A man of many duties, Daryl Davies not only serves as associate dean for undergraduate education — a program he founded — but is also the Timothy M. Chan Endowed Professor of Complementary Therapeutics and a prolific scientist.
His research develops innovative therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases and alcoholism, and he serves on the Executive Leadership Council of the USC Institute for Addiction Science (IAS). Somehow he also finds time to indulge his love of sailing. Here, he discusses the passions for teaching, research and outreach that motivate the long commutes from the San Pedro home where he and his family live.
What makes the USC Mann’s undergraduate programs so unique?
We’re one of only a handful of U.S. universities to offer a dedicated bachelor’s degree in pharmacology. Not only can undergraduates enjoy working with our faculty in research right away, but we’re also one of the few undergraduate programs that supports student travel to scientific conferences.
You’re committed to mentorship—not just for USC Mann students, but also through partnerships with local high schools. What makes that outreach so important?
It opens up futures for young people interested in STEM and healthcare—including what studying at USC Mann can offer them. When the students share their stories — and their parents tell you how grateful they are for making such a difference in their son’s or daughter’s lives—it’s very rewarding.
So broadening students’ experiences is important to you. Is that why you advocate for a liberal arts approach to pharmacy?
Absolutely. This is why we offer so many courses—not just foundational classes in clinical pharmacology and drug discovery but also in everything from science communication to ethics to safety pharmacology and mysterious deaths and poison. Until they’ve taken some of these courses, how would they know what they’d really be interested in? What adds value to our program is that we show the students so many different opportunities. Then as we help guide them, we help them to focus.
You earned your PhD from the Mann School — did you always know where your focus would be?
No, I had earned a master’s in molecular biology and thought I wanted to continue with that. But then I did a rotation in Dr. Ron Alkana’s lab, where they were trying to understand the targets of alcohol action. And it was so exciting that I just got hooked. So whenever I hear a grad student complaining about having to do rotations, I tell them that story.
Tell us about your research, including your role as director of basic translational science at IAS.
I’m doing natural product development of dihydromyricetin (DHM), which has anti-alcohol properties, including counteracting intoxication and withdrawal symptoms — and even inducing activity associated with liver regeneration. At IAS, we’re working together from the basic all the way through translational to clinical applications.
You commute a long distance every day. What keeps you going?
We live in San Pedro, where I can sail regularly. I love the ocean. I just like being out on the water and the freedom of it. It’s a merger of passions, sailing and growing this program are my two passions in life.
How do you manage to wear so many hats at USC Mann?
Our dean allows me to perform these multiple tasks, and I do it because I love it. So as long as it continues to be fun, I can continue to burn the candle at both ends.