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CORVALLIS, Ore. - Mark Zabriskie, a professor of medicinal chemistry and natural products at Oregon State University who specializes in the search for natural product drug leads, has been named dean of OSU's College of Pharmacy.

He succeeds Wayne Kradjan, who is stepping down after leading the college for the past 10 years.

Sabah Randhawa, OSU provost and executive vice president, praised Kradjan's contributions to the university, which included successfully implementing the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree program through which students study two years at OSU and spend their third year at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland. Randhawa said Zabriskie would provide continuity in leadership at the helm of Oregon's premier pharmacy program.

"Wayne Kradjan led the college through a period of transformation and growth as the role for professional pharmacists grew much more complex and multi-faceted," Randhawa said, "and we are thankful to him for transitioning the college to the Pharm.D. program. Mark Zabriskie has the skills and vision to enable the college to continue to grow its education programs, its research, and its overall impact - and he has the broad support of colleagues within the college."

As dean, Zabriskie will assume leadership of a college that annually enrolls more than 300 students in a pharmacy program that in addition to the Pharm.D., offers a research-based doctoral degree and a master's degree. The college also plays a leadership role in providing continuing education for professional pharmacists and has active research programs in drug discovery, pharmacology, drug delivery and metabolism, pharmacotherapy and the impact of pharmaceutical policy on care and costs and patient outcomes.

The college has 34 faculty members, nine staff members and about 50 "affiliate" faculty members around the Northwest who help provide education and mentorship for students. Additionally, the college works with more than 1,000 preceptors at hospitals, pharmacies, clinics and other locations where students receive extensive experience that prepares them for their careers.

OSU's College of Pharmacy offers a joint degree program with its partner, Oregon Health & Science University, and has a satellite facility at OHSU's South Waterfront campus in Portland.

"I am honored to be asked to serve as the dean of the College of Pharmacy at OSU and to succeed Wayne Kradjan, who did an outstanding job of leading the college through a period of transition and tremendous growth," said Zabriskie. "I am excited to have the opportunity to work with a dedicated faculty and exceptional groups of students and alumni as we continue to advance the college's goals of training exceptional pharmacists and conducting world-class research."

Zabriskie received his education at the University of Utah where he obtained a B.S. in Chemistry and a Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry. He continued his training at the University of Alberta where he held NSF/NATO and Killam Trust postdoctoral fellowships. In 1992 he joined the faculty of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Oregon State University.

His research has focused on the discovery and biosynthesis of biologically-active microbial natural products. He and his colleagues are presently screening rare soil bacteria collected in Indonesia and extremophilic bacteria gathered near deep sea hydrothermal vents for novel anticancer and anti-infective compounds, and are studying the molecular genetics and enzymology of peptide antibiotic biosynthesis in order to produce new agents with improved therapeutic properties.