Medhane Cumbay, Ph.D.

Biography

Medhane Cumbay, Ph.D., joined Marian University of College Osteopathic Medicine in January 2015. As associate professor of pharmacology, Dr. Cumbay takes part in nearly all 1st and 2nd year courses covering various areas of the clinical use of drugs. Before joining MUCOM, Dr. Cumbay was a faculty member at the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Butler University.

Dr. Cumbay earned a B.S. degree in Biochemistry and Biophysics from Oregon State University in 1995. While working with multiple research groups at Oregon Health Sciences University between 1995-1998, he developed an interest in neuroscience and neuropharmacology. This lead Dr. Cumbay to pursue he's doctoral degree at Purdue University where he earned a Ph.D. in molecular pharmacology in 2004. He went to complete a postdoctoral fellowship at the Stark Neuroscience Research Institute at Indiana University School of Medicine. He joined the faculty at Butler University in 2007.

Dr. Cumbay's interest in teaching developed during his graduate studies at Purdue University, where he was awarded a teaching fellowship to develop a biochemistry prep course for students entering the Doctor of Pharmacy program. His interest in teaching led him to Butler University, where he was awarded Outstanding Pharmaceutical Science Professor in 2012, and ultimately to MUCOM.

His research interests are focused on cell surface receptor function as it relates to modulation of cellular signaling and cell-to-cell communication, elucidating drug-receptor interactions, neurodegenerative diseases, and drug development.