A Conversation with ASPET’s newest Council board member, Harshini Neelakantan, PhD
Harshini Neelakantan, PhD, is a newly elected member of the ASPET Council. Dr. Neelakantan is the Executive Director of Research and Development at Ridgeline Therapeutics in Houston, Texas. She has been an ASPET member since 2010 and served as the past Program Committee Lead and Secretary/Treasurer of the Division for Drug Discovery and Development. She is currently a member of the Science Policy Committee and a co-Chair of the Industry Science Committee. Dr. Neelakantan shares her story and advice for young scientists.
How did you get started in pharmacology?
I first got introduced to the discipline of pharmacology as an undergraduate when I completed my Bachelor of Pharmacy degree in one of the premier research-focused institutes (BITS Pilani) in India. Under the guidance of my undergraduate research mentor, I gained invaluable exposure to in vivo pharmacology and preclinical drug development research by assessing the effects of synthetic gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) derivatives using translation rodent models of neuropathic pain. My early experience naturally led me to pursue a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences at Temple University School of Pharmacy in Philadelphia, where I specialized in Pharmacodynamics with a focus on behavioral pharmacology and pain therapeutics development research. This formative training and foundational expertise continues to drive my research career today.
How did you first get involved with ASPET?
I first became a member of ASPET in 2010 when my graduate school mentor, Dr. Ellen Walker, encouraged me to submit an abstract and attend the annual meeting the same year. Since then, I have remained an active member and attended all but one annual conference. During my early membership years, ASPET’s support of my research through travel and poster competition awards, along with extensive networking opportunities with leading pharmacologists, fueled my enthusiasm for the organization. Over time, I gradually grew into the Society as my involvement expanded with my contributions to various committees and divisions, symposia and annual meeting events, and eventually my service in leadership positions. These roles included serving as Program Committee Lead and Secretary/Treasurer for the Division for Drug Discovery and Development, and most recently as a co-Chair of ASPET’s Industry Science Committee.
What do you want the ASPET membership to know about you and your ideas on how to move the organization forward during your term?
ASPET demonstrates exceptional commitment to supporting trainees and fostering their professional development. Having benefited from this support personally, I am passionate about ensuring future early-career scientists receive similar opportunities. The organization’s strategic priorities—serving as the professional home for all pharmacologists and establishing itself as pharmacology’s premier voice—resonate strongly with me. Working in the biotech sector, I am particularly invested in strengthening ASPET’s connections with industry, promoting the organization’s mission among private sector scientists, and helping academic members recognize pharmacology’s integral relevance to emerging technologies. Additionally, ASPET’s Government Affairs and Science Policy Committee has consistently championed federal research funding and advocated for sound policies affecting scientific research and the biomedical workforce. Through my roles on the ASPET Council, as co-chair of the Industry Science Committee, and as a Science Policy Committee member, I am committed to advancing these important initiatives.
What has been your proudest accomplishment in your career so far?
A defining accomplishment in my research career has been co-inventing a novel therapeutics technology and shepherding it from initial discovery to the approaching IND (Investigational New Drug) filing. Leading this drug discovery and development program from its inception has deepened my appreciation for my fundamental training in pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences, which has been critical to my contributions to this translational work. Today, I am proud to share this journey with our next-generation scientists who are looking to adopt a similar career path.
What advice would you give young scientists who are just starting out in their careers?
My advice for young scientists is the following: Enjoy your career journey—it is a marathon, not a sprint. Be flexible, ready to pivot, and embrace change, as change is the only constant in your career, especially during today’s challenging and uncertain times. Cultivate a growth mindset, as learning never stops in this rapidly evolving technological era. Finally, build a strong network and engage intentionally with professional scientific communities to get the support and guidance you need as you navigate your career trajectory.
