Photo Submitted by Samuel Barnes
Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University’s school of pharmacy celebrated Founder’s Day with a ribbon-cutting.
FAMU’s College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Institute for Public Health celebrated its Founder’s Day Friday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Pharmacy Building Phase II- East Wing opening.
“This is a tremendous milestone for the College of Pharmacy. I’m excited as a FAMU Alumnus to have been a part of this college and this historic event. When people think of FAMU, the pharmacy program comes to mind. This state of the art facility will only add to this prestige, and it will attract many more students to pursue a career in pharmacy,” said Will Pender a FAMU College of Pharmacy Alumnus.
The school of pharmacy came into existence 68 years ago on September 1951. To celebrate the students, faculty and staff are having a college-wide cookout, along with other activities
“The College has a rich history in educating practitioners who care for the community, making lives fuller and healthier and in training Ph.D. level researchers who strive to make new discoveries in the pharmaceutical sciences,” said COPPS Dean Johnnie Early Ph.D.
The state-of-the-art facility will allow researchers to conduct research in the area of breast cancer, health disparities with a focus on prostate cancer, manganese, and neurodegenerative disease and other fields of study. Several members of faculty were recognized by the University for their commitment to research excellence, including the 2019 Emerging Researcher award.
Phase II’s first three floors include 16 labs, one computer lab two telepresence classrooms, one dark room, one training room and a facility dedicated to extensive research. Two floors will be added later.
COPPS has secured more than $200 million in contracts and grants including a $14.8 million renewal grant from the National Institute of Health (NIH) to perform and enhance health disparities research. The College has also been awarded over 35 patents, which is ranked NO.1 among HBCUs.
“It provides another world-class venue to help attract world-class students, staff and faculty. It also helps sustains FAMU’s great work into the future,” said FAMU president, Larry Robinson.
For more information about the FAMU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Institute of Public Health, visit Pharmacy.famu.edu.