Kyle Jon Burghardt

Kyle Jon Burghardt, Pharm.D., serves as a tenured Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Wayne State University's Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, where he teaches Drug Literature Evaluation, Pharmacogenomics, and Applied Pharmacokinetics. His academic journey includes a Doctorate of Pharmacy with Distinction from the University of Michigan and postdoctoral training in pharmacogenomics.

His research centers on pharmacoepigenetics and metabolomics, specifically investigating how antipsychotic medications induce insulin resistance through skeletal muscle epigenomic and proteomic mechanisms. Key areas include metabolomics/lipidomics profiling, DNA methylation changes, and mitochondrial bioenergetics in aging models. His work bridges psychiatric pharmacology and metabolic health, with recent publications focusing on mitochondrial transplantation for muscle bioenergetics and antipsychotic-induced metabolic side effects.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals a strong trend toward mechanistic studies of antipsychotic pharmacology, with increasing focus on skeletal muscle as a target organ and integration of multi-omics approaches (epigenomics, metabolomics, proteomics). His research consistently addresses clinical translation, particularly in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder treatment complications.

• 2024 Biomolecules Editor’s Choice Award for mitochondrial transplantation research
• 2023-24 Applebaum Excellence in Teaching Award
• 2024 Journal of Neuroscience Research top 10 most-cited paper
• 2020 American College of Clinical Pharmacy New Investigator Award
• Multiple student mentoring awards including Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program Grants

Burghardt actively mentors students through research projects and community pharmacy initiatives, including student-led depression screening programs. His substantial grant portfolio includes a $675,168 NIH K23 award as Principal Investigator investigating antipsychotic-induced insulin resistance mechanisms, plus multiple AACP and Academy of Nutrition grants totaling over $24,500 as mentor or co-investigator. He directs laboratory research on skeletal muscle epigenomics and collaborates with the Michigan Pharmacists Association on community mental health integration projects.