Richard H. Alper, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences
Contact:
Phone: 1.860.231.5855
Email: ralper@sjc.edu
During his sophomore year in college, Dr. Richard Alper volunteered to help a new assistant professor establish his research laboratory. Not only did Dr. Alper gain invaluable skills through this experience, but he also discovered his future career. “Previously, I had thought about science in general, but the thrill of the hands-on pharmacology field cemented my interest in pursuing a career as a research pharmacologist,” said Dr. Alper.
With a career that has included positions in academia as well as within the pharmaceutical industry, Dr. Alper brings a breadth of knowledge and experience to the classroom. Dr. Alper’s career began with a 16-year appointment in the Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics at the University of Kansas Medical School. Later, while working in the pharmaceutical field, Dr. Alper also served as a volunteer docent at the Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration so that he could continue to pursue his passion for teaching and education.
As a professor, Dr. Alper strives to help students develop into critical, independent thinkers through fostering meaningful student-faculty relationships. In his new role at Saint Joseph College, Dr. Alper is most looking forward to interacting with the students and participating in the development of the School of Pharmacy. “Starting a new graduate program from the ground up is a once-in-a-lifetime experience full of challenges, anxieties and incredible anticipation,” said Dr. Alper. “It will be so rewarding to see our first class graduate after three years with their PharmD.”
Academic degrees:
B.S. Biology, Stony Brook University
Ph.D. Pharmacology, Michigan State University
Recent Research/Publications/Presentations
Mize AL , AM Poisner and RH Alper. “Estrogens act in rat hippocampus and frontal cortex to produce rapid receptor-mediated decreases in serotonin 5-HT1A receptor function,” Neuroendocrinology 73:166-174, 2001.
Mize AL, and RH Alper. “Rapid uncoupling of 5-HT1A receptors in rat hippocampus by 17b-estradiol in vitro requires protein kinases A and C,” Neuroendocrinology 76:339-347, 2002.
Cappon, GD, B Bush, D Newgreen, GL Finch and RH Alper. “ Tolterodine does not affect memory assessed by passive-avoidance response test in mice,” European Journal of Pharmacology 579:225-228, 2008.
“Rapid heterologous uncoupling of 5-HT1A receptors in hippocampus by 17b-estradiol in vitro: Proposed cellular mechanisms,” Annual Meeting, Experimental Biology Annual Meeting, 2002.
“Challenges of Abuse Liability Evaluation during Drug Development and Approval of New Compounds,” RH Alper, Symposium on Drug Abuse Liability, Northeast Chapter of the Society of Toxicology, 2007.
