Faculty and Staff

LILA LAGRANGE
Associate Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences
lagrange@uiwtx.edu

Dr. Lila LaGrange earned a B.S. in Biomedical Science (1994) from Texas A&M University at College Station and a Ph.D. in Physiology (2002) from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA).  Following completion of her dissertation, “Sympathomodulatory Effects of Chronically Elevated Circulating Angiotensin II,” she began a postdoctoral fellowship at the UTHSCSA where she was supported by a National Research Service Award from the National Institutes of Health (2002-2004) and an American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship Award (2004-2006).  Dr. LaGrange joined the Feik School of Pharmacy in 2006 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 

Dr. LaGrange continues her research activities in collaboration with Dr. Robert Brenner in the Department of Physiology at the UTHSCSA, where she currently serves as adjunct faculty.  Her most recent research focuses on assessing factors that influence smooth muscle contractility, and she was awarded an NIH Extramural Associates Research Development Award in July 2010 to pursue a related pilot project titled “Role of the Beta-4 BK Subunit on Urinary Bladder Smooth Muscle Contractility.”  Her ultimate research goal is to further our understanding of the mechanisms by which estrogen influences vascular smooth muscle contractility, thus ultimately  influencing blood pressure regulation.

In keeping with her research interests and background in physiology, Dr. LaGrange teaches a 2-semester anatomy and physiology course to first year pharmacy students.  A significant focus of her teaching is integrating tools such as concept mapping and case studies into the course in order to foster the transition of students from simply knowing concepts to critically analyzing them.

In addition to her teaching and scholarly activities, Dr. LaGrange is a member of several professional organizations that include the American Physiological Society and the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.