Pharmacology at Yale University has a rich history of achievement and a strong tradition of scholarship. Yale was the site of the first studies and trials of anticancer chemotherapy. The modern era of cancer chemotherapy began when Alfred Gilman and Louis Goodman studied the effects of nitrogen mustard on transplanted lymphosarcoma in mice and then initiated clinical trials in 1942 (Gilman, A. Am. J. Surg. 105: 574-578, 1963).
Pharmacology at Yale
The Department of Pharmacology strives to create an inviting environment and institutional culture of inclusivity where every individual's unique and diverse characteristics are valued and respected. We sustain the richness of our department by recruiting and retaining trainees, staff, and faculty from diverse backgrounds and talents.
Pharmacology at Yale University has a rich history of pre-eminence in drug discovery, indeed the first cancer chemotherapy clinical trials were conducted here. Today, the research in our department encompasses a broad range of fields, with researchers aiming to both understand and treat human disease.
About Us Research Research in pharmacology covers many areas and uses many techniques, but underlying this diversity is a common theme--the investigation of the interaction of chemical substances with biological systems. Our research programs span from the atomic-level to the whole organism, and are highly collaborative within the department and throughout Yale.Read MorePharmacology Graduate Program The Department of Pharmacology at Yale University offers integrated and interdisciplinary opportunities for graduate study under the Program in Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS). Students entering the BBS program can take courses, participate in laboratory rotations, and perform thesis research with any of the more than 200 faculty members in the biological sciences at Yale.
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Latest News from the Department of Pharmacology
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- January 28, 2026
YCC Standout Research, Clinical Care, and Staff Support Recognized
- January 26, 2026
Genetic Study of Rare Endometrial Cancer Uncovers Potential Treatments
- January 05, 2026Source: New England Journal of Medicine (Yale's Dr. Roy Herbst)
Navigating the Evolving Landscape of EGFR-Mutated NSCLC
- December 01, 2025Source: Yale News
Pioneering Drug Development, One Company at a Time
- December 01, 2025
Sodium Channel Blockers
- November 26, 2025
New Study Uncovers How Cancer Cells Tolerate Missing Chromosomes
- November 14, 2025Source: Yale News
Soaking up the anti-cancer properties of a South Korean sea sponge
- November 12, 2025
YSM Researchers Recognized with Yale Faculty Innovation Awards
- November 12, 2025Source: Yale Ventures
From Lab to Launch: Eleven Faculty Innovators Recognized for Turning Research into Real-World Impact
Department of Pharmacology Events
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Feb 202612Thursday
Yale Only Simon Scheuring, PhD
Feb 202616Monday
Yale Only Valentina Greco, PhD
Feb 202619Thursday
Yale Only Dan Minor, PhD
Feb 202626Thursday
Yale Only Avner Schlessinger, PhD
Mar 20265Thursday
Yale Only Gia Voeltz, PhD
Mar 20266Friday
Everyone
Mar 202612Thursday
Yale Only Gary Yellen, PhD
Mar 202619Thursday
Yale Only Xin Zhou, PhD
Mar 202624Tuesday
Yale Only Mimi Shirasu-Hiza, PhD
Mar 202626Thursday
Yale Only Pei Zhou, PhD