Dinithia Sampson

Dr. Dinithia Sampson serves as Assistant Professor of Medicinal Chemistry in the Division of Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences within Xavier University of Louisiana's College of Pharmacy. Her research specializes in central nervous system drug development targeting psychiatric disorders, Alzheimer's disease, and dementia, with emphasis on novel therapeutic mechanisms and behavioral pharmacology.

Her academic credentials include:

• B.S. in Chemistry from Xavier University of Louisiana (2003)
• Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences (Medicinal Chemistry concentration) from Florida A&M University (2014)

Dr. Sampson's scholarly work bridges medicinal chemistry and neuropharmacology to address critical gaps in CNS therapeutics. She investigates dopamine receptor ligands, antipsychotic mechanisms, and disease-modifying strategies for neurodegenerative conditions, employing both molecular design and in vivo behavioral models to advance drug candidates toward clinical application.

Her 2014 publications demonstrate consistent focus on antipsychotic pharmacology, featuring structural analysis of haloperidol analogs, selective dopamine D4 receptor targeting, and innovative methods for assessing drug-induced motor side effects. Collectively, these studies establish her expertise in receptor-specific CNS drug development and preclinical validation methodologies.

No scientific awards were documented in the provided materials.

Dr. Sampson contributes administrative leadership from her prior role managing the Florida Department of Health's Ed and Ethel Moore Alzheimer’s Disease Research Program and Research Excellence Initiative. Her teaching portfolio encompasses core Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacology, and specialized Central Nervous System topics within the pharmacy curriculum.