Sam Schriner

Dr. Schriner attended graduate school at the University of Washington, Seattle, where he earned a PhD in genetics. His research interest is in the basic biology of aging, with a focus on DNA mutation and repair, mitochondrial function and energy metabolism, and the identification and characterization of compounds with the potential to mitigate age-related diseases and extend lifespan. The initial phase of my research career utilized mammalian cell culture and transgenic mice as model systems. Dr. Schriner then moved to the fruit fly, and finally to the baker’s yeast. While his training is primarily in genetics, since joining the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2007, Dr. Schriner has developed significant interest in the use of drugs to slow the aging process. There are several ongoing projects in his research group: One is studying the mechanism of action of spermidine, a compound shown to extend lifespan in model organisms. The way in which spermidine works is not clear. However, it is thought to work through the induction of autophagy, which is a way that our cells, in effect, can take out the garbage. Dr. Schriner and his lab have observed that under certain conditions, spermidine is toxic in some yeast strains and not others. Dr. Schriner and his lab are using these genetic differences to zero in on the molecular targets of spermidine and its precise mechanism of action. A second project has been developed around tardigrades, an animal with a well-known resistance to environmental stressors, such as temperature extremes, radiation, and the low pressure and low gravity environment of space. They are genetically engineering yeast to express tardigrade-specific proteins in an effort to determine whether we can enhance stress tolerance in yeast and extend lifespan. His research group is composed mostly of undergraduates, and he has  mentored the research projects of over 100 students since arriving at UCI.

Dr. Schriner has been teaching at UCI since 2012 in the department of pharmaceutical sciences, with much of my time devoted to our physiology and molecular pharmacology lectures. Since 2014, he has served as the Undergraduate Vice Chair responsible for our undergraduate BS program in pharmaceutical sciences consisting of 600-700 students. In addition, since joining the department, Dr. Schriner has created several new classes, both for the pharm sci department, as well as for our new pharmacy school, the nursing school, and the Campuswide Honors Collegium (CHC). These classes include Speaking About Science, Physiology Lab, Medical Microbiology Lab, an honors class called Drugs and Society, and a freshman seminar called Drugs. For the academic year of 2023-2024, Dr. Schriner is teaching 4 new classes: a PharmD elective Anti-Aging Pharmacology, an anatomy lecture and lab for our undergrads, Gateway to Drugs, which is targeted to non-science majors, and a class for the CHC, called Critical Analysis of Health Science Literature.