Youssef Sari

Youssef Sari is a tenured Professor and Vice Chair in the Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics at the University of Toledo College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. He also holds a joint appointment in the Department of Medicinal and Biological Chemistry and serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine and Life Sciences. As Director of Graduate Programs, he oversees academic training while conducting groundbreaking research on neuropharmacology and drug dependence.

• Education: Ph.D. in Neuroscience (Sorbonne University), M.S. in Biomechanics and Physiology of Movement (Paris 11), B.S. in Cellular Biology (Paris 7), and B.S. in General Biology (Hassan II University, Morocco)

Dr. Sari’s laboratory focuses on the neuropharmacology of glutamate transport modulation in substance abuse disorders. His work has identified FDA-approved drugs that enhance glutamate neurotransmission and upregulate transporters like EAAT2 (GLT-1). Current research explores novel small molecules, including beta-lactams, for treating alcohol dependence, opioid overdose, and chronic pain, emphasizing pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in clinical translation.

His research programs have been continuously funded by NIH grants (R21, R01) for 15 years, yielding over 125 peer-reviewed publications and 10 book chapters. Dr. Sari has received multiple institutional awards, including the President’s Award for Excellence in Creative and Scholarly Activity (2021, 2024), and is recognized globally as a leading expert in EAAT2/GLT-1 transporters.

• Scientific Awards: Sigma Xi Young Investigator (2011), President Research & Scholarship Award (2012, 2019, 2024), NIH R21/R01 grants, Fulbright US Scholar Award (2021–2022)

Dr. Sari contributes to academic leadership as Director of Graduate Programs and Vice Chair, while serving as Section-Editor-In-Chief for Toxics Journal and participating in NIH study sections. His research bridges neuropharmacology, medicinal chemistry, and translational drug discovery for substance abuse therapies.