BROOKIE
D. BEST, PHARM.D. |
University
of California San Diego School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical
Sciences |
Faculty
Position: |
Assistant
Professor, Pharmacy and Pediatrics |
Project
Title: |
“Comparison
of Lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra®) Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric
Patients Taking Crushed Versus Whole Tablets” |
Project
Description: |
Lopinavir/ritonavir
(Kaletra®) is a first-line agent to treat HIV infection according
to the DHHS Guidelines for Antiretroviral Treatment. However,
the liquid formulation necessary for pediatric dosing is bulky
and requires refrigeration, which is a barrier to use in resource-limited
settings, and it has an unpleasant taste. A new, non-refrigerated
tablet formulation is available, but, according to the manufacturer,
may not be crushed, broken or chewed. The company does not plan
to study the pharmacokinetics of the crushed tablet at this time.
However, patients and practitioners, particularly in resource-limited
settings, are currently dosing pediatric patients with crushed
tablets rather than the liquid. This practice needs to be studied
to determine if this is an effective and safe way to deliver the
intended dose. |
AFPE
Award: |
Donald
& Frances Brodie - AFPE - AACP Pharmacy Faculty New Investigator
Grant |
AMBER
V. K. BUHLER, PH.D |
Pacific
University School of Pharmacy |
Faculty
Position: |
Assistant
Professor |
Project
Title: |
“Neurotensin
Receptor Modulation of Pain Processing Pathways” |
Project
Description: |
Series
of experiments designed to better understand the pharmacology
and physiology of powerful brainstem pain-modulatory pathways
originating in the rostral ventromedial medulla and projecting
to the spinal cord. While it is known that activation of these
pathways produces profound analgesia, a lack of understanding
of the receptors activating these systems, and of their basic
anatomy, precludes development of pharmaceutical targeting of
these circuits for pain relief. In brief, I propose to study the
anatomy and physiology of the analgesic circuit(s) activated by
the endogenous peptide neurotensin, tracing the noradrenergic
and cholecystokinin containing neuron pathways activated by the
two neurotensin receptor subtypes (NTR1 and 2). This work could
lead to development of pharmaceutical treatments for chronic pain
utilizing these endogenous brainstem pain modulatory circuits.
|
AFPE
Award: |
Ortho-McNeil
Janssen Scientific Affairs - AFPE - AACP Pharmacy Faculty
New Investigator Grant
|
ROBERT
B. CAMPBELL, PH.D. |
Northeastern
University |
Faculty
Position: |
Assistant Professor |
Project
Title: |
“Tumor
Vascular Targeting Using Magnetic Nanoliposome Therapeutics” |
Project
Description: |
Physiological
barriers limit optimal delivery of drugs to the tumor interstitial
space, where the majority of cancer cells live. Interrupting the
flow of oxygen and nutrients to viable cancer cells by damaging
functional properties of tumor vessels is a rational alternative
to this approach. Cationic liposomes have been shown to avidly
target anionic charged tumor vessels. The distribution of this
drug carrier is heterogeneous; some vessels are targeted while
others are not. We propose to combine the electrostatic properties
of cationic liposomes with the power of an external magnet. The
magnet is being used to improve association of cationic liposomes
with tumor endothelia. We plan to study the role of tumor microenvironment
and tumor type in magnetic drug targeting using magnetic cationic
liposomes, and to determine if this approach will increase apoptosis
related cell death of tumor endothelia. |
AFPE
Award: |
GlaxoSmithKline
- AFPE - AACP Pharmacy Faculty New Investigator Grant |
HUA
CHEN, PH.D. |
University
of Houston College of Pharmacy |
Faculty
Position: |
Assistant
Professor |
Project
Title: |
“The
Impact of the FDA Antidepressant Black Box Warning on the Utilizations
of Psychotherapy, Psychotropic Medications, and Antidepressant
Follow-up Care among Children and Adolescents” |
Project
Description: |
The
number of antidepressant prescriptions dispensed to patients age
18 and under has dropped 20% since the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) issued its public health advisory on March 22, 2004, warning
that the drugs might be associated with increased risk of suicidality
in children and adolescents. The purpose of this proposed study
is to investigate the impact of the FDA antidepressant black box
warning on psychiatric practice. To address this purpose, the
utilization of psychotherapy, psychotropic medications, and antidepressant
follow-up care before and after the warning will be compared among
Medicaid population between 6 and 18 years of age using an interrupted
time series model with nonequivalent dependent variables. |
AFPE
Award: |
Pfizer
Inc. - AFPE - AACP Pharmacy Faculty New Investigator Grant |
ZHENGRONG
CUI, PH.D. |
Oregon
State University School of Pharmacy |
Faculty
Position: |
Assistant
Professor |
Project
Title: |
“Development
and Validation of a Novel Dual-Antigen Nasal Anthrax Vaccine” |
Project
Description: |
Due
to many serious drawbacks associated with the current anthrax
vaccine, the anthrax-vaccine-adsorbed (AVA), there is a critical
need to develop an alternative, efficacious, and easily-administrable
anthrax vaccine to more effectively prevent against the most lethal
form of anthrax, the inhalation anthrax. We propose to develop
a prototype dual-antigen nasal anthrax vaccine that can induce
specific immune responses not only against the anthrax toxins,
but also against the vegetative anthrax bacilli. We will define
the immune responses induced by this vaccine and validate its
efficacy in protecting against an inhalational anthrax spore challenge
in a mouse model. The completion of this project is expected to
build a sound scientific foundation for our future development
of a novel anthrax vaccine for humans. |
AFPE
Award: |
Wyeth
- AFPE - AACP Pharmacy Faculty New Investigator Grant |
WENQING
GAO, PH.D. |
University
of Buffalo |
Faculty
Position: |
Assistant
Professor, Clinical Sciences |
Project
Title: |
“Characterization
of the Role of FHL-2 in Androgen Receptor (AR)-regulated Gene
Expression in Cardiac Myocytes” |
Project
Description: |
Androgen
signaling is not only critical to the development and maintenance
of the male reproductive organs, it also plays a role in non-reproductive
organs, like the cardiovascular system. However, the mechanism
of action of androgen in cardiac myocyte has not been well characterized
or understood. Even though it is well known that androgen regulates
myosin heavy chain (MHC)?? isoform expression in the heart, which
directly affects cardiac muscle function, it remains unclear if
MHC-? is a direct gene target of the androgen receptor, or how
it is regulated by androgen. As a member of the nuclear receptor
super family, AR functions as a transcription factor, with its
function modulated by a number of coactivators and corepressors.
FHL-2, a LIM-only transcription factor, was identified as the
only AR-specific coactivator, and it is expressed predominantly
in heart. Studies with FHL-2 knockout animals have shown that
FHL-2 plays an important role in regulating responses of the adult
myocardium to stress. The critical roles of both AR and FHL-2
in cardiac function suggested that interactions between these
two proteins might be critical to the regulation of cardiac response
under stress. The major goal of this proposal is to understand
the mechanism of interaction between these two proteins in regulating
MHC-? expression. |
AFPE
Award: |
GlaxoSmithKline
- AFPE - AACP Pharmacy Faculty New Investigator Grant |
WINTER
J. GIBBS, PHARM.D. |
University
of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy |
Faculty
Position: |
Assistant
Professor, Pharmaceutical Policy and Evaluative Sciences |
Project
Title: |
“Discovering
the Learning Experiences of High-Achieving Pharmacy Students:
Using the Grounded Theory Approach” |
Project
Description: |
Cognitive
admission criteria (eg. PCAT scores, pre-pharmacy GPA) are commonly
used when considering applicants to the Pharm.D. program. However,
such criteria alone may not predict student success in clerkships
and as an independent practitioner. Therefore, this project seeks
to qualitatively identify and explore the learning experiences
of pharmacy students to gain holistic vision of their classroom
and experiential performance. In particular, high achieving Pharm.D.
students who have completed their third professional year will
be studied. Qualitative data will include focus groups, individual
interviews with students, faculty, and preceptors coupled with
student portfolios and assignments, preceptor-to-student evaluations,
meetings between the two researchers, and researcher notes. This
study will utilize the grounded theory approach to develop a rich
account and description as well as to gain a deep understanding
of their learning experiences and identify the specific emergent
hypotheses that characterize these experiences. |
AFPE
Award: |
National
Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation - AFPE - AACP Pharmacy
Faculty New Investigator Grant |
SALLY
A. HUSTON, PH.D. |
South University School of Pharmacy |
Faculty
Position: |
Assistant
Professor |
Project
Title: |
“Adjuvant
Breast Cancer Therapy Decision-Making” |
Project
Description: |
The
goal of this exploratory study is to develop and test a clinical
matrix decision aid based on Svenson’s Differentiation and
Consolidation (Difcon) Theory of Decision Making for women facing
adjuvant breast cancer therapy against an aid based on the traditional
linear pamphlet format. |
AFPE
Award: |
AstraZeneca
- AFPE - AACP Pharmacy Faculty New Investigator Grant |
GUIM
KWON, PH.D. |
Southern
Illinois University Edwardsville College of Pharmacy |
Faculty
Position: |
Clinical Assistant Professor |
Project
Title: |
“Role
of Adiponectin in Maintaining Pancreatic ß-cell Mass” |
Project
Description: |
Type
2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance in peripheral
tissues and a progressive decline in the function of the pancreatic
ß-cell. Specific mechanisms involved in the ß-cell
failure during the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes are unknown.
The current proposal will test the hypothesis that adiponectin,
an insulin-sensitizing adipokine released from adipose tissues,
plays a role in maintaining ß-cell mass by reducing lipotxicity
and inhibiting overstimulation of mTOR, a kinase that controls
cellular growth, size, and proliferation. Reduction in plasma
adiponectin levels associated with obesity or insulin resistance
is postulated to cause ß-cell failure during the development
of type 2 diabetes. The goals of this project are to determine
whether 1) adiponectin reduces ß-cell lipotoxicity, 2) adiponectin
inhibits glucose-mediated mTOR activation via activation of AMPK,
an upstream integrator of signas that regulate mTOR activation
via activation of AMPK, an upstream integrator of signals that
regulate mTOR pathway, and 3) adiponectin plays a role in maintaining
ß-cell mass by protecting the ß-cell from lipotoxicity
and overstimulation of mTOR caused by chronic excess nutrients
associated with obesity. |
AFPE
Award: |
Novartis
Pharmaceuticals - AFPE - AACP Pharmacy Faculty New Investigator
Grant |
YUBIN
MIAO, PH.D. |
University
of New Mexico College of Pharmacy |
Faculty
Position: |
Assistant
Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences |
Project
Title: |
“Radiolabeled
Peptide as a Novel PET Imaging Probe for Metastatic Melanoma Detection” |
Project
Description: |
We
will examine if 68Ga-DOTA-GlyGlu-CycMSH is an effective imaging
probe for metastic melanoma detection. Specifically, the synthetic
DOTA-GlyGlu-CycMSH peptide will be labeled with 68Ga, the in vitro
receptor binding affinity of 68Ga-DOTA-GlyGlu-CycMSH will be examined
in B16/F10 murine melanoma cells, and the pharmacokinetics of
68Ga-DOTA-GlyGlu-CycMSH will be determined and compared with 111IN-DOTA-GlyGlu-CycMSH
in normal and B16/F10 pulmonary metastic melanoma-bearing C57
mice. |
AFPE
Award: |
Bayer
HealthCare - AFPE - AACP Pharmacy Faculty New Investigator Grant |
WADE
A. RUSSU, PH.D. |
University
of the Pacific School of Pharmacy |
Faculty
Position: |
Assistant
Professor |
Project
Title: |
“Toward
a Simple Method for Deriving Meaningful Structure Activity Relationships
from Bioactive Helical Peptides”
|
Project
Description: |
Research
toward the development of a potentially general method for reinforcement
of conformation in helical bioactive peptides for the purpose
of minimizing the configurational entropy cost of folding into
the bioactive conformation. This method will reduce the ambiguity
of interpreting structure-activity relationships generated by
amino acid substitutions in the target peptides. The biological
system chosen in which to test the method is the interaction between
a proaptoptic 16 amino acid Bak derived peptide and the anti-apoptotic
Bcl-XL protein. This system is of interest for the development
of anti-cancer drugs. |
AFPE
Award: |
Burroughs
Wellcome Fund - AFPE - AACP Pharmacy Faculty New Investigator
Grant
|
DANIEL
J. SELVAGE, PH.D. |
Idaho
State University College of Pharmacy |
Faculty
Position: |
Assistant
Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences |
Project
Title: |
“Sex
Differences in Brain-Mediated Stress Responses to Alcohol Administration
in the Rat” |
Project
Description: |
Explore
the hypothesis that areas of male and female brains controlling
stress responses respond differently to alcohol administration,
and that these differences are due at least in part to the effects
of changing levels of endogenous circulating gonadal steroids
seen in the two sexes. |
AFPE
Award: |
Burroughs
Welcome Fund – AFPE – AACP Pharmacy Faculty New Investigator
Grant
|
ORLY
VARDENY, PHARM.D. |
University
of Wisconsin at Madison College of Pharmacy |
Faculty
Position: |
Assistant
Professor, Pharmaceutics |
Project
Title: |
“The
Effects of Beta-2 Polymorphisms on Fasting Glucose, Insulin, and
Insulin Resistance during Beta Blocker Titration in Patients with
Heart Failure” |
Project
Description: |
This
study evaluates the role of ß2 adrenergic receptor (ß2-AR)
polymorphism on fasting glucose, insulin, and insulin resistance
in heart failure, and serves to delineate their effects on beta
blocker mediated differences on glucose variables. Thirty beta-blocker
naïve subjects with heart failure will be enrolled prior
to initiation of a beta blocker (15 on metoprolol and 15 on carvedilol).
Fasting glucose and insulin will be measured at the start and
end of beta-blocker titrations. Determinations of ß2-AR
genotype at polymorphic positions 16 and 27 on the ß2 gene
will be completed with PCR and pyrosequencing. Data including
fasting flucose and insulin will be analyzed using an un-paired
t-test between genotypes. |
AFPE
Award: |
Sanofi-Aventis
- AFPE - AACP Pharmacy Faculty New Investigator Grant
|
