A Star Clusters Program
Pioneering Drug Discovery and Development
School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
We are on the cusp of a transformation in drug discovery, where lifesaving treatments will reach patients with unprecedented speed and efficiency. By uniting top experts, leading-edge technology and a comprehensive approach to drug development, we will address critical health challenges and pioneer groundbreaking therapies,In an era where technology is revolutionizing every facet of our lives, the Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing stands at the forefront of this transformation, leveraging the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to redefine excellence in nursing.
Jan Hirsch, BS Pharm, PhD Dean of the School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
Introducing the PIKA Star Cluster
At the School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, we are dedicated to expanding drug discovery to address critical unmet medical needs. Our latest initiative — the PIKA (Pharmacokinetic & Investigational New Drug Knowledge Amplification) Star Cluster — will drive UC Irvine toward a sustainable funding model by accelerating intellectual property licensing. This accelerated licensing process will enable us to tackle challenging therapeutic areas, recruit prestigious faculty and establish our brand as a global leader in biomedical technology innovation.
Elevating Drug Discovery with the PIKA Cluster
The PIKA Star Cluster will bring together expertise in pharmacokinetics, drug disposition, regulatory affairs and clinical market access strategies. By incorporating these essential elements, the PIKA Star Cluster will support bench-to-bedside translational research and assist clinical faculty in analyzing samples from our expanding health system, ultimately driving new molecular entities into clinical trials.
Star Cluster Focus Areas
✦ Pharmacokinetics
✦ ADMET (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion and Toxicity)
✦ Metabolomics
✦ Bioanalytical Chemistry
Strengthening Our Foundations
With the momentum generated by the establishment of the Robert A. Mah Molecular Innovation Center, set to open in 2025 in the Falling Leaves Foundation Medical Innovation Building at UC Irvine, we are laying the groundwork for major advances in drug discovery. While our foundation in early discovery is strong, we have identified a critical need for more focused preclinical analysis to ensure clinical trial success. The PIKA Star Cluster will further enhance our capabilities to address this gap, improving our ability to advance new therapies from the lab to the clinic.
Integrating Strategic Goals
The School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences is committed to delivering cross-campus drug discovery initiatives, enriching UCI Health’s clinical trial enterprise, and expanding UC Irvine’s intellectual property. The PIKA Star Cluster will:
- Support end-to-end discovery: Enhance our lead identification processes and bolster testing to ensure new drugs are safe and effective.
- Establish a drug development program: Oversee the detailed testing and analysis of drug samples both before and during clinical trials.
- Assemble expert scientists: Combine regulatory, clinical trials and market expertise to maximize the cluster’s benefit.
Impact on the Future of Medicine
Investing in a robust investigational new drug-enabling core with basic science and strategic market access expertise will significantly amplify the impact of UC Irvine’s researchers. This initiative will position our campus as a leader in developing first-in-class therapeutic agents, driving progress in drug discovery and improving health outcomes worldwide.
Join Us in Making an Impact
We are seeking philanthropic partners to fund Star Clusters throughout the Susan & Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences. These distinguished recruits will strengthen our research enterprise significantly. By becoming a philanthropic partner, you will forever link your legacy to a Star Cluster and its groundbreaking research. To learn more about supporting this transformative initiative at UC Irvine, please contact Health Advancement at healthadvancement@uci.edu.