Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences - BPSCI
Email: bpsci@isu.edu
Department Chair
Daniel Morgan
PhD
Department Chair
Professor
BPSCI
Office: 256
Leonard Hall
Pocatello Campus
Pharmacology • Neuroscience • Receptor Signaling
The primary focus of the Morgan laboratory is to understand the role of neuropeptide and endocannabinoid signaling in human health and disease including cannabinoid tolerance, drug addiction, and metabolic homeostasis. In 2012, Dr. Morgan started his own independent research laboratory in the Department of Anesthesiology at the Penn State College of Medicine where he was promoted to associate professor with tenure. In 2020, his research group moved to the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University where he was an associate professor and vice chair in the Department of Biomedical Sciences. In 2025, Dr. Morgan moved into his current role at Idaho State University. Since 2013, the laboratory's research on cannabinoid signaling and tolerance has been funded by R21, K01, and R01 awards from the National Institutes of Health as well as grants from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the West Virginia Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, and the West Virginia INBRE. The group's current work involves understanding the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways that drive tolerance and dependence for cannabinoid drugs including ∆9-THC, the psychoactive and pain-relieving component of cannabis. This work has important clinical relevance, since tolerance and dependence are two of the criteria used by clinicians for diagnosing patients with cannabis use disorder. Dr. Morgan also serves as an associate editor for the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, is on the program committee for Winter Conference on Brain Research, and is involved in various leadership teams for the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.
Administrator
