Todd W Vanderah, PhD
Cancer Biology Program
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Behavioral Measurement and Interventions Shared ResourceCancer Imaging Shared ResourceFlow Cytometry Shared Resource
Biography
Dr. Vanderah is a Professor and Head of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, at the University of Arizona. He has worked in the area of Neuropharmacology for over 20 years that has resulted in 170 peer-reviewed publications and continual NIH funding since his appointment and is the author of three Neuroscience Text Books. Dr. Vanderah did his PhD in Pharmacology and Toxicology at the UofA. He did his Post-doctoral Fellowship at the University of Colorado where he learned electrophysiology studying the effects of alcohol on ion channels/G-proteins. He worked for 4.5 years with a small pharmaceutical company, Ferring Inc., where he developed several novel drugs that are commercially available.
Cancer Focus
Dr. Vanderah's research focuses on identifying novel molecular targets on pain pathways in order to attenuate acute and chronic pain while reducing unwanted side effects. Studies include trying to identify the source of metastatic bone cancer pain and treatments that may inhibit such pain. His studies have investigated several novel mechanisms that may drive pain in long-bones of the body due to cancer including a transporter termed system Xc. His studies have investigated novel synthetic cannabinoids that are non-psychotropic but act to inhibit pain and may slow bone loss. Currently, Dr. Vanderah is working with Dr. Chalasani to run a clinical trial with a cannabinoid in advanced metastatic pain patients.
Selected Publications
Lozano-Ondoua, A. N., K. E. Hanlon, A. M. Symons-Liguori, T. M. Largent-Milnes, J. J. Havelin, H. L. Ferland, A. Chandramouli, M. Owusu-Ankomah, T. Nikolich-Zugich, A. P. Bloom, et al., "Disease modification of breast cancer-induced bone remodeling by cannabinoid 2 receptor agonists.", J Bone Miner Res, vol. 28, issue 1, pp. 92-107, 2013 Jan. PMCID: PMC4745976 PMID: 22903605
Ibrahim, M. M., F. Porreca, J. Lai, P. J. Albrecht, F. L. Rice, A. Khodorova, G. Davar, A. Makriyannis, T. W. Vanderah, H. P. Mata, et al., "CB2 cannabinoid receptor activation produces antinociception by stimulating peripheral release of endogenous opioids.", Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, vol. 102, issue 8, pp. 3093-8, 2005 Feb 22. PMCID: PMC549497 PMID: 15705714
Ibrahim, M. M., H. Deng, A. Zvonok, D. A. Cockayne, J. Kwan, H. P. Mata, T. W. Vanderah, J. Lai, F. Porreca, A. Makriyannis, et al., "Activation of CB2 cannabinoid receptors by AM1241 inhibits experimental neuropathic pain: pain inhibition by receptors not present in the CNS.", Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, vol. 100, issue 18, pp. 10529-33, 2003 Sep 02. PMCID: PMC193595 PMID: 12917492
Vanderah, T. W., N. M. Suenaga, M. H. Ossipov, T. P. Malan, J. Lai, and F. Porreca, "Tonic descending facilitation from the rostral ventromedial medulla mediates opioid-induced abnormal pain and antinociceptive tolerance.", J Neurosci, vol. 21, issue 1, pp. 279-86, 2001 Jan 01. PMID: 11150345
Vanderah, T. W., L. R. Gardell, S. E. Burgess, M. Ibrahim, A. Dogrul, C. M. Zhong, E. T. Zhang, T. P. Malan, M. H. Ossipov, J. Lai, et al., "Dynorphin promotes abnormal pain and spinal opioid antinociceptive tolerance.", J Neurosci, vol. 20, issue 18, pp. 7074-9, 2000 Sep 15. PMID: 10995854