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IPSTP Research Day 2026
Michigan State University
ISTB 1404
Keynote Speaker
Lauren Slosky, Ph.D.
Lauren Slosky, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota
Dr. Lauren Slosky is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and a member of the Medical Discovery Team on Addiction, a multidisciplinary initiative at the University of Minnesota Medical School to advance research and treatment in the field of drug addiction. Dr. Slosky's research is focused on understanding how neuropeptide GPCRs regulate reward, pain, and motivated behavior – and how these receptors can be targeted for therapeutic benefit. She is currently working to identify novel strategies for the treatment of stimulant and opioid addictions, with a focus on the development of allosteric and functionally selective small molecules. Her group's recent publications provide insight into structure-guided drug design of small molecules that bind to the intracellular GPCR–transducer interface, changing transducer binding and receptor signaling by specific and predictable mechanisms.
Dr. Slosky was awarded a B.S. with honors in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Psychology from the University of Arizona in 2011. She received a Ph.D. in Medical Pharmacology from the University of Arizona in 2015, under the mentorship of Dr. Todd W. Vanderah. Dr. Slosky completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the laboratory of Dr. Marc G. Caron at Duke University and joined the Department of Pharmacology as an Assistant Professor in 2021.
Dr. Slosky has four patent applications, and has been recognized with numerous prestigious national honors. These include the 2024 Early Career Award from the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET), the Innovations for Substance Use Disorders (I4SUD) Scholarship from the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, and the competitive American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) Travel Award.
Alumni Speaker
Joe Zagorski, Ph.D.
Joe Zagorski, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Michigan State University
Dr. Zagorski received his Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology and Environmental Toxicology from Michigan State University in 2017, investigating the role of the stress-activated transcription factor Nrf2 in human T-cell function. He then transitioned to a scientist position at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, where he helped to design and carry out preclinical trial experimentation for pediatric cancer drugs. In 2020, he transitioned into running the Spectrum Health (now Corewell Health) translational research lab, supporting projects ranging from brain cancer to heart disease and immune dysfunction.
In 2022, Dr. Zagorski was recruited back to Michigan State to serve as an assistant professor in MSU’s Center for Research on Ingredient Safety. In this role, Dr. Zagorski has focused on the development and implementation of human-based NAMs to study the safety of ingredients and contaminants in consumer products, including food preservatives, CBD, pyrrolizidine alkaloids, and lead.
Dr. Zagorski works daily as a science communicator, bringing nuance and understanding to toxicological questions. He regularly has discussions with mainstream media outlets on issues of toxicology, including the Today Show, the New York Times, National Geographic, and others. He co-authors a weekly blog post on topics of toxicology, raising awareness of the importance of understanding toxicology to the public.
Location
Location
Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building
Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building
Conference Room 1404 (First floor)
766 Service Rd, East Lansing, MI 48823
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