Biography

Padmamalini Baskaran is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Howard University College of Pharmacy in Washington, D.C. She earned her Bachelor's and Master of Pharmacy degrees in India, specializing in Quality Assurance, and completed her Ph.D. at Karl Franzens University of Graz, Austria, where she investigated the enzyme soluble Guanylyl Cyclase (sGC).

Following her doctoral work, Dr. Baskaran discovered her passion for teaching and research. At the University of Wyoming School of Pharmacy, she taught pharmacology, sterile products, and pharmaceutical calculations to Pharm.D. students. She also delivered physiology and anatomy lectures to medical students through the Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho Regional Medical Education Program (WWAMI). Since joining Howard University in 2021, she has taught Structure and Functions in Therapeutics and Pharmacological Therapeutics, mentored students in research electives, and coordinated Applications for Pharmacy Practice (V) for third-year students. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes active, student-centered learning that fosters critical thinking, self-confidence, and professional communication skills, while integrating basic science with clinical therapeutics.

Dr. Baskaran’s research career began with an exploration of sGC in cardiovascular health, including its roles in vasodilation, platelet function, and nitrate tolerance. As a postdoctoral fellow and research assistant professor, she advanced studies on Cyclophilin A in platelets and vascular inflammation. Later, at the University of Wyoming, she made seminal contributions in obesity research, demonstrating that TRPV1 activation by capsaicin counters diet-induced obesity by promoting thermogenesis and browning of adipose tissue, and investigated topical TRPV1 agonists for diabetic neuropathy.

At Howard University, her research program centers on therapeutic discovery and rigorous preclinical investigation of innovative TRPV1-targeted strategies. She is developing and evaluating novel capsaicin-based formulations for obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and conducting mechanistic preclinical studies to determine the therapeutic efficacy of empagliflozin combined with nitrovasodilators in HFrEF. In parallel, her laboratory is exploring TRPV1 agonists as a first-in-class therapeutic approach for triple-negative breast cancer, with particular emphasis on high-risk populations.

She also collaborates with a professor at Auburn University to develop site-specific capsaicin implant delivery systems to evaluate their anti-obesity potential in mouse models, thereby advancing precision-targeted therapeutic strategies. Her work integrates molecular pharmacology, translational models, and disease-focused drug development to bridge bench-to-bedside gaps. She has received multiple honors, including the AACP New Investigator Award, the Summer Research Grant from the Howard University Center for Women, Gender and Global Leadership, and the HUCOP Seed Grant. She actively pursues federal and RCMI funding to advance her discovery-driven and preclinical translational research program. She currently serves as Guest Editor for a Special Issue of Current Issues in Molecular Biology on the Mechanisms and Pathophysiology of Obesity (Impact Factor 4.8), published by the Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI).

Dr. Baskaran is deeply committed to excellence in pharmacology education, with a strong emphasis on helping students understand, retain, and apply core pharmacologic principles. Her teaching approach integrates clinically rich, case-based examples that connect mechanisms of action, therapeutic decision-making, and adverse effect management to real-world patient care. By anchoring foundational knowledge in practical scenarios, she reinforces the critical importance of pharmacologic reasoning in addressing complex health challenges. Her dedication to teaching has been recognized with the Howard University College of Pharmacy (HUCOP) Teacher of the Year Award in 2023 and consecutive Excellence in Teaching Awards for the 2023–2024 and 2024–2025 academic years. She was honored with the Faculty of the Year Award in 2024 and 2025, presented by the Howard University College of Pharmacy Student Council (CPSC) during the HUCOP Apothecary Brunch.

Beyond the classroom, she is dedicated to mentoring students in research, guiding them toward meaningful scholarly experiences, competitive scholarships, conference presentations, and professional development opportunities. She fosters critical thinking, scientific curiosity, and confidence, preparing trainees to translate knowledge into impactful practice and discovery.

At Howard University, she values collaborative engagement with colleagues to advance the institution’s mission of training scholars and healthcare professionals committed to addressing important health problems through innovation, leadership, and service.