By Ethan Knox ’20
August 11, 2026
A group project hosted by Chair and Clinical Professor of Pharmacy Practice Kenneth “Mac” McCall, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice Alex Rola, Clinical Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice Emily Leppien, and PGY4 resident psychiatrist at UHS Hospital Gurpreet Singh Guliani will allow students Dev Patel, Vaishvi Gandhi, and Roisin Daly to focus on a novel treatment option for schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder that profoundly impacts daily functioning. Although new therapies offer alternatives to traditional dopamine-blocking agents, a significant evidence gap remains, and current safety data is largely limited to highly controlled clinical trials which can exclude certain patients. This research is significant because it addresses the critical need for real-world safety evidence as the medication transitions from restricted trials to broad clinical use. By utilizing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Adverse Event Monitoring System (AEMS), this study evaluates adverse events that may not appear in initial testing, bridging the gap between safety data collected in clinical trials and outcomes observed in psychiatric practice. This provides clinicians and researchers the necessary data to refine monitoring strategies, support prescribing decisions, and improve the safe use of this novel therapy. For a first-in-class therapy, understanding the timing and context of adverse events in a diverse patient population is essential for ensuring patient safety.This unique opportunity is one of several summer research fellow projects that allow Binghamton students protected, funded time to engage in hands-on research early in their professional training.“Working with students from different years of the PharmD program creates a collaborative learning environment where they learn with and from one another while developing their research skills,” Leppien said. “This is my third summer mentoring student researchers, and each experience has reinforced how valuable these opportunities are for both students and faculty mentors.”
Why is this research important to the students?
Roisin Daly:
“My interest in conducting summer research in the mental health field stems from my passion for improving the lives of individuals living with psychiatric disorders. Individuals struggling with mental health conditions are often stigmatized and face significant barriers to accessing care. Through research, I hope to advocate for this underserved population and improve patient outcomes by contributing to the development and refinement of evidence-based treatment strategies.”
Vaishvi Gandhi:
“I was inspired to pursue summer research in the mental health field because of how prevalent mental health challenges have become today. Additionally, witnessing someone close to me struggle with their mental health gave me a personal perspective on the importance of research and motivated me to contribute to improving understanding and support for those affected.”
Dev Patel:
“I’ve had a strong interest in psychiatric pharmacology from the start, particularly in how novel therapies target specific neural pathways to avoid traditional side effect profiles. This fascination inspired me to pursue mental health research, as I want to understand how these intricate mechanisms perform when transitioning from controlled clinical trials to the general population. Ultimately, I am eager to actively contribute to the pharmacovigilance efforts that ensure these advancements remain safe and effective for vulnerable patient groups in everyday practice.”
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Health, Science & Technology, Pharmacy
