Thomas Prisinzano, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences in the UK College of Pharmacy, has been honored as a 2024-25 University Research Professor.

Prisinzano serves as director of the Center for Pharmaceutical Research and Innovation (CPRI) and co-director of the Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) Drug Discovery and Development Core. He joined UK in 2019.

His research studies the influence of chemical structure on biological activity and is directed toward the development of medications to treat substance use disorder and pain. Prisinzano said his lab team is seeking to understand and optimize organic molecules for medicinal purposes. His work has been funded continuously by the National Institutes of Health since 2005.

For his scientific contributions, Prisinzano has received numerous awards including the inaugural Innovator Award from the College on Problems of Drug Dependence in 2018.

Prisinzano spoke with UKNow about his latest honor as a University Research Professor in this Q&A.

UKNow: What does it mean to you to be recognized as a University Research Professor?

Prisinzano: It is a tremendous honor to be recognized as a University Research Professor. I am truly humbled to be nominated by my colleagues in the College of Pharmacy. This acknowledgement is also a wonderful recognition of the hard work of my very talented group of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, past and present.

UKNow: How will the professorships program advance your research?

Prisinzano: The professorship program will allow me and my coworkers to gain additional knowledge and conduct crucial experiments needed to develop molecules as potential medications. This program will also provide an opportunity to expand my research in new directions.

UKNow: How does your research address challenges facing Kentucky?

Prisinzano: My research is aimed at addressing the drug epidemic in the Commonwealth of Kentucky through identifying potential new medications to treat substance use disorder and pain.

One area of emphasis is to identify improved opioid overdose rescue agents to better combat the toxicity seen with fentanyl and related agents. Ultimately, our goal is to increase the rescue of patients suffering from an opioid overdose.

Another area of emphasis is to identify opioid analgesics — or painkillers — with enhanced safety compared to fentanyl and morphine to potentially replace fentanyl with a drug that is safer.

I hope that my research can facilitate the development of novel medications needed to combat a major health problem in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

About the University Research Professors
Each year, the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees approves a cohort of faculty as University Research Professors. The distinction recognizes excellence in work that addresses scientific, social, cultural and economic challenges in Kentucky and the world.

College leadership developed criteria for excellence within their area of expertise and then nominated faculty who excelled at these criteria. Each University Research Professor receives a one-year award of $10,000 and participates in other events planned around the program.