Rick Schnellmann

Rick Schnellmann currently serves as the Dean of the College of Pharmacy, leading academic and research initiatives in pharmaceutical sciences. His research focuses on mitochondrial biology, particularly mitochondrial biogenesis as a therapeutic target for kidney diseases, spinal cord injury, neurodegeneration, and other pathologies. Key areas of exploration include drug repurposing (e.g., formoterol, lasmiditan), biomaterial-based delivery systems, and molecular mechanisms underlying cellular repair processes.

• Expertise: Mitochondrial pharmacology, regenerative medicine, renal physiology
• Research Themes: Neuropharmacological modulation of mitochondrial pathways, metabolic reprogramming in injury recovery, translational drug development

His work bridges basic science and clinical applications, with studies demonstrating therapeutic potential for β2-adrenergic receptor agonists and 5-HT1F receptor agonists in promoting tissue repair. Recent investigations explore lipidomic/metabolomic changes post-injury and the role of mitochondrial quality control in recovery processes.

Collaborative projects include developing hydrogel systems for targeted drug delivery and identifying biomarkers for acute kidney injury. Preclinical models focus on aging populations and sex-specific responses to therapies.