Rick G. Schnellmann Honored by Southern Arizona VA

Rick G. Schnellmann, PhD, dean of the University of Arizona R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy and the Howard J. Schaeffer Endowed Chair in Pharmaceutical Sciences, was named the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System’s Investigator of the Year 2024.

The annual award honors efforts in furthering the health care system’s research.

“I’m honored to be recognized by the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS) as their Investigator of the Year,” said Schnellmann. “It’s been a privilege to work with Veterans’ Affairs, pursuing critical research for kidney disease and spinal cord injury. I’m proud of our longstanding partnership and look forward to continuing to advance science in service of the veteran community.”

Dawn Schwenke, PhD, former associate chief of staff for research for the Southern Arizona VA, nominated Schnellmann, who has served as Dean and the Howard J. Schaeffer Endowed Chair in Pharmaceutical Sciences is also a Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology and a member of the BIO5 Institute. The nomination cited Schnellmann as the only SAVAHCS investigator who mentored another researcher to successful VA funding. Additionally, his contributions to advancing SAVAHCS research, his productivity in scholarly publications and grants, and recognition for awards and service to the organization were also cited for the honor. Specifically, Schnellmann’s efforts contributed to $1.29 million in VA research funding in fiscal year 2024, 41% of that year’s total, according to the SAVAHCS. 

Schnellmann studies mitochondrial dysfunction and biogenesis, with a focus on identifying and developing drugs to treat acute kidney injury, diabetic kidney disease, stroke, spinal cord injury and Parkinson's disease. His research has been funded continuously since 1987 and includes NIH grant funding totaling more than $38 million.

Earlier this year, Schnellmann received the Career Achievement Award from the Mechanisms Specialty Section of the Society of Toxicology. He also was named a fellow of the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.

A version of this story originally appeared on the University of Arizona Health Sciences website.