humanities — and by the meaningful mentoring relationships these awards will help cultivate,” said Director of Research and Sponsored Projects, Joseph Carreno ’10, PharmD.

This year’s cohort represents a versatile range of projects spanning the sciences and humanities, including:

• Eric Gayne, Microbiology with Dr. Tim Larocca

Effects of ginsenoside 20(S)-Protopanaxadiol on the hyperglycemic shift of apoptosis to necroptosis

• Donovan Gioia, Microbiology and Molecular Biosciences with Dr. Vir Singh

Induction of NRF2 signaling by RTA-408 may allow differential regulation of NF-kB and interferon signaling pathways and control HIV latency

• Nytik Jaiswal, Public Health with Dr. Stacy Pettigrew

Measuring the Urban Heat Island Effect and the Impact of Tree Cover

• Samantha Lozier, Biotechnology with Dr. Binshan Shi

Impact of Biological Factors on Host Innate Immune Response by Regulating Cell-to-Cell Transmission of HIV-1

• Dylan Mattison, Pharmaceutical Sciences with Dr. Marcel Musteata

Development of Microextraction Probes for In Vivo Analysis of Pembrolizumab

• Julie Park, Health Sciences, with Dr. Maria Rovito

History of Laparoscopic Technology and its Application to Endometriosis

• Fabiana Pinos Sarmiento, Pharmaceutical Sciences with Dr. Kideok Jin

CCL5 and Engolin as Therapeutic Targets in ER positive Breast Cancer

• Benjamin Rounds, Microbiology and Molecular Biosciences with Dr. Payel Datta

Production and Analysis of Purified Recombinant Cas9 Nuclease

• Kacia Scott, Microbiology and Molecular Biosciences with Dr. Anne McCabe

Exploring Molecular Mechanisms of Collateral Sensitivity in Gentamicin-Resistant Klebisella pneumoniae

Read about all of the s from both the 2025 and 2026 symposiums.

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GARDP is an international nonprofit organization established by WHO and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative to address the global threat of antimicrobial resistance. They work with governments, academic institutions, industry and global health partners to advance and accelerate the development of, and access to, innovative treatments for serious drug-resistant bacterial infections.��Its portfolio includes the global Phase 3 development program for the novel antibiotic zoliflodacin, as well as initiatives focused on neonatal sepsis and pediatric antibiotic development.��

The SAC comprises��scientists with internationally recognized experts in infectious diseases, microbiology, and related disciplines. The committee provides independent scientific and medical guidance to GARDP’s Board and leadership, helping to evaluate research and development priorities, assess ongoing programs, and inform strategic direction.��

“I am honored by the opportunity to contribute to this important work and to represent ACPHS through this external international service role,” said Lodise. ��

An internationally recognized expert in antimicrobial resistance (AMR), pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD), health economics and outcomes research, comparative effectiveness, and advanced clinical trial design, he is also the Rudolph and Dorothy Blythe Endowed Research Chair for Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at ����vlog.����

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