Dr. Sara Jane Ward
Principal Investigator & Associate Professor of Neural Sciences, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University
Dr. Sara Jane Ward is an Associate Professor at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University. Her research focuses on the translational behavioral neuroscience of cannabinoids, specifically in the context of pain management and neuroprotection. With over two decades of experience in neuroscience and pharmacology, her program is dedicated to discovering safe and effective applications of cannabinoids and other chemical entities for the treatment of CNS diseases related to pain and addiction.
As the Principal Investigator of the Ward Lab, she leads groundbreaking studies investigating the therapeutic potential of CBD and synthetic analogues for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) and substance use disorders. Her laboratory employs a range of behavioral and neuroscientific techniques to understand how cannabinoids can modulate neuroinflammation, and newer lines of research also unravel ties to cancer treatment as well.
Dr. Ward's work bridges the gap between basic laboratory findings and clinical applications, aiming to provide safer and more effective treatments for patients suffering from chronic pain and neurological conditions. She is a highly cited researcher with funding from the National Institutes of Health and Department of Defense and numerous successful collaborations with industry..
In her free time she is an avid birder, hiker, and traveler, and cherishes time with her family.
Key Accomplishments
Recipient of the 2026 LKSOM Educational Service Award
George Koelle Award Recipient, Mid-Atlantic Pharmacology Society (2024)
Recipient of the 2013 and 2019 Community Partner Awards for Excellence in Service from Need in Deed, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit connecting classrooms with underserved communities through visits to 3–5 schools each year.
Early Career Investigator Award, College on Problems of Drug Dependence (2006); First Place Postdoctoral Scientist Award, ASPET Division for Neuropharmacology (2009)
International recognition including Best Scientific Paper Award, European Behavioural Pharmacology Society (2007), and Best Presentation by a Postdoctoral Fellow, International Cannabinoid Research Society (2007)
Invited keynote speaker at national and international meetings, including The Yoga Research Society (2019) and the 25th Annual University of Montreal Research Day (2021)