The Chemistry Section of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, or AACP, has honored Christopher McCurdy, Ph.D., a distinguished professor of medicinal chemistry and the Frank A. Duckworth Eminent Scholar Chair in the University of Florida College of Pharmacy, with its Lifetime Research Award. The award recognizes his decades of sustained and influential contributions to medicinal chemistry research.
“This award was a surprise, and I’m deeply honored to receive it,” McCurdy said. “To be recognized by our academy for my research is one of the highest honors I could receive. At the same time, I know there is still important work to accomplish and many years of research ahead.”
Over the course of his 25-year academic career, McCurdy has emerged as a leading scientist in the field of neuroscience and drug abuse and a global leader in kratom research. His research centers on developing novel compounds to treat pain, anxiety and drug addiction. A prolific scholar, he has authored nearly 250 scientific publications and book chapters and delivered more than 400 invited presentations worldwide.
McCurdy has earned extensive federal funding support from agencies including the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Since joining UF more than nine years ago, he has secured more than $40 million in federal extramural awards.
A significant portion of McCurdy’s recent funding has been devoted to studying kratom, a plant native to Southeast Asia that has gained popularity in the United States in recent years. Consumers use kratom for pain relief, mood enhancement and, in some cases, to manage opioid and other substance use disorder withdrawal symptoms. Investigations conducted by his team have separately moved kratom leaf material and the major active alkaloid, mitragynine, into FDA-sanctioned human clinical trials. McCurdy has made presentations to several government agencies about the plant, including the World Health Organization, the United Nations and the FDA. His research provided the scientific foundation for the FDA to recommend last year that 7-hydroxymitragynine, a kratom-derived alkaloid, be placed into Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act due to its opioid activity and high potential for abuse.
Another significant highlight of McCurdy’s career has been the development of a diagnostic imaging agent targeting sigma-1 receptors that pinpoints peripheral nerve damage and is in human clinical trials to guide physicians in precision treatment of pain.
McCurdy has invested significantly in training and mentoring the next generation of pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists. Throughout his career, he has mentored nearly 200 students, postdoctoral associates, research scientists and trainees at different stages of their academic development, many of whom now work in industry, academia or with federal agencies. Since 2023, he has served as associate dean for faculty development in the UF College of Pharmacy, where he mentors and advises faculty of all ranks and supports their professional growth.
“Dr. McCurdy’s career reflects a sustained trajectory of impactful research, meaningful mentorship and professional leadership,” said Peter W. Swaan, Ph.D., M.Pharm., dean and professor in the UF College of Pharmacy. “He has helped shape the field of medicinal chemistry while also ensuring that its future is in capable hands through his dedication to training and education. The Lifetime Research Award is a well-earned recognition for his many contributions to pharmaceutical science.”
McCurdy will receive the Lifetime Research Award on July 20 during the Chemistry Networking Session at the AACP Annual Meeting in Grapevine, Texas.