Each month, the editors of three of the ASPET journals choose their Highlighted Trainee Authors. These early-career scientists are recognized for their innovative research published in The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Drug Metabolism and Disposition, and Molecular Pharmacology. This feature showcases selected young scientists, demonstrates what drives them, and reveals why pharmacology is important to them. This month we are featuring the April 2026 Highlighted Trainee Authors.
Alex White, PhD
Alex White, PhD, started his college journey as a pharmacy student and then elected to pursue a dual degree program for a PharmD and Masters in Pharmaceutical Sciences, which required research experience. After joining a G protein-couple receptors (GPCR) pharmacology-focused lab, he fell in love with the research process.
While completing four years of a six-year program, he transferred to pursue a PhD in molecular pharmacology. This decision was hugely influenced by Dr. Medhane Cumbay, who was his first research advisor in the aforementioned GPCR pharmacology lab. White is currently a Research Advisor for in vitro pharmacology at Eli Lilly and Company.
White’s published article, “Extracellular domain-dependent modulation of class B1 G-protein–coupled receptor signaling,” focuses on understanding the signaling mechanisms of GPCR that underlie their biology with the hopes that these insights can be exploited to develop novel therapies to improve the lives of patients.
“I hope to expand our knowledge base of GPCR activation and signaling mechanisms and their determinants, with an emphasis that not all findings are required to fit within a single established paradigm. Nuance is permitted in biological systems,” he shares.
Being on the frontline of scientific discovery, performing experiments and reporting findings not previously found in literature is the most rewarding part of White’s research so far. Importantly, building on the work of those who came before makes those achievements possible.
From a professional standpoint, White is excited to continue a career in the pharmaceutical industry, specifically in the realm of drug discovery. For White, being published in Molecular Pharmacology is an honor.
Alex Mabou Tagne, PharmD, PhD
The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
“I was born in Cameroon, where I witnessed how easily curable diseases often became life-threatening due to limited access to effective and affordable treatments,” says Alex Mabou Tagne, PharmD, PhD. “These experiences deeply troubled me and inspired my commitment to improving human health through research on diseases that disproportionately affect underserved populations, with the goal of developing therapies that are safe, effective, and accessible.”
After receiving his PharmD, instead of pursuing a traditional pharmacy career like many of his peers, Mabou Tagne chose to follow his passion for research and pursued his PhD. In 2020, he joined Piomelli lab at University of California, Irvine, as a postdoctoral scholar to further develop his research skills. Dr. Piomelli’s passion for research and rigorous mentorship was instrumental in shaping his decision to pursue a career in academia. After receiving an NIH K01 Career Development Award, he became an Assistant Professor at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.
Mabou Tagne’s research, “Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of cannabigerol in male mice,” investigates how cannabigerol (CBG) behaves in the body and how it affects brain function. CBG is a non-intoxicating component of cannabis that is increasingly used by the public for conditions such as anxiety, yet little is known about how it works in the body. “In this study, we developed a sensitive analytical method to measure CBG and its primary metabolite, cyclo-CBG, and used it to track how these two compounds move through the body in mice,” he shares. They found that CBG is rapidly cleared and has limited penetration into the brain, while its metabolite accumulates in neural tissue.
“My work contributes to the field of pharmacology in three important ways: it establishes a rigorous analytical platform for the study of CBG and its metabolite cyclo-CBG; it reveals previously unsuspected pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of CBG and its metabolite; and it directly links pharmacokinetics with behavioral pharmacology outcomes,” he explained.
For Mabou Tagne, troubleshooting experiments, learning from failures, and ultimately solving difficult problems is one of the most satisfying parts of doing research. It’s also rewarding to see other scientists build upon his work and use it as a foundation for their own research. “Because my work has translational implications for pain therapy, it is especially meaningful when patients share that approaches informed by our findings have helped alleviate pain.”
Mabou Tagne’s long-term goal is to establish an independent research program that integrates organoid-based new approach methodologies, human patient samples, and other new translational approaches to elucidate pain pathogenesis in understudied and clinically challenging conditions, including sickle cell disease, pancreatitis, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. Ultimately, he would like to identify novel therapeutic targets and advance the development of safe, effective, and affordable treatments for people who are suffering from chronic pain.
Over the past four years, Mabou Tagne has published three first-author papers in The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. “I value the high quality of the peer-review process, as well as the professionalism with which manuscripts are handled.”
Yimei Wang
Drug Metabolism and Disposition
“My career path has been driven by a desire to integrate my background in chemistry and biochemistry with the complexities of pharmacology and toxicology,” says Yimei Wang, a PhD candidate and Graduate Student Researcher at University of California, Davis.
Her development as a researcher has been influenced by her mentor, Dr. Aiming Yu. Wang originally joined his laboratory to conduct undergraduate research and chose to remain there to pursue her PhD dissertation research on the importance of microRNA-controlled (MiRNA) posttranscriptional gene regulation in drug metabolism.
Wang’s published research, “Design, expression, purification, and application of novel recombinant miR-491 molecules to define the biogenesis and function of miR-491-3p versus -5p in posttranscriptional regulation of UGT1A1,” utilizes in vivo fermentation with tRNA scaffold and tRNA-fused pre-miRNA carrier technologies to produce novel recombinant miRNA molecules (BioRNAs). “By understanding how these tiny molecules can affect enzyme activity, we can better anticipate how a patient will respond to a medication. This knowledge can lead to safer treatment options and help in discovering new methods for combating diseases using RNA technology.”
Wang hopes that her research advances the understanding of how miRNAs regulate drug metabolism and disposition by showcasing the effectiveness of novel recombinant miRNA agents as powerful tools for pharmacological studies. For Wang, a key achievement of her research was producing six novel recombinant miR-491 molecules using an innovative in vivo fermentation process with tRNA scaffolds and tRNA-fused pre-miRNA carrier technologies.
Currently in the 4th year of her PhD journey, Wang aims to continue her dissertation research on the posttranscriptional regulation of other drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters. Looking ahead, Wang plans to transition into the pharmaceutical industry, where she can apply her expertise in drug metabolism, pharmacokinetics, and RNA biochemistry to drug discovery and development.
Being published in Drug Metabolism and Disposition represents a significant milestone in Wang’s PhD study. “Having my first-author work featured provides an excellent platform to share my findings with experts in the field. This validates the rigor of my doctoral training and motivates me to continue pursuing impactful research.”