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Innovations and Transformations in Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences 2025


A summer learning experience for current and future scientists to learn about the discovery, delivery, and clinical use of drugs and vaccines.

7 July 2025 - 25 July 2025

About

ITPS is a three-week course offered to students from around the world. This program will expose students to world-class professors from the No.1-ranked school of pharmacy in the United States.  Discover cutting-edge research and innovative technologies as professors explore the lifecycle of drugs and vaccines in our modern world.

Students will receive 4 UNC credit hours and an official UNC transcript upon successful completion of the program.

Deadline to apply is 30 March 2025. Apply now to save your spot for this unique summer learning experience!

Apply Now

Can’t join us in-person in North Carolina? We also have a virtual option available! Click on the “Virtual Program” tab to learn more.


“Through the study of this program, I not only have a deeper understanding of various fields of pharmacy, but also a strong guidance for the direction of subsequent study. I also learned a lot of cutting-edge knowledge in the field of pharmacy, including the establishment and use of various models. During this process, I have seen the world’s cutting-edge research results and advanced scientific research ideas, and my participation in the [ITPS Program] has provided guidance for my future study and research.”
– ITPS 2023 Participant


Informational Session

Join us for an informational session to learn more about the ITPS program and connect with the program faculty and coordinators.

December 17th, 2024 7 a.m. EST (North Carolina time)

Register Here

Questions about ITPS?

Sarah Merritt, PharmD, MPH

Global Program Education Coordinator

globalpharmacy@unc.edu

+1-919-918-1799

Program Components

Presentations: Presentations will take students through the lifespan of the drug, from drug discovery to drug delivery, experimental therapeutics, outcomes and policy, then clinical use. We will start with some foundational knowledge, then move into individual research to highlight the innovations currently happening in the field. Each week there will be several presentations dedicated to professional development, such as CV and personal statement writing, critical evaluation of literature, grant writing, etc.

Site Visits: Each week we will have one or two site visits to local pharmacies or pharmaceutical companies. Students will get to visit a variety of sites to explore the many areas of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences, such as startup companies, large manufacturing companies, and hospitals.

Skills Labs: Each week we will have one or two skills labs that will give students time to explore hands-on activities such as pharmacy compounding, or learn new skills such as excel proficiency or HPLC simulations.

Final Project: Students will apply what they have learned in a final project where they will follow a drug through its lifespan. Students will research a drug, write a scientific abstract, then create a poster to present during their final day, simulating the steps of presenting at a scientific conference.

Cultural Activities: Get to know the culture of North Carolina through various cultural activities. We will introduce students to local cuisine, such as NC barbeque, take them to favorite sporting events, and provide opportunities to interact with UNC students.

Daily Program Schedule (Monday through Friday):

8:30-11:30: Presentations

11:30-13:00: Lunch break

13:00-16:00: Site visit, skills lab, or cultural activity

 

Meet some of the instructors:

Katelyn Arnold

(919) 962-0065

arnoldk2@email.unc.edu

Katelyn Arnold is a Research Assistant Professor in the Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry (CBMC). Dr. Arnold’s research interest is in therapeutic development of synthetic heparin. She uses chemoenzymatically synthetized oligosaccharides in various animal models to investigate the relationship between oligosaccharide structure and function to understand anti-inflammatory mechanisms. This work also involves pharmacokinetic studies using methods and standards specific for synthetic heparin.

Kim L. R. Brouwer

(919) 962-7030

kbrouwer@unc.edu

Kim L.R. Brouwer, Pharm.D., Ph.D., is the William R. Kenan Jr. Distinguished Professor in the Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics of the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, associate dean for research and graduate education, and a professor in the curriculum in toxicology.

Yanguang Cao

(919) 966-4040

yanguang@email.unc.edu

Yanguang Cao, Ph.D., joined the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy initially as an assistant professor and then promoted as an associate professor in the division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics. Prior to joining the School, Cao served as a research assistant professor at SUNY Buffalo for two years after completing a postdoctoral training program at SUNY, Buffalo.

Stephen Eckel

(919) 962-0071

seckel@unc.edu

Stephen Eckel, Pharm.D., M.H.A., is associate dean for global engagement and a associate professor in the Division of Practice Advancement and Clinical Education. He leads a two-year Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences with a specialization in health-system pharmacy administration. This degree is hosted at eight hospitals, five of which are in North Carolina and others are located in 3 other states. At UNC Medical Center, he is director of pharmacy for innovation services, where he is residency program director for the 2-year health system pharmacy administration and leadership residency program. He has worked with almost 200 residents over the years.

Michael Bruce Jarstfer

(919) 966-6422

jarstfer@email.unc.edu

Michael Jarstfer, PhD, is an Associate Professor within the Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry and the Associate Dean for Graduate Education. He is also the Director of Graduate Studies for the Pharmaceutical Sciences PhD program. Dr. Jarstfer has expertise in drug target identification, high-throughput-screening, medicinal chemistry, and compound optimization for drug discovery as well as pharmacology in preclinical animal models.

Yutian Ma, PhD

(919) 962-0146

yutianm@unc.edu

Yutian Ma is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. He conducted his Ph.D. at the University of Melbourne (Australia). He has a background in biomedical engineering, biomolecular engineering, nanomedicine and drug delivery. In Australia, he worked on developing nanoengineered drug delivery systems for the treatment of inner ear disease. He is currently working on developing non-viral vectors for improving the efficacy and safety of RNA therapeutics.

Sachiko Ozawa

(919) 966-2626

ozawa@unc.edu

Sachiko Ozawa, Ph.D., M.H.S., is a health economist whose work focuses on generating evidence that can be used to improve the health of populations globally. Her research focuses on examining the value of vaccines, assessing the economic burden of diseases and examining the demand and utilization of health care. She is interested in the interface between pharmacy and public health from the perspective of a global health economist.

Megan Roberts

(919) 843-4071

megan.roberts@unc.edu

Megan Roberts, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy and the Director of Implementation Science in Precision Health and Society at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. Her research focuses on evaluating and improving the implementation of genomic medicine. In particular, she is interested in implementation research aimed at improving quality of care and reducing racial disparities in cancer prevention and treatment.

Program Fee

ITPS 2025 Program fee: $4,000 USD

 Program fee includes the following:

  • All program/administrative fees (including visa invitation)
  • Coursework preparation and delivery
  • Tuition (four credit hours)
  • Some meals as part of social/cultural events
  • International health insurance
  • Transportation for program activities
  • Materials for skills labs
  • Cultural activities

*Flights and visa fees are not included

Program payment deadline: June 1, 2025

Discounts:

Discounts are available for early registration (on or before 31 January 2025) and for group discounts. Contact globalpharmacy@unc.edu for more information.

On-Campus Housing

On-campus housing is available in the UNC dorms for $50 per person/night (single occupancy) or $26 per person/night (double occupancy). students may also find their own short-term housing if preferred. UNC dorms are within easy walking distance to the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy and downtown Chapel Hill. Additionally, students can opt into an on-campus dining plan at Chase Dining Hall for $38.50 per person/day which includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Virtual Program

Can’t join us in in-person? We also offer a virtual program!

What is included in the virtual program?

Students will get access to all the presentations to join live or watch recorded at their convenience. We will also offer a weekly recitation exclusively for virtual participants to review program material and interact with UNC faculty and students. Upon successful completion of the program, students will receive a Certificate of Completion.

Apply Now

Deadline to apply is June 27, 2025. Apply now to save your spot for this unique summer learning experience!

Virtual Program Fee: $500 USD

Discounts: Discounts are available for early registration (on or before April 30, 2025) and for group discounts. Contact globalpharmacy@unc.edu for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy located?

UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. Chapel Hill is a college town, with easy access to North Carolina’s state capital of Raleigh, as well as Research Triangle Park, which is the largest research park in the United States. Located midway between New York City and Miami, Chapel Hill is only a 2.5-hour drive to either the mountains to the west, or the beach to the east.

 

Who should apply to this program?

This program is appropriate for learners in undergraduate programs, graduate programs, or working professionals. It will introduce you to core concepts in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences, then expand on them by discussing innovative research currently happening in the field.

 

What is the process for applying?

Complete your initial application and deposit ($300 USD) at this link. You will then get sent an email with the full application to complete. Once you submit this application, it will begin your enrollment into UNC as a study abroad student. Once your application has been processed, you will be able to set up your UNC login and email and request your visa form (Form I-20). If you have any questions throughout this process, please reach out to us at globalpharmacy@unc.edu.

 

What is the difference between the residential and virtual programs?

The residential program is held at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. It includes presentations, site visits, skills labs, and cultural activities. The virtual program is held via zoom and can be completed from anywhere throughout the world. The virtual program includes the presentations and a weekly recitation. At the end of the residential program, students receive four credit hours and an official transcript that can be used to transfer credit back to their home institution if allowed, whereas in the virtual program students receive a certificate of completion.

 

What opportunities will I have to interact with UNC students and faculty?

Each presentation is taught by a different individual, which provides great opportunity to network and meet many (up to 30) UNC faculty, postdocs, and students! Additionally, UNC students are engaged in the skills labs, site visits, and cultural activities, providing lots of opportunity to make connections.

Explore the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy

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