Biography

About Me

Dr. Thomas N. Ferraro is a Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at CMSRU and is engaged actively in many facets of the school's educational, research and service missions. Dr. Ferraro earned his Ph.D. in Pharmacology from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia (1985) and joined the Jefferson faculty as Instructor (1986). Following promotion to Assistant Professor (1990) and Associate Professor (1995), Dr. Ferraro moved his laboratory to the University of Pennsylvania (1997) where he became a member of the Center for Neurobiology and Behavior in the Department of Psychiatry. He also assumed the role of Assistant Dean for Animal Research at the University of Pennsylvania (2009). Dr. Ferraro joined CMSRU in May 2013. Dr. Ferraro is recognized internationally as an expert in pharmacology, neuroscience and genetics. His teaching resume includes many years as lecturer, laboratory instructor and small-group leader for medical students, graduate students and medical residents, both at Jefferson Medical School and the Medical School of the University of Pennsylvania in addition to CMSRU. With respect to research, Dr. Ferraro's laboratory has been funded continually by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) since 1994 with grant awards totaling over $10 million. These projects have been focused on neurological and psychiatric illnesses, especially epilepsy and drug addiction. Dr. Ferraro has published over 100 peer-reviewed scientific research papers. His research uses the study of animal models to inform the study of patient populations, an approach that generates experimental synergism and maximizes clinical relevance. Currently, Dr. Ferraro's lab is funded by an NIH grant on clinical and genetic risk factors for developing addiction to prescription opioids in collaboration with researchers from Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, PA and the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. In addition to research and teaching, Dr. Ferraro is engaged in many forms of service to the local and academic communities. Some of these activities include membership on NIH advisory panels on Research and Research Training and Career Development (since 1998) and service as a research consultant to the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Coatesville PA (since 1990). Dr. Ferraro is also a past-president and current member of the council of the Philadelphia Area Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience. Community service activity includes career day lectures to students in elementary and high schools as well as presentations on the importance of animal research in the 21st Century biomedical enterprise.