Provost Dr. Ohia's Bio

NAME:	Sunny E. OHIA
Address:     (Work)	Texas Southern University Office of Academic Affairs Hannah Hall, Suite 305 3100 Cleburne Street Houston, TX 77004 Phone: (713) 313-1133 Fax: (713) 313-1999 E-mail: ohiase@tsu.edu

EDUCATION

Institution:

(a)   University of Ibadan, Nigeria (1975-1978).
(b)   University of Ibadan, Nigeria (1979-1981).
(c)   University of Glasgow, United Kingdom (1982-1986).

Degrees Earned:

(a)   Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Pharmacology with Second Class Honors (Upper Division
        - equivalent to Magna Cum Laude) - July, 1978.
(b)   Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Pharmacology and Therapeutics - September, 1981.
       Thesis Supervisor: Professor D.T. Okpako.
(c)   Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Pharmacology - August, 1986.
       Thesis Supervisors: Professor John Gillespie and Dr. Frances Boyle.
       Thesis Examiner: Professor Sir James W. Black, Nobel Laureate.

Special Training Programs:

(1)   Postdoctoral training in Neuroscience, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Canada,
       with Professors Christopher R. Triggle and Detlef Bieger (1986-1988).
(2)   Postdoctoral training in Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville,
       Kentucky, with late Professor James E. Jumblatt (1988-1991).

ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS

Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas:

September 15, 2008 - present: Provost / Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research.

I serve as chief academic officer and chief research officer of the university.

University of Houston, Houston, Texas:

2002-2008:     Dean, College of Pharmacy.

I served as dean at the second oldest College of Pharmacy in Texas with an enrollment of over 500 professional pharmacy and 71 graduate students (pursuing M.S. and Ph.D. degrees). The college had 53 full-time and over 700 adjunct faculty housed in two academic departments and four research centers. The operating budget was about $13 million with $4 million derived from external research funding. Highlights of accomplishments include:

• About 50% net increase in the growth of faculty FTEs.
• Established a new undergraduate degree program in pharmaceutical sciences and a new Ph.D. program in pharmacy administration (awaiting final approval from Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board).
• About 400% increase in total research expenditures
• About 120% increase in the number of endowed scholarships (current market value is over $1.5 million).
• About 70% increase in graduate student enrollment.
• Over 105% increase in total expenditures from State government and local sources.
• Improved research infrastructure by impaneling a Corporate Advisory Board and creating an Office of Research and two new research centers: Institute of Community Health and the Center for Experimental Therapeutics and Pharmacoinformatics.
• Improved administrative resources by creating new Offices of Information Technology, Communications and Alumni Relations.
• Recruitment of the first-ever endowed professor in the college.

Creighton University School of Pharmacy and Health Professions, Omaha, Nebraska:

2000-2002:    Associate Dean for Administration.

1998-2000:    Assistant Dean for Adminstration.

I assisted the Dean with administrative duties and decisions including personnel issues, budget, organizational design, policy and guideline development, and development of new programs. Furthermore, I reviewed all affiliation contractual agreements and served as representative of the School and the Dean’s Office on University-wide committees. I also acted as dean in absence of the substantive Dean.

1997-1999:    Director of Graduate Program, Department of Pharmaceutical & Administrative Sciences.

I served as leader for a new graduate program in the pharmaceutical sciences. I also played a key role in the establishment of joint professional/graduate degree programs such as the Pharm.D./M.S. and the Pharm.D./M.B.A.

1994-1998:    Chairman, Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences.

1992-1994:    Chairman, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

The Department consisted of 18 members of faculty with specialization or interests in the following areas: pharmaceutics, medicinal chemistry, toxicology, immunopharmacology, pharmacokinetics, drug metabolism, pharmacoeconomics, pharmacy law and management, pharmacy administration, pharmacy ethics and geriatric pharmacy. The Department had a Vice Chair who reported directly to the Chair.

TEACHING AND RESEARCH APPOINTMENTS

Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas:
2008 - present:    Professor of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

University of Houston, Houston, Texas:

2002-2008:    Professor of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

University of Texas Health Sciences Center, Houston, TX

2004-present:    Adjunct Professor of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology

University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska:

2000-present:    Adjunct Professor of Ophthalmology.

Creighton University School of Pharmacy and Health Professions, Omaha, Nebraska:

2000-2002:    Professor, Department of Pharmacy Sciences.
                     Professor, Department of Pharmacology.
                     Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences (secondary appointment).

1995-2000:    Associate Professor with Tenure, Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences.
                     Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology (secondary appointment)

1992-1995:    Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology (secondary appointment).

1991-1995:    Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Coordinator of Pharmacology
                     Program.

Kentucky Lions Eye Research Institute, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky:

1988-1991:    Research Associate, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences.

Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada:

1986-1988:    Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Faculty of Medicine.

University of Glasgow, United Kingdom:

1982-1986:    Graduate Demonstrator, Department of Pharmacology.

University of Ibadan, Nigeria:

1979-1982:    Graduate Assistant, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics.

School of Health Technology, Jos, Nigeria:

1978-1979:    Pharmacology Instructor.

CONSULTANTSHIPS

External On-Site Evaluator for the Masters degree program in Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait, October 14-20, 2005.

Invited Reviewer, National Institutes of Health Study Sections, Bethesda, Maryland (2004-2007)
    Visual System SBIR ZRG1 BDCN-F (12) 10/24/08
    Visual System SBIR ZRG1 BDCN-F (12) 3/11-13, 2007
    Visual System SBIR ZRG1 BDCN-F (12) 11/16-17, 2006
    Visual System SBIR ZRG1 BDCN-F (12) 3/20-21, 2006
    Visual System SBIR ZRG1 BDCN-F (12) 3/21-22, 2005
    Visual System SBIR ZRG1 BDCN-F (12) 11/15-16, 2004
    Chair, Visual System SBIR ZRG1 BDCN-J (10) 6/29, 2004
    Visual Systems SBIR ZRG1 BDCN-F (10) (B) 3/22, 2004; 6/28, 2004
    Visual System Pharmacology ZRG1 BDCN-E (12) (M) 3/23, 2004

Windber Research Institute, Windber, Pennsylvania (2001-2004)
    Member, Scientific Advisory Board

Lambo Eye Institute, Lagos, Nigeria (2000-present)

InterHealth Nutraceuticals, Inc., Benicia, California (2000-present)
    Screening nutraceuticals for potential pharmacological effects.

Blanchard and Loeb Publishers, LLC (1999–2004)
    Member: Editorial Advisory Board, Nurse’s Drug Loose Leaf, Nurse’s Drug Handbook

Alcon Laboratories, Inc., Fort Worth, Texas (1993 - present)
    Screening of a variety of chemicals and drugs for their potential therapeutic use in the eye. The company
     is interested in the discovery of new drugs for treating eye disease such as uveitis and glaucoma.

ACADEMIC DISTINCTIONS, FELLOWSHIPS AND AWARDS

2001	National Institutes of Health Academic Research Enhancement Award
1998	National Institutes of Health Academic Research Enhancement Award
1995	Who’s Who in the World; National Institutes of Health Academic Research Enhancement Award
1992	Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association Research Starter Award; American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Grant Program for New Investigators Award; Election to Phi Beta Delta (Honor Society for International Scholars)
1991	American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Young Scientist Travel Award to attend 1991 ASPET Meeting, San Diego, CA.; John C. Kenefick Faculty Development Award
1989-1991	University of Louisville School of Medicine Travel Award (1989, 1990 and 1991).
1986-1988	Postdoctoral Research Fellowship funded by Medical Research Council of Canada
1982-1986	University of Glasgow Postgraduate Award.
1982-1986	Overseas Research Student Award ("O.R.S. Scholar") administered by the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals of United Kingdom Universities based on academic merit and research potential.
1976-1978	University of Ibadan Undergraduate Award ("University Scholar"), for being best student in the Faculty of Science (1975/76 session).

MEMBERSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES

The United States Pharmacopeial Convention (2005-2010)
Society for Free Radical Research-Africa (2004-present)
Omnicron Delta Kappa (2004-present)
Texas Pharmacy Association (2003-2008)
American Pharmaceutical Association (2003-2008)
American Society for Health-System Pharmacists (2002-2008)
Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacists (2002-2008)
Texas Pharmacy Congress (2002-2008)
Oxygen Society (2000)
Nitric Oxide Society (2000)
The Association of African Biomedical Scientists (1999-present)
National Pharmaceutical Association (1999-2008)
Catecholamine Club (1995-present)
Association for Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1995-present)
Western Pharmacological Society (1995-present)
British Pharmacological Society (1994-present)
International Society for Eye Research (1993-present)
Society for Neuroscience (1992)
Sigma Xi (1992-present)
American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (1992-present)
The New York Academy of Sciences (1991)
American Association for the Advancement of Science (1991)
The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (1990-present)
The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (1988-present)
Institute of Biology, United Kingdom (Chartered Biologist - 1983)

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

Research interests in the pharmacology of receptors and signal transduction pathways for neurotransmitters in the mammalian eye. Studies are directed toward identifying and characterizing subtypes of prejunctional (autoreceptors and heteroreceptors) and postjunctional receptors in the iris-ciliary body and retina. The goal of this research is to identify potential target sites that might be of importance in the therapy of ocular diseases such as glaucoma, uveitis and retinal degenerations.