Distinguished Scientist: Joseph Vetro, Ph.D.

This profile is part of a series to highlight the researchers who will be honored at a ceremony for UNMC’s 2017 Scientist Laureate, Distinguished Scientist and New Investigator Award recipients.

• Name: Joseph A. Vetro, Ph.D.
• Title: Associate professor, UNMC College of Pharmacy
• Joined UNMC: 2004
• Hometown: Omaha, Neb.

Research focus:
Drug delivery

The goal of my research is to: Greatly improve cancer treatments and vaccines through the development of nanoscale-sized dosage forms that increase the localization of conventional and unconventional drugs to their sites of action in the body. This potentially improves these therapies by increasing drug potency and efficacy while ideally decreasing off-target effects.

My research will make a difference because: The insufficient localization of drug to its site of action in the body is a major obstacle to the clinical application of many promising new therapies.

The best advice I’ve ever been given: Is summarized best in a quote attributed to Calvin Coolidge and reinforced by my father while growing up: “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”

I would also add, “Don’t take yourself or other people too seriously.”

Three things you may not know about me are:

• Learning the subtle art of “jazz hands” in high school has been surprisingly helpful to my career.
• I have a great sense of humor unless you ask my wife or my archnemesis, Dr. Charles Krobot.
• I was born in Omaha, Neb., but grew up in Iowa starting in the fifth grade (Neola, then Minden).