Chris McCurdy, PhD, F.A.A.P.S.

Professor And The Frank A. Duckworth Eminent Scholar Chair | Associate Dean for Faculty Development | Director Of The UF Translational Drug Development Core

Dr. Christopher McCurdy is an internationally recognized medicinal chemist and behavioral pharmacologist whose research bridges natural product chemistry and drug development for pain and addiction. A Professor at the University of Florida and Director of the Translational Drug Development Core, Dr. McCurdy has spent over two decades advancing novel ligands targeting opioid, sigma, and Neuropeptide FF receptors. His work has led to first-in-class PET/MR imaging tools now in clinical trials for visualizing nerve damage associated with chronic pain.

He is widely acknowledged as a leading expert on Mitragyna speciosa (kratom), a Southeast Asian botanical under investigation for its potential in opioid withdrawal management. Dr. McCurdy’s interdisciplinary research spans from synthetic chemistry to translational imaging, with a focus on developing safer, plant-based therapeutics. His collaborations extend across institutions such as Stanford, Harvard, and the Department of Defense.

A Fellow and past President of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS), Dr. McCurdy serves on the FDA’s Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee. He brings to BPRA deep expertise in pharmacognosy, ethnobotany, and the rigorous development of botanically derived compounds for public health benefit.

You can find out more about Chris McCurdy’s work, go to pharmacy.ufl.edu.