Michael Forster

Michael Forster is an Interim Chair and Regents Professor in the Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience at the University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNT HSC). He holds membership in the College of Biomedical and Translational Sciences and the Institute for Healthy Aging. His research focuses on understanding aging biology, particularly using rodent and lower organism models to identify interventions against age-related diseases like Alzheimer’s and diabetes.

• Education:
  • BA in Experimental Psychology, Muhlenberg College
  • MA and PhD in Psychobiology, Bowling Green State University
• Affiliations:
  • UNT HSC
  • NIDA-funded projects on drug abuse liability
  • American Heart Association grant on interoceptive actions

Research interests include aging mechanisms, drug discrimination assays for synthetic compounds, and behavioral pharmacology. Notable projects involve evaluating abuse potential of novel drugs and developing treatments for cocaine addiction. His work bridges basic science and translational research, with over 145 publications and 79 sponsored projects.

Recent articles explore synthetic cannabinoids, cathinones, and tryptamine derivatives, emphasizing their behavioral effects and neurobiological mechanisms. Awards include a high h-index (46) and 7,356 citations.