In This Section

Mid-Atlantic Pharmacology Society (MAPS)

MAPS Logo

Background and Mission Statement 

Mission

The Mid-Atlantic Pharmacology Society (MAPS) is a constituent chapter of the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET). The mission of MAPS is to provide a forum for scientists and trainees in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States with an interest in pharmacology to discuss recent advances in pharmacology, the development of therapeutics, and engagement with related disciplines. MAPS strengthens the development of future scientists through encouraging participation in scientific meetings and promoting the interaction of students and postdoctoral fellows with local industrial and academic scientists. 

Background

MAPS was formed in 1987 by a group of Philadelphia pharmacologists (Warren Chernick, Jay Roberts, Paul Bianchi and J. Bryan Smith) to provide scientists in the Philadelphia geographical region (New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware) the opportunity to discuss recent advances in pharmacology, therapeutics, and related biomedical sciences. From 1987 to 1997, the society hosted two meetings a year. To encourage trainee participation in the meeting, a poster competition was initiated for graduate students and postdoctoral trainees. Beginning in 1998, MAPS began holding one annual fall meeting, and in 2004 the society instituted the practice of inviting undergraduate students to attend the meeting and encouraged them to present their research in the poster competition. Over the years, MAPS has welcomed scientists and trainees beyond the Philadelphia geographical region and has extended membership to the entire Mid-Atlantic region.

The renowned physician and pharmacologist, George B. Koelle was a member of MAPS and was honored in 1991 with an entire meeting devoted to the discussion of topics related to his research.  In subsequent years, the society selected one speaker to deliver a lecture in honor of Dr. Koelle at the fall meeting. Dr. Koelle enjoyed presenting the speaker with an award plaque.  With the passing of Dr. Koelle in 1995, MAPS replaced the lecture with the George B. Koelle award. At each meeting, this award is presented to a local scientist who most closely emulates the outstanding qualities exemplified by Dr. Koelle: a profound commitment to teaching, a fondness for encouraging students, excellence in research and a strong devotion to the science of pharmacology. The interaction of students and postdoctoral fellows with local industrial and academic scientists was strongly encouraged by our founders, and a poster competition was created to promote the work of trainees in the region.

In honor of a Past President, Bradford D. Fischer, MAPS created the Bradford Fischer Travel award. Dr. Fischer was a devoted pharmacology researcher, a strong supporter of trainee involvement in MAPS, and encouraged their involvement in ASPET. This award provides financial assistance to a trainee to defray the costs of attending the ASPET annual meeting held the following spring.

Chapter Annual Meeting

Each meeting consists of presentations by 3-5 local scientists and a Keynote address organized around a topic of current interest in pharmacology. Scientists from our region will give presentations on their area of expertise as it relates to the theme of the meeting and a leader in the field, past presenters have been Nobel laureates, is invited to present the Keynote address on the major theme of the meeting. After the Keynote presentation, two trainees are invited to present their research in short talks. Time for the audience to pose questions is always provided and discussion is encouraged. The oral sessions are followed by the Bradford Fischer Travel awardee’s research presentation. 

The day has typically been complemented by a Biotechnology Roundtable discussion/Fireside chat, in which the audience engages in lively Q&A with several scientific representatives from regional biotechnology companies. In addition to the poster sessions, the meeting schedule includes time for networking over lunch, during the Biotechnology Roundtable/Fireside chat and at the awards reception. In some years, we have also included workshops about careers in pharmacology for students and postdoctoral researchers. Meeting fees for all trainees are substantially reduced from full member fees.

The competitive poster session is a highlight of the meeting. Due to the popularity, we extended the poster presentations to an AM and a PM session to enhance poster viewing and increase the exposure to the trainees. The poster competition is a judged event and the winners in each division receive cash prizes and a certificate. Other presenters (research associates who do not have a doctoral degree) are also permitted to showcase their work with a poster. However, they are not eligible for the poster competition. Poster presentations do not need to be related to the theme of the meeting and can be on any research topic related to biomedical sciences or pharmaceutical research. The society seeks to maintain a dynamic existence and draws upon its Board of Councilors, as well as members, to suggest new and timely topics for each meeting. 

The 2026 Mid-Atlantic Pharmacology Society Annual Meeting will be held Friday, October 16, 2026, at the Health Sciences Building of Drexel University College of Medicine, 60 North 36th Street, University City, Philadelphia, PA. The theme of this year's meeting is "Pharmacology of Personalized Medicine: Roles of Pharmacokinetics & Pharmacogenomics."

                                                                                                                                      

Officers and Councilors (2023–2026)

  • President – Linda Console-Bram, PhD | CME Developer and Facilitator | (t) 610-507-9172 | email gr8pharmowl@gmail.com

  • Vice-President and President-Elect– Seena Ajit, PhD | Drexel Univ College of Medicine, Dept. of Pharmacology & Physiology, 245 N. 15th Street, MS 488, Philadelphia, PA 19102 | (t) 215-762-2218 | email ska52@drexel.edu

  • Immediate Past President – R. Kyle Palmer, PhD | Opertech Bio, Inc., Pennovation Center, 3401Grays Ferry Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19146 | (t) 267-753-4407 | email kpalmer@opertechbio.com

  • Treasurer – Amanda Fakira, PhD | Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, 401 South Broadway, Camden, NJ 08103 | (t) 856-361-2872 | email fakira@rowan.edu

  • Secretary – Catherine C. Moore, PhD | West Center for Computational Chemistry and Drug Design, Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, 600 S. 43rd St., Philadelphia, PA 19104 | (t) 215-605-3320 | email moorecac@gmail.com

  • Councilor – Carol L. Beck, PhD | Dept. of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Thomas Jefferson Univ., 1020 Locust St., Room M-46 JAH, Philadelphia, PA  19107 | (t) 215-503-6539 | email carol.beck@jefferson.edu

  • Councilor – Julie A. Blendy, PhD | Department of Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania Medical School, 2211 Translational Research Laboratories, 125 South 31st Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 | (t) (215) 898-0730| email blendy@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

  • Councilor - Michele Hummel, PhD | Early Phase Development and Translational Science, Otsuka, 508 Carnegie Center, Princeton, NJ 08540 | (t) 215-740-9011 | email michelle.hummel@otsuka-us.com

  • Councilor – Saadet Inan, MD PhD | Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Department of Neural Sciences, Center for Substance Abuse Research, Medical Education and Research Building (MERB), 3500 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140 | (t) 215 7074110 | email saadet.inan@temple.edu

  • Councilor – Thomas M. Keck, PhD | Dept. of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Dept. Biological & Biomedical Sciences, Rowan University, SCI 301B, 201 Mullica Hill Rd, Glassboro, NJ 08028 | (t) 856-256‐5422 | email keckt@rowan.edu

  • Councilor – Sandhya Kortagere, PhD | Drexel University College of Medicine, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, 2900 W. Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129 | (t) 215-991-8135 | email sk673@drexel.edu

  • Councilor - Charles P. Scott, PhD | Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, 833 Bluemle Life Sciences Building, 233 South 10th St., Philadelphia, PA 19107 | (t) (215) 503-4569 | email charles.scott@jefferson.edu

  • Councilor – Ellen M. Unterwald, PhD | Center for Substance Abuse Research, Dept of Neural Sciences, Temple Univ. Lewis Katz School of Medicine, 3500 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19540 |(t) 215-707-1681 | email Ellen.Unterwald@temple.edu

  • Councilor – Sara Jane Ward, PhD | Center for Substance Abuse Research, Dept. of Neural     Sciences, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple Univ., 3500 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19140 |(t) 215-707-1681 | email saraward@temple.edu

  • Trainee Councilor - Michael Ippolito, PhD | Center for Substance Abuse Research, Temple Univ. Lewis Katz School of Medicine, 3500 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19540 | (t) 215-707-6112 | email mike.ippolito@temple.edu

 

Job Postings