Dr. Rick Schnellmann joined the University of Arizona as professor and dean of the College of Pharmacy in 2016. He has consistently maintained a successful research program involving both basic and translational research. His primary expertise is mitochondrial biogenesis (MB), injury and homeostasis. Specifically, his drug discovery program has focused on MB as a therapeutic target for acute and chronic diseases. His team has identified several FDA-approved drugs and new chemical entities that are potent and specific inducers of MB. These MB-inducing agents have shown to be effective as treatment in preclinical models of diverse diseases, Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injury and acute kidney injury. He has been continuously funded by NIH and VA, has published more than 200 manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals and more than 20 book chapters. He has also consistently mentored next generation scientists including 27 doctoral students and 19 postdoctoral fellows.