Nancy Muma

Nancy Muma is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology at the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy. Her research focuses on neuropharmacology, with a particular emphasis on understanding serotonin receptor signaling pathways and their roles in neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression and schizophrenia, as well as neurodegenerative diseases like Huntington's disease. She has held academic positions at Loyola University Chicago and Johns Hopkins University, and her work integrates drug discovery, molecular biology, and translational research.

Education: Postdoctoral Fellowship at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (1989); Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of Louisville (1985).

Research Interests: Serotonin pharmacology, novel post-translational modifications of receptors (e.g., SUMOylation), estrogen receptor GPER1's role in mood disorders, and drug development for neurodegeneration. Her team has identified biological probes targeting mutant huntingtin protein interactions in Huntington's disease, advancing potential therapeutic strategies.

Publications: Over 90 peer-reviewed articles, including recent work on mitochondrial dysfunction in Alzheimer's and small-molecule inhibitors of huntingtin-calmodulin interactions. Research trends emphasize cross-disciplinary approaches to neuropharmacology and protein signaling.

Grants & Collaborations: Funded by NIH and other agencies for projects on serotonin receptors, neurodegeneration, and drug development. Collaborates with medicinal chemists and neurobiologists to translate basic research into clinical applications.

Labs/Teams: Leads the Pharmacology & Toxicology lab at KU, focusing on neuropharmacological mechanisms and drug discovery. Active in mentoring graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in pharmacology and toxicology.