Daniela Salvemini

Daniela Salvemini, Ph.D., serves as William Beaumont Professor and Chair of the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, with a secondary professorship in Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, and founded the Institute for Translational Science.

Her academic training includes a B.Sc. in Pharmacology from King's College London and a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of London under Nobel Laureate Sir John Vane, followed by postdoctoral work at the William Harvey Research Institute and Monsanto.

• B.Sc. Pharmacology, King's College London
• Ph.D. Pharmacology, University of London (Mentor: Sir John Vane)
• Postdoctoral: William Harvey Research Institute, Monsanto

Her research centers on molecular mechanisms of neuropathic pain and non-opioid therapeutic discovery, with recent focus on G-protein coupled receptors (S1PR1, GPR160, GPR183, P2Y14), adenosine signaling, and neuroimmune interactions. She pioneers translational approaches bridging basic science to clinical applications for pain management.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals dominant themes in chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain, migraine pathophysiology, and cognitive impairment, with increasing use of single-cell transcriptomics and structure-based drug design to target neuroinflammation pathways.

Dr. Salvemini's scientific recognition includes:

• Novartis Award in Pharmacology
• Outstanding Scientist Award (Saint Louis Academy of Science)
• Pharmacia-ASPET Award in Experimental Therapeutics
• Mitchell B. Max Award for Neuropathic Pain
• Fellow of National Academy of Inventors
• Fellow of American Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics

She maintains continuous NIH/DoD funding through leadership on multiple NIH study sections (NIDA, NCI, NINDS) and serves on the NIH/NINDS External Consultant Board. Her entrepreneurial impact includes founding BioIntervene Inc. (A3 adenosine receptor agonists), Vincion Inc. (pain/cancer therapeutics), and the St. Louis Translational Pain Research Forum.

These initiatives foster collaborative networks addressing neuroinflammation in pain states, with ongoing development of non-opioid compounds targeting purinergic and sphingolipid pathways.