Michael E. DiSanto

Michael E. DiSanto, PhD, serves as Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences and Surgery and Director of Urology Research at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (CMSRU), where he has been a core faculty member since the institution's founding in 2010. He co-directs the Uro-Renal course and plays a pivotal role in teaching the Fundamentals curriculum.

Dr. DiSanto earned his PhD from Drexel University and completed postdoctoral training at Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories and the University of Pennsylvania, where he was an NIH NRSA Postdoctoral Research Fellow and AFUD/NIH Research Scholar. He served on Penn's faculty until 2004 before directing Urology Research at Albert Einstein College of Medicine until joining CMSRU.

His research program investigates smooth muscle physiology in the lower urogenital tract, with seminal contributions to understanding penile erection mechanisms and bladder dysfunction. Current work explores sphingolipid signaling pathways in urogenital tissues including the vagina, supported by continuous NIH R01 and program project funding.

With over 60 publications in top-tier journals, his scientific impact is recognized through key professional roles:

• Associate Editor, Journal of Sexual Medicine
• Chair, Basic Science Committee of Sexual Medicine Society of North America
• Standing Member, NIH Urologic and Genitourinary Study Section
• Standing Member, American Diabetes Association Grant Review Panel

His leadership extends to medical education through course directorship and curriculum development, while his research program provides critical infrastructure for urological discovery at CMSRU.