Nathan Cherrington, PhD named Musil Family Endowed Chair in Drug Discovery

Nathan Cherrington, PhD, associate dean of research and director of the Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center (SWEHSC), has been appointed the Musil Family Endowed Chair in Drug Discovery. 

In 2019, alumnus and National Advisory Board member John D. Musil, PharmD ’94, along with his family, established the endowment in honor of his entrepreneurial endeavors and his family’s dedication to fostering a healthier and better tomorrow for society. 

The endowed chair is a prestigious acknowledgment designed to recognize top faculty members, recruit and retain distinguished professors, and appoint leaders in specific areas of interest to the college. Functioning in perpetuity, the endowed gift enables support for commitments to senior faculty and the initiation of pioneering research. 

Rick Schnellmann, PhD, dean of the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy and the Howard J. Schaeffer Endowed Chair in Pharmaceutical Sciences, said Dr. Cherrington’s appointment as the Musil Family Endowed Chair is a testament to his contributions and dedication to the College. 

“We are pleased to announce his appointment as the distinguished holder of the Musil Family Endowed Chair,” he said. “This recognition not only acknowledges Dr. Cherrington’s exceptional contributions to our College but also honors the support and vision of John Musil.” 

Dr. Cherrington’s more than 20-year tenure with College of Pharmacy began in 2002 when he started as an assistant professor in the department of pharmacology and toxicology. Over the years, he ascended the academic ranks, becoming a professor in 2012 and assuming the directorship of SWEHSC in 2015. His leadership role continued to evolve with his appointment as associate dean of research for the College in 2016.  

“The remarkable milestones in my career have never been the outcome of deliberate choices on my part, but rather the serendipity, good fortune, or divine providence that led me to collaborate with an extraordinary array of mentors, students, and friends,” Dr. Cherrington said. “Their inspiration and support have been the catalysts for the exciting scientific endeavors that we’ve facilitated together.”

Dr. Cherrington, an authority in drug metabolism and disposition, has authored more than 200 journal articles, focusing specifically on liver damage. Beyond his research contributions, he actively participates in various professional organizations and committees, including the Society of Toxicology Continuing Education Committee and the Arizona Board of Regents Center for Toxicology.

Xinxin Ding, PhD, a professor and head of the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology for the Coit College of Pharmacy, emphasized Dr. Cherrington’s expertise in drug transporter research--an essential area for ensuring the efficacy and safety of current drugs and new drug candidates. 

“The Musil Endowed Chair provides vital support to advancing our College’s commitment to excellence across key scientific disciplines such as pharmacology, toxicology and drug discovery,” Dr. Ding said. “These areas are critical to the ongoing success of our College, and the support from the Musil Endowed Chair will allow Dr. Cherrington to pursue high-risk projects and novel approaches.”