2014 P.B. Dews Awardee - Dr. James H. Woods
James H Woods, professor in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Michigan Medical School, is the recipient of the 2014 P.B. Dews Lifetime Achievement Award in Behavioral Pharmacology. The award is given in alternate years and honors the fundamental contributions of P.B. Dews to behavioral pharmacology. Dr. Woods’ many contributions to behavioral pharmacology built and expanded upon the many intellectual foundations laid by Peter B. Dews and the broader field of behavioral pharmacology.
A graduate of Ohio University with a degree in Commerce, Dr. Woods attended graduate school at the University of Virginia where he would also earn his PhD. Dr. Woods outstanding contributions to behavioral pharmacology extend across a wide range of procedures, drug classes, conceptual frameworks, and public health issues. Beyond Dr. Woods exemplary scientific achievements are equally significant contributions to teaching, service and leadership.
Noted for his contributions to opioid pharmacology, Dr. Woods has made seminal contributions to many areas of pharmacology including the application of classical receptor theory to study drug effects on behavior. He has tested the limits of receptor theory for guiding and interpreting drug effects on behavior. Another major contribution by Dr. Woods and his colleagues involved the systemic analysis of drug abuse and dependence in studies of drug self administration. His studies have made significant contributions to our understanding of drug reinforcement and drug abuse. Another influential research area involved the relation between behavioral pharmacology and medicinal chemistry. For more than 40 years, he has worked tirelessly to advance drug development with an emphasis on translational research.
Dr. Woods has published more than 420 original manuscripts as well as more than 100 book chapters and 4 books. He has served extensively on study sections, editorial boards and advisory committees. His work and mentorship have earned Dr. Woods many prestigious awards. Dr. Woods has been a valued mentor to the next generation of behavioral pharmacologists, many of whom are now independent investigators and leaders in their respective fields.