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 January 2026 Highlighted Trainee Authors.
Rami Shahror, PhD
The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
Rami Shahror, PhD, is a Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Shahror had a keen interest in the pathology of central nervous system degeneration at the beginning of his graduate studies. The principal factor that influenced his decision to pursue a postdoctoral fellowship in retinal neurodegeneration was having the opportunity to join pharmacologist and neurovascular scientist Dr. Abdel Fouda’s lab.
“My research, ‘Recent advances and future challenges in nanosystems for ocular drug delivery,’ focuses on identifying proteins linked to harmful blood vessel formation in the retina due to ischemia, which can lead to retinopathy and vision loss,” Shahror explained. “The main goal of my research is to create more effective treatments to prevent vision loss in patients with retinal disease.” Additionally, he hopes his research provides a new niche for understanding the role of myeloid cells and endothelial cells’ interaction in the progression of retinopathy using different models.
For Shahror, the most rewarding part of his research was the moment he and his team identified multiple protein hits in aqueous humor samples from patients with Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO), a sudden blockage of the blood supply to the retina that leads to vision loss. It was the first proteomic study of CRAO’s aqueous humor, opening the door to potential future therapeutic targets.
Being published in the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics is a significant milestone for Shahror. “It provides validation from experts in the field that my work is impactful and ensures that scientific contributions are shared with the most relevant and engaged scientific community.”
Shahror’s long-term goal is to contribute to a deeper understanding of the underlying pathological mechanisms of retinal ischemia and neurotrauma-associated retinopathies. His current research focuses on identifying new treatments for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), and he aims to apply his expertise in nanosystems, neurodegeneration, and neovascularization to identify novel and effective therapeutic targets for ROP.
Vrishali Salian, PhD
Vrishali Salian, PhD, is a Postdoctoral Associate in Experimental Pharmacology at the University of Minnesota. She was drawn to serving the public through science from a young age. She attributes her motivation to pursue a career in research to her father, a physician, who exposed her to the impact that medical knowledge and compassionate care have on people’s lives. During her master’s program, Salian discovered a deep passion for scientific inquiry, which then led her to pursue her PhD, where she could challenge herself intellectually and contribute to meaningful questions that matter.
Salian’s research, “Elucidating Molecular Mechanisms Governing TNF-Alpha-Mediated Regulation of Amyloid Beta 42 Uptake in Blood-Brain Barrier Endothelial Cells,” focuses on finding early warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Many people are diagnosed only after significant memory loss has already occurred. She studies how cerebrovascular inflammation affects the brain’s protective barrier and how this changes the levels of key proteins linked to Alzheimer’s. If these changes are detected early and more accurately, the disease could be diagnosed sooner, better monitored, and ultimately improve patient care.
“The anticipated impact of my research is to identify novel targets for the diagnosis and treatment of cerebrovascular inflammation in Alzheimer’s disease by understanding the mechanistic connections among Aβ accumulation and cerebrovascular inflammation in Alzheimer’s disease,” Salian shared.
Currently, Salian is pursuing a postdoctoral position in experimental and clinical pharmacology, where she will focus on research in epilepsy during pregnancy. Looking ahead, she plans to build a career in industry as a research scientist specializing in pharmacokinetic modeling and model-informed drug development. She hopes to integrate her background in molecular mechanisms with advanced quantitative approaches to support the development of safer and more effective therapies.
For Salian, being published in Molecular Pharmacology is a significant honor. “Having my work accepted and highlighted in such a respected forum reinforces the value and quality of my research and motivates me to continue pursuing impactful scientific questions.”