Pharmacokinetics is the discipline that applies mathematical models to explain and predict the time-course and drug concentrations in body fluids. Key concepts include: volume of distribution, elimination half-life, clearance, drug absorption, drug accommodation, plasma protein binding, presystemic extraction, and drug concentration monitoring. Kinetic-dynamic modeling integrates pharmacokinetic principles into the understanding of the time-course of drug effects. Closely linked to pharmacokinetics is the field of drug metabolism, which is the study of the mechanisms by which drugs are biotransformed, how metabolism influences drug distribution and clearance, and the mechanisms of drug interaction.

Dr. Domenic A. Ciraulo is evaluating how the pharmacokinetics of abusable drugs influence their potential for abuse and their ultimate effects in substance abusers.

Dr. David J. Greenblatt is studying the pharmacokinetics of a number of drug classes, including benzodiazepine-derivative drugs used to treat AIDS, azole antifungal agents, and antidepressants. He is evaluating how the pharmacokinetic properties of the drugs influence their clinical actions, as well as how factors such as old age, gender, and drug interactions influence drug disposition and effects.

Dr. Paul R. Skolnik is exploring the treatment of AIDS and how the pharmacokinetics of antiviral agents way influence their biochemical and clinical effect.

At a synapse, the first event in the detection of a signal is the binding of a transmitter to its receptor. Dr. Barry A. Trimmer is interested in understanding the kinetics of this process under non-equilibrium conditions. His approach is to use a new mathematical model of this interaction whose predictions lead to testable experiments at the single channel and biochemical levels. He is also examining the means by which nitric oxide and cGMP act as signaling molecules in the central nervous system.