Brenda Gannon

Brenda Gannon, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), within the College of Medicine. Her research focuses on the abuse-related effects of novel psychoactive substances (NPS), including synthetic cannabinoids, cathinones, and opioids. She also investigates regulatory policy and drug-drug interactions. Dr. Gannon’s work employs behavioral pharmacology techniques such as intravenous self-administration, drug discrimination, and telemetry-based physiological monitoring.

Education:

• Ph.D., Interdisciplinary Toxicology, UAMS (2015)
• Graduate Certificate in Regulatory Sciences, UAMS (2014)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship at University of Texas Health Science Center-San Antonio (2015–2018)

Research Interests: Dr. Gannon’s research bridges preclinical pharmacology and regulatory science, with emphasis on understanding the neurochemical and behavioral profiles of emerging drugs. Her lab evaluates abuse liability, polypharmacology, and translational strategies for drug development. Key areas include synthetic cathinones, psychedelics, and opioid alternatives.

Grant Activity: She serves as Lab Manager (Co-Investigator equivalent) on NIH-funded projects (IDs 15DDHQ24A00000020 and 15DDHQ24A00000027) investigating hallucinogens and stimulants’ abuse potential using in vivo assays.

Labs/Teams: Her laboratory focuses on translational drug research, combining behavioral and neurochemical analyses to inform regulatory policy and therapeutic design.