Research at the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Make Discoveries That Lead to a Healthier Tomorrow
At the heart of healthcare, research unlocks new interventions and launches therapies that improve patient outcomes. Drake University’s College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences places you at the center of the action: whether you’re just beginning a bachelor’s program or in the midst of doctoral studies, you’ll have the opportunity to dive into research that advances human health.
Learn to collect and draw conclusions from data by joining faculty members’ ongoing projects. Or, access the support and resources you need to pursue your own interests. However you structure your exploration, the valuable experience you gain makes you a more discerning thinker, gives you a competitive edge, and lets you contribute to a dynamic, influential field.
Student Research Opportunities
At the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, you’ll find abundant opportunities for hands-on analysis that enhance your résumé and often lead to co-authorship on abstracts and publications.
Faculty Research Projects
Practice structuring studies as you contribute to domains as diverse as recovery in elite athletes, the ethics of benefits management, DNA repair mechanisms, intravenous iron supplementation, pharmacists’ mental health bias, and how to support patient rehabilitation.
Independent Research Projects
Tackle your own questions, even at the undergraduate level. Draw on faculty expertise and support to clarify your direction, conduct your research, and share your findings through presentations and publications.
Presentation Opportunities
Showcase your results through posters and presentations at state, national, and international conferences and events, including the Drake University Conference on Undergraduate Research in the Sciences (DUCURS) and the annual OTD Research Symposium.
Drug Development Fellowship
The two-year Vanadro-Drake University Drug Development fellowship introduces pharmacy graduates to the process of identifying, creating, and launching new medications and therapies.
How to Get Involved
Research a topic with the guidance of a faculty member as part of your coursework. Outside the classroom, feel empowered to seek out faculty who are accepting student researchers, voice your interest in participating in a project, or request support to begin your own investigation.
Student Research By the Numbers
College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences students play an active and valued role in independent and collaborative projects, where they learn the technical aspects of research while uncovering new knowledge.
Students appeared as co-authors on abstracts from 2020-2024.
Students appeared as co-authors on peer-reviewed publications from 2020-2024.
Undergraduate research projects completed from 2020-2024.
Funding Opportunities
Tap into financial support, including the competitive Summer Research Fellowships, which provide a stipend for eight weeks of intensive, faculty-supervised experience.
Past Projects
Four CPHS students presented posters at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Midyear Clinical Meeting & Exhibition, one of the profession’s most important annual events. Learn more.
Joy Clark, an Occupational Therapy graduate student, took first place at the Pappajohn Iowa Entrepreneurial Venture Competition for her prosthetic design that dramatically cut costs. Learn more.
Dr. Andrea Kjos, a Pharmacy faculty member, currently serves as the Baum Chair of Ethics in the Professions, which unites Drake faculty members with research and teaching interests in ethics. Learn more.
In 2025, Health Sciences student Grace Stegen presented research on disparities in maternal healthcare access in rural areas as part of her DUSCI Fellowship. Learn more.
A Health Sciences student and faculty collaboration examining associations between police officer fitness and job task performance led to a presentation at the 2025 American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting. Learn more.
"Presenting your hard work and just being at a conference is definitely a one-of-a-kind experience. You’re surrounded by so many people who are just as passionate about pharmacy and healthcare overall. Seeing all of the other kinds of work being done is so inspiring."
Research Areas
Faculty throughout the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences make contributions in an incredible variety of areas, from how to teach medicine to applied therapies and policy recommendations.
Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Research
Ongoing research includes identifying biomarkers for radiation-induced DNA damage, refining anticancer drug delivery, exploring novel therapies for systemic infections, and unraveling the mechanisms behind statin-induced muscle problems.
Patient Care and Clinical Research
CPHS faculty work to improve patient care and increase our understanding in areas like diabetes management, social determinants of health, burnout among healthcare professionals, and assistive technologies.
Education
CPHS professors take a scholarly interest in healthcare education, exploring topics like the factors behind student success, stress and burnout, building cultural competence, and learning design.
Public Health
Professors investigate the broader community dynamics of healthcare, including health awareness and outreach, prevention strategies, health disparities, re-entry programs for ex-offenders, and the impact of community health screening.
Healthcare Business and Insurance
Looking through the lens of business, Drake faculty research topics like the economic factors that influence care utilization, pharmacy practice management, and reimbursement models for durable medical equipment.
Occupational Therapy
How can OTs support rural communities or drive rehabilitation outcomes? What’s the effect of moral distress on practitioners and the care they provide? How are OT students adopting AI? CPHS faculty continue not just to advance our understanding of the human body, but also the role of occupational therapy in patient care delivery.
Base Research Project
Funded by the Iowa Space Grant Consortium, this project employs CPHS faculty and students to identify biomarkers of radiation-induced DNA damage that occur during space travel, paving the way to safer human exploration beyond the confines of our planet.
The SoapyCilantro Project
The SoapyCilantro project equips current 6-12 educators to build interest in the health professions by connecting genomics with precision medicine—areas currently experiencing a shortage of trained personnel.
Facilities
Dedicated labs and hands-on facilities for anatomy, occupational therapy, pharmacy, and nursing enhance how CPHS students learn, conduct research, collaborate, and grow their professional skills.
Take the Next Step
Don’t just imagine what the future holds for healthcare. Realize it one discovery at a time with the research you’ll conduct in Drake’s College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
