As senior epidemiologist, I lead the evaluation efforts for the Medi-Cal Drug Use Review program. I conduct prospective and retrospective analysis of pharmacy and medical claims data within the Medi-Cal population, develop detailed and comprehensive policy impact reviews based on changes in state and federal pharmacy policy, publish educational bulletins, and conduct interventions targeted toward Medi-Cal health care providers.
As a member of the Experiential Education staff in the Office of Experiential Education and Professional Development, I work with Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE) and Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) students, faculty, and preceptors to coordinate a wide range of administrative functions to support experiential education and am a resource for students and faculty.
In my role in the Office of Communications I have a wide array of responsibilities related to communications for the Dean’s Office with a primary focus on the web. I manage website production for lab sites and microsites on Pharmacy Microsites. I implement branding and identity initiatives for the School. I help build, maintain, and support the theme layer of our School’s Drupal websites. I build and manage email campaigns and mailing lists. I also work on communications projects that bridge digital and print divides. I received the 2007 Chancellor Award for Exceptional University Service.
As the operations analyst, I am the IT liaison for the department and coordinate many of the department's day-to-day operational functions and projects. In addition, I work with the director of operations in writing policies, processes, and instructional guides.
Research in the England Lab is broadly focused on developing and applying chemical probes to investigate the structure and function of signaling proteins implicated in fundamental biological processes and human diseases. Execution of these research projects typically involves a combination of synthetic chemistry, computational chemistry, structural biology, and appropriate biochemical and biological assays. Two systems currently being studied are glutamate-gated ion channels and hormone-activated nuclear receptors.
The neurotransmitter glutamate drives specific changes in the functioning of synaptic glutamate-gated ion channels. These changes modulate the strength of synaptic transmission, encode information, and allow for adaptive behaviors. We are developing and using small molecules to track the functional states of glutamate-gated ion channels at neuronal synapses.
Natural hormones, cellular metabolites, and other small molecules drive specific changes in the structure and activity of nuclear receptors. In response to ligand binding, nuclear receptors form protein complexes that control gene transcription events underlying development, homeostasis, and many diseases. We are designing small molecules to manipulate gene transcription by precisely controlling the activity of nuclear receptors.
I am a bioengineer focusing on micro and nanofabrication techniques to create new devices for drug and cell delivery as well as biomaterials for cell and tissue regeneration. I am the immediate past chair of seven years of the Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, a joint department in the UCSF Schools of Pharmacy and Medicine.
I manage the Biological and Medical Informatics (BMI) Graduate Program as well as the Designated Emphasis in Complex Biological Systems (CBS) which supports multiple programs. I manage all aspects of the BMI program including admissions and recruitment, funding, grants, events, curriculum, and student advising.
My work considers the activities of industries implicated in the spread of non-communicable diseases, including tobacco, pharmaceuticals, cannabis, alcohol, and food. Some recent work has identified tobacco cessation strategies for vulnerable populations, sought to understand the scope of tobacco and cannabis co-use, assessed the spread of laws addressing new tobacco and cannabis delivery systems, and identified the extent of pharmacist prescribing. My work has been published in journals in multiple disciplines, including law, medicine, pharmacy, political science, public health, and public policy. I’ve been an instructor and research mentor in the UCSF School of Pharmacy since 2004.
In my lab, I seek to understand design principles of biological systems and how biological networks rewire during disease progression. I bring to my biology research a blend of experimental science, engineering, and mathematics. Projects in my lab integrate advance technology, experiment, machine-learning based analysis and data-driven mathematical modeling.