Michael Beazely

Dr. Michael Beazely’s lab research focuses on understanding how growth factor receptors and G protein-coupled receptors modulate ion channels and neuronal cell function. His clinical and education research is focused on the role of health professionals in reducing harms associated with problematic substance use.

• Growth factor signaling in the developing and mature nervous system
• Regulation of NMDA receptors and other ion channels by G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) including the 5-HT7 receptor
• The role of health professionals in harm reduction and substance use
• Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice
• Clinical Pharmacology
• Drug Discovery, Design and Delivery

Molecular Pharmacology: The Beazely lab interested in basic mechanisms of GPCR and growth factor signaling in neurons, and how these classes of receptors regulate ion channel signaling. Specifically, we focus on the interactions between 5-HT and dopamine receptors, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptors and TrkB, and NMDA receptors. This work will expand our understanding of neuronal function and dysfunction in mental health conditions including schizophrenia and depression, as well as susceptibility to addiction and substance use. Harm Reduction: Dr. Beazely’s research includes the evaluation of undergraduate pharmacy education with respect to substance use and ongoing educational tool development for practicing health professionals. He is interested in assessing interventions by community pharmacists aimed at reducing harms associated with substance use and understanding the intersection between drug use and ongoing pharmaceutical care.

• 2008 Post-Doctoral Fellowship, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• 2004 PhD Pharmacology, Purdue University, Indiana, USA
• 2000 BSc Pharmacy, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan, Canada

• 2018, Community Leader Award, University of Waterloo
• 2018, Student Support Recognition Award, chosen by the Rx 2018 Graduating Pharmacy Class
• 2016, Best Community Outreach Initiative, Opioid Crisis Awareness Campaign, School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, awarded by the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education
• 2016, Excellence in Science Teaching Award, Faculty of Science, University of Waterloo
• 2014 Outstanding Faculty Mentor, Graduate Program
• 2014 Alumni of Influence, University of Saskatchewan, College of Pharmacy and Nutrition (named one of the top 100 influential Pharmacy alumni)

• Dr. Beazely is a member of the Society for Neuroscience (SFN) and served as President of the Southern Ontario Neuroscience Association (SONA, sonasfn.org), an SFN local Chapter, in 2016.
• Dr. Beazely is currently a Research Chair in Rural Substance Use with the Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health in Huron County. Prior to joining Gateway, Dr. Beazely served on several Waterloo Region Integrated Drugs Strategy committees between 2009 and 2019.
• He is an active contributor to committees focused on substance use education for pharmacy students and registered pharmacists.

• Cross-appointed to Department of Biology (Faculty of Science)
• Cross-appointed to the School of Public Health (Faculty of Applied Health Sciences)

• PHARM 141 - Introduction to Medicinal Chemistry, Toxicology and Pharmacology
  • Taught in 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024
• PHARM 220 - Integrated Patient Focused Care 1
  • Taught in 2021, 2022, 2024
• PHARM 221 - Integrated Patient Focused Care 2
  • Taught in 2020, 2022, 2024
• PHARM 222 - Integrated Patient Focused Care 3
  • Taught in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
• PHARM 223 - Integrated Patient Focused Care 4
  • Taught in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024
• PHARM 320 - Integrated Patient Focused Care 5
  • Taught in 2021, 2022, 2023
• PHARM 321 - Integrated Patient Focused Care 6
  • Taught in 2021, 2023
• PHARM 323 - Integrated Patient Focused Care 7
  • Taught in 2020, 2021, 2022
• PHARM 324 - Integrated Patient Focused Care 8
  • Taught in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

* Only courses taught in the past 5 years are displayed.

• Cid A, Mahajan N, Wong WWL, Beazely M, Grindrod KA. An economic evaluation of community pharmacy-dispensed naloxone in Canada. Can Pharm J (Ott). 2024 Feb 13;157(2):84-94
• Robinson MJ, Newbury S, Singh K, Leonenko Z, Beazely MA. The Interplay Between Cholesterol and Amyloid-β on HT22 Cell Viability, Morphology, and Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Signaling. J Alzheimers Dis. 2023;96(4):1663-1683
• Livingstone JD, Gingras MJP, Leonenko Z, Beazely MA. Search for lithium isotope effects in neuronal HT22 cells. Biochem Biophys Rep. 2023 Mar 31;34:101461
• Cid A, Daskalakis G, Grindrod K, Beazely MA. What Is Known about Community Pharmacy-Based Take-Home Naloxone Programs and Program Interventions? A Scoping Review. Pharmacy (Basel). 2021 Feb 2;9(1):30
• Tsuyuki RT, Arora V, Barnes M, Beazely MA, Boivin M, Christofides A, Patel H, Laroche J, Sihota A, So R. Canadian national consensus guidelines for naloxone prescribing by pharmacists. Can Pharm J (Ott). 2020 Aug 26;153(6):347-351
• Liu H, Saffi GT, Vasefi MS, Choi Y, Kruk JS, Ahmed N, Gondora N, Mielke J, Leonenko Z, Beazely MA. Amyloid-β inhibits PDGFβ Receptor activation and prevents PDGF-BB-induced neuroprotection. Curr Alzheimer Res. 2018;15:618-27
• Grindrod K, Beazely M. Fitting naloxone into community pharmacy practice. Can Pharm J (Ott). 2016;149:329-31
• Kruk JS, Vasefi MS, Gondora N, Ahmed N, Heikkila JJ, Beazely MA. Fluoxetine-induced transactivation of the platelet-derived growth factor type β receptor reveals a novel heterologous desensitization process. Mol Cell Neurosci. 2015;65:45-51.
• Samarajeewa S, Goldemann L, Khanderia C, Vasefi SM, Ahmed N, Gondora N, Mielke J, Beazely MA. 5-HT7 receptor activation promotes an increase in TrkB receptor expres-sion and phosphorylation. Front Behav Neurosci 2014;8:391. Special issue: “Further Understanding of Serotonin 7 Receptors’ Neuro-Psycho-Pharmacology”