Aaron Mohs, PhD, named associate dean in pharmacy

The UNMC College of Pharmacy has named Aaron Mohs, PhD, associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences, as its new associate dean for research and graduate studies. Dr. Mohs aims to continue the college’s legacy as one of the nation’s top pound-for-pound pharmacy research enterprises.

"We have an outstanding foundation for research and graduate studies in our college," Dr. Mohs said. "It has a history of excellence. I look forward to this role, where I’ll be able to work with outstanding colleagues to take the next steps in collaborative research efforts, ensuring that our graduate students have top training and career opportunities. It’s an honor and privilege to serve the UNMC College of Pharmacy."

Dean Keith Olsen, PharmD, said, "The college is excited for Dr. Mohs to lead our efforts in research and new discoveries of medications and their use. The college is nationally recognized as one of the top colleges of pharmacy in research funding, and this is a testament to our internationally known faculty."

The position serves as part of the college’s leadership team and as pharmacy’s liaison to greater campus research efforts. The associate dean also will play a critical role in growing the pharmaceutical sciences graduate program in collaboration with UNMC Graduate Studies.

"Aaron’s research experience and service as faculty senate president make him a fantastic fit for this position," said Donald Klepser, PhD, the college’s associate dean for academic affairs, who chaired the search committee.

Dr. Mohs is a prodigious researcher who has been honored as a UNMC Distinguished Scientist.

He has done groundbreaking work in using fluorescent imaging contrast agents for biologic detection. These efforts are often "a combination of organic chemistry, spectroscopy, microbiology, statistics and (artificial intelligence)," Dr. Mohs said.

He recently earned a $1.79 million grant from the National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute on preclinical development of a novel antibody conjugate for intraoperative detection of pancreatic cancer. Dr. Mohs also is proud of an intercollege collaboration with the UNMC College of Medicine’s Sarah Holstein, MD, PhD, targeting new drugs for multiple myeloma.

His research also has been funded by the NIH National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering.

Dr. Mohs holds memberships with the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center and the Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine and is a National Strategic Research Institute UNMC fellow. He is immediate past president of the UNMC Faculty Senate. Dr. Mohs also has helped organize the UNMC Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences’ annual academia-industry workshop.