2019 Fall Department Defenses

This fall semester, our department was extremely proud to host three defenses:

  • David Fireman
  • Dimitri Koutzoumis
  • Joe Flores-Toro

We are so proud of all our graduating students! Check out more about their defenses below.


picture of david fireman

Thesis Defense

David Fireman

Pharmacology Concentration Masters — Medical Science

Date: Oct. 15, 2019

Mentor: Nikhil Urs, Ph.D.

Title: “Using viral tracing techniques to elucidate novel afferent inputs to midbrain dopamine neurons”


picture of dimitri

Final Defense

Dimitri Koutzoumis

Pharmacology Concentration Doctoral Student

Date: Nov. 5, 2019

Mentor: Gonzalo Torres, Ph.D.

Title: “The Role of Gut Microbiota and Bacterial Metabolites on Dopamine Neuron Vulnerability​”


Joe Flores Toro picture

Final Defense

Joseph Flores-Toro

Pharmacology Concentration Doctoral Student

Date: Oct. 24, 2019

Mentor: Jeffrey Harrison, Ph.D.

Title: “Targeting CCR2-Expressing Myeloid Cells to Overcome Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Resistance in Glioma”