In her second to last year at the UConn School of Pharmacy, Kayla Barca has built an impressive record of academic achievement and service. An out of state student from New Jersey, Kayla has made the Dean’s List all five years of her time as a Husky and currently serves as the vice president of Rho Chi National Pharmacy Honor Society.   

Kayla’s commitment to the School extends well beyond academics. As a School of Pharmacy ambassador and First Year Experience   mentor, Kayla leads tours for prospective students and their families and supports new students as they begin their pharmacy studies. She also holds multiple leadership roles, including president of Alpha Zeta Omega, vice president of Rho Chi, and president of Phi Lamda Sigma Leadership Society, furthering her passions in pharmacy and leadership. Kayla is also the treasurer of the American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists (AAPP) and on the Student Health Fair Board, extending current health-related issues and education to a wider audience.

Despite her busy schedule, Kayla has also curated a deep interest in biomedical research as a member of the Sartor laboratory in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Her work focuses on understanding the biological mechanisms underlying substance use disorders and developing treatments to reverse the effects of addictive substances.

Kayla’s AFPE-funded project investigates the anti-inflammatory effects of ketamine and its metabolites, with the goal of determining how these compounds might reduce opioid-induced neuroinflammation. Neuroinflammation is a maladaptive consequence of opioid use that disrupts neural circuits and impedes long-term recovery. By exploring this underlying mechanism of opioid use disorder, such treatments have the potential to promote more lasting recovery outcomes. Kayla is particularly interested in this area because FDA–approved treatments for opioid use disorder do not currently address neuroinflammation or its lasting effects on the brain. 

“I hope to not only bring awareness to substance use disorders but also get people who are struggling the necessary care too.” 

Reflecting on experience at UConn, Kayla is grateful for the opportunities she has found with the School of Pharmacy. Working alongside her mentor, Sartor, and Ph.D. student Michael Lehane, she has been able to strengthen her confidence as a researcher and expand her scientific interests through their guidance and collaboration. Kayla also recognizes fellow Pharm.D. student Dominick Garcia, whose dedication and hard work continue to advance the lab’s research. 

“Kayla’s curiosity, determination, and scientific rigor have been remarkable to witness,” Gregory Sartor adds. “Her project not only represents the high caliber of research conducted by our Pharm.D. students but also aligns perfectly with the mission of UConn’s newly established Center for Addiction Science and Innovation (CASI). We are very proud of Kayla and all that she has accomplished!” 

Kayla is honored to receive the Gateway to Research Award and is grateful AFPE chose her research project as one of great importance and impact. Bringing awareness to UConn Pharmacy as a whole and providing Kayla with financial compensation that will advance her work, AFPE has furthered impactful research on community health issues like substance use disorders. 

“I’m honored that the AFPE recognized the value of my proposal and felt it was something worth supporting.” 

Encouraging other pharmacy students to join research labs and find their passions, Kayla emphasizes how easy the process is, by connecting with graduate student researchers or by directly contacting faculty members in the School of Pharmacy. 

Going above and beyond in her classes, extracurriculars, and research pursuits, Kayla has excelled as a Husky and will continue to make the UConn School of Pharmacy proud.