Gus Rosania

Gus Rosania is a Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy. His research focuses on the microscopic transport properties of small drug-like molecules inside cells, with the hypothesis that a drug's microscopic distribution within organelles is as important as its macroscopic distribution in organs for determining efficacy and toxicity. He leads the Rosania Laboratory, which employs microscopic imaging instruments, computational tools, and mathematical models to study drug transport and distribution at the cellular level.

Dr. Rosania's research interests center around exploring the application of in silico models to pharmaceutical discovery and development, investigating cell-based molecular transport simulations to understand drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion, and using mathematical approaches to develop chemical moieties that can target small-molecule drugs to specific cell types. His work has significant implications for designing drugs based on their site of action rather than just their molecular mechanism of action. The laboratory is particularly focused on macrophage-targeted drug development, studying how compounds like clofazimine massively bioaccumulate in macrophages to form intracellular crystal-like structures.

The Rosania Laboratory's publications demonstrate a consistent research trajectory in understanding subcellular drug distribution, with particular emphasis on macrophage biology and intracellular drug behavior. Their work spans pharmaceutical sciences, biophysics, immunology, and computational biology, revealing how microscopic drug distribution patterns correlate with pharmacological effects. This research has important implications for drug targeting strategies, especially for conditions involving macrophages such as inflammatory diseases and infections.

Dr. Rosania has received several prestigious awards including:

• Exterior Colombia Award for Excellence in the USA, Colombia Exterior (2004)
• Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, US Government (2007)
• American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists Fellow, AAPS (2018)
• UM Faculty Impact Award Nominee, UM (2020)

As laboratory director, Dr. Rosania oversees a multidisciplinary research team and maintains extensive collaborations across the University of Michigan. His laboratory works closely with researchers from both the College of Pharmacy and Medical School, forming a comprehensive network for macrophage-targeted drug development. The laboratory has secured access to numerous university core facilities that support their drug discovery and development work, including advanced imaging resources and pharmacokinetics analysis tools.

The Rosania Laboratory operates two primary research projects: Molecular Engineering of Self-Organizing & Site-Directed Intracellular Crystals in Living Organisms, and Macrophage-targeted Immunomodulatory Therapies for Lung Diseases. The laboratory actively recruits researchers interested in subcellular drug transport, drug targeting, macrophage biology, and related fields, seeking to expand their collaborative efforts between the Medical School and College of Pharmacy.