Fengtian Xue, PhD, professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (PSC) at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, has been appointed the department’s chair, effective Oct. 15, 2026, Dean Sarah L.J. Michel, PhD, announced.

Xue, who has served as the School’s associate dean for research since April 2025, brings extensive experience in medicinal chemistry, a sustained record of scholarship and research funding, extensive collaborations, and a longstanding commitment to teaching and mentoring students. He joined the School in 2011 and has helped advance its research enterprise while supporting faculty across the School.

“Dr. Xue brings a thoughtful, collaborative approach to leadership and a deep understanding of what it takes to build a successful research program,” said Michel, who is also a professor in PSC. “Working with him as associate dean for research has given me the opportunity to see his strengths firsthand. I look forward to partnering with him in this new role as we continue to support our faculty, students, and research mission.”

Xue said he looks forward to working with department colleagues to strengthen PSC’s research, education, and partnerships.

“I am honored to serve as the next chair of PSC. My priority is to bring our department together as a unified team and provide support to strengthen research funding, advance educational excellence, recruit talented faculty, and expand academic and industry partnerships. I look forward to working alongside my colleagues to turn these goals into meaningful progress,” Xue said.

The appointment follows a process that began with an external search. Xue has earned strong support from faculty and staff in PSC and across the School.

Advancing research and discovery

Xue’s research focuses on medicinal chemistry and the development of small molecules that can help researchers better understand disease mechanisms and identify potential treatments. His collaborative work spans cancer, infectious diseases, alcohol use disorder, and kidney disease.

Among his research contributions, Xue and his collaborators have developed inhibitors of BCL6, a protein that supports the survival of certain cancers, and demonstrated their activity against aggressive lymphomas in preclinical models. His work with PSC colleagues has also explored approaches to improve the effectiveness of cancer chemotherapy while reducing cardiac toxicity.

His antimicrobial research examines gallium-based compounds that interfere with iron acquisition and signaling in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with the goal of inhibiting bacterial growth and disrupting biofilms. More recently, he has pursued selective inhibitors of ALDH2 as potential treatments for alcohol use disorder and inhibitors of Wnt signaling as potential approaches to treating renal fibrosis and chronic kidney disease.

Xue’s research has received support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Science Foundation, Maryland Industrial Partnerships, and the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation. Recent funding includes a $2.8 million NIH grant with Hongbing Wang, PhD, to improve chemotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer and a $2.7 million NIH grant with Yan Shu, PhD, to develop small-molecule therapeutics for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. He also received NIH support for developing ALDH2 inhibitors to treat alcohol use disorders and funding through the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s Baltimore Life Science Discovery Accelerator program for his antimicrobial research.

As associate dean for research, Xue has helped strengthen the School’s research funding portfolio and secure University support for research initiatives. His experience working with faculty to develop collaborations and advance research programs will inform his leadership as department chair.

A commitment to teaching and mentorship

In addition to his research, Xue has made significant contributions to education and mentorship, working with PhD, MS, and PharmD students. The School recognized his teaching and mentorship with the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Teacher of the Year Award in 2017 and the Faculty Preceptor of the Year Award in 2023.

He is also a coauthor of the fourth edition of The Organic Chemistry of Drug Design and Drug Action. His previous leadership roles at the School include vice chair of academic affairs in PSC, co-director of the Metallotherapeutics Research Center, and director of the High-Throughput and NMR Core Facilities.

As chair, Xue will work with faculty, staff, and students to advance the department’s research and educational programs, support faculty at all career stages, and strengthen opportunities for students and trainees. He also will help expand collaborations within the School and across the University. He will work closely with faculty and staff to identify priorities and keep the department informed and engaged as this work moves forward.

Michel also thanked Wang for his thoughtful and steady leadership as interim chair, “I am grateful for Dr. Wang’s partnership and the time and care he has devoted to supporting PSC’s faculty, staff, and students,” she said.