University at Buffalo Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

There’s science for science’s sake. Then there’s science driven to discover solutions to society’s most pressing health challenges. 🔬

Here at the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, it's the latter.

“The concept of aligning our work with societal need is really something that has been part of the culture in our school for a long time,” says Gary Pollack, PhD, dean, SPPS. “Our faculty are involved in a wide range of research. What’s different here is that it’s always approached with first asking, ‘How is this going to be a building block that will impact patient care?’"

By focusing research on emerging health priorities, fostering collaboration and embedding these values in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences education, UB SPPS is turning innovation into real-world impact—intentionally moving research into practice. 🥼

Read the full story at bit.ly/4dKC8Nb

SPPS is helping reduce hypertension in the community! 💙

During spring semester, the UB chapter of the Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) hosted a public outreach event at Neighborhood Health Center Mattina in Buffalo to support underserved populations in reducing hypertension risk.

At the event, UB PharmD students provided community members with blood pressure screenings and discussed hypertension risk management strategies, including proper hydration, recipes and food shopping guides to encourage healthy eating habits. They also distributed nearly 100 hypertension kits to the community, with blood pressure monitors able to record and log results for two individuals.

The hypertension kits were generously sponsored by Walgreens, thanks to the efforts of Dimah Alani, PharmD '27, president, UB chapter of SNPhA, in securing $5,000 in funding for the event with help from Gregory Gotie, PharmD ’10, district pharmacy supervisor at Walgreens. 🥼

“This experience helped my business understanding, strengthened my leadership and showed me how to support my community as a student pharmacist,” Alani said. “Our mission at SNPhA is ‘serving the underserved,’ and I’m so proud of what we accomplished in the community.”

Read the full story at bit.ly/4onG8XA

Can AI help spot the 'healthy' viruses in our bodies? 🦠

Researchers at , including faculty from SPPS, the University at Buffalo School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, are using artificial intelligence (AI) to study the human virome—the entire collection of viruses living within the human body.

Part of a 4-year, $1.6M NIH-funded study, this interdisciplinary effort combines AI with laboratory research with the goal of developing methods for uncovering and identifying viruses that are usually missed in virome studies. 🔬

Jun Qu, PhD, professor of pharmaceutical sciences, will share his experience using a state-of-the art mass spectrometer, which is located in the New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences Proteomics and Bioanalysis Core.

“By integrating cutting-edge proteomics with AI-driven bioinformatics approaches, we hope to uncover previously hidden viruses and gain new insights into their biological functions in healthy humans,” Qu explains.

Their research is part of the NIH Human Virome Program (HVP), a consortium involving more than 300 researchers across the country who are working to improve scientists’ understanding of the role viruses play in the healthy human body. 🥼

Read more at bit.ly/3Q9ufYp

Last week, our Department of Pharmacy Practice came together for their annual summer retreat! 🥼

The two-day retreat featured meaningful conversations, team-building activities and professional development, all focused on strengthening collaboration and advancing shared goals.

Day one centered on important and timely conversations, including strategic planning, curriculum implementation, assessment insights and service learning. Day two focused on team building and professional development, with interactive sessions and wellness discussions.

Together, these conversations strengthened our SPPS community and are shaping the future of our work—advancing the department's mission to improve health care outcomes through education, impactful research and innovative clinical practice. 🤝

An exciting day for as we announce our next president, Dr. Caroline Genco. Congratulations and welcome to the community, President Genco!

Caroline Attardo Genco, provost and senior vice president at Tufts University, has been named ’s 16th president, becoming the first woman and Buffalo native to lead the university. Her appointment was approved by the SUNY Board of Trustees Tuesday following an international search.

Genco will join the UB community on August 10, 2026. Learn more ➡️ http://ms.spr.ly/6180vb2V4

June is Pride Month! 🌈

We’re proud to stand with and celebrate our LGBTQ+ community at SPPS—this month and every day. 💙

SPPS is pleased to announce a new partnership with Rochester Institute of Technology, providing qualified RIT students the opportunity to pursue a PharmD degree in pharmacy practice or MS in pharmaceutical sciences! 🥼

Through this collaborative academic pathway, two eligible RIT students each academic year will be assured an admissions interview for UB’s PharmD program and assured admission to the MS in pharmaceutical sciences program spaces each year, provided they meet all application and admissions requirements.

Reflecting on the new partnership, Gary Pollack, PhD, dean SPPS, affirmed, “The UB School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences values its relationship with RIT, and this agreement further strengthens our ties. We look forward to welcoming RIT’s talented and exceptional students into our PharmD and MS programs.”

The agreement builds on a longstanding relationship between the two institutions and continues a rich history of enrolling RIT students into UB’s programs, while establishing a seamless pathway for students to advance their education and careers in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences. 🤝

Read more at bit.ly/4o6Clh1

The Buffalo Pharmacy Bulletin is our e-newsletter exploring issues in health care and highlighting recent news in our SPPS community. 🥼

In this month's bulletin, Dean Pollack offers reflections and extends best wishes to our graduating students.

May 2026 Bulletin highlights:

• Dean Pollack Bulletin: Reflections and Best Wishes for Our Graduates
• Integrating pharmacists into kidney care teams can improve patient outcomes
• Celebrating the UB Class of 2026!
• SPPS honorees recognized at UB Celebration of Student Academic Excellence

Read the full May Bulletin at bit.ly/49rzXvl

A celebration of achievement and impact! 🎉

On May 15, the SPPS community gathered for our SPPS Awards Ceremony and Graduate Send-Off, a meaningful celebration honoring the individuals who make our school truly exceptional.

We recognized our 2026 PharmD and pharmaceutical sciences graduates as they prepared for what’s next, and celebrated outstanding faculty, staff, students, alumni and preceptors whose dedication continues to advance our mission and the fields of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences.

From the awards ceremony to the evening reception, the day was filled with pride, gratitude and memorable moments. 💙

View more photos at bit.ly/3Pvtrgl

This Memorial Day, at SPPS, we take a moment to remember and honor those who have served.