Department Chair Named Dean of University of Florida College of Pharmacy

Peter Swaan has been with UMSOP for two decades.

By Becky Ceraul
September 15, 2022

Peter Swaan, PhD, chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, associate dean for research and advanced graduate studies, and Distinguished University Professor, has been named the new dean of the University of Florida College of Pharmacy, effective Dec. 1.

Swaan has been on faculty at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy since 2003. Over his nearly two decades, Swaan has made an enormous impact through his research, teaching, mentorship, and administrative responsibilities, which include service as department chair, associate dean for research and advanced graduate studies, and as previous director of our Center for Nano-biotechnology.

He has taught Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) and graduate students and has been on advisory committees for more than 50 PhD students. He has mentored numerous postdoctoral scholars, with 25 PhDs having graduated under his mentorship who are now working in academia, the pharmaceutical industry, government, and regulatory agencies.

Swaan’s research has focused on all aspects of transport proteins in drug targeting and delivery, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and innovative methods for drug delivery, with a special emphasis on nanotechnology platforms aimed at increasing oral drug bioavailability. His major research contributions involve the application of transporters as targets for prodrugs; additionally, he pioneered the application of computational techniques to determining structural requirements of membrane transporters, thereby paving the way for the rational discovery of novel substrates and inhibitors. His work has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, and various foundations and non-profits as well as the pharmaceutical industry. He holds several US patents and served as editor-in-chief for the Nature-Springer journal Pharmaceutical Research from 2010 to 2021.

“We will miss Dr. Swaan when he leaves for Florida, but seeing the advancement and growth of his career and knowing that his experiences here have prepared him for this opportunity is rewarding and a reflection of our School’s continued expertise, influence, and impact,” says Natalie D. Eddington, PhD, FAAPS, FCP, dean and professor of the School of Pharmacy.

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