ROBERT
D. ARNOLD, PH.D. |
University
of Georgia College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences |
Faculty
Position: |
Assistant
Professor, Pharmaceutics |
Project
Title: |
“sPLA2-Targeted
Liposomes for Prostate Cancer” |
Project
Description: |
Optimal
cancer chemotherapy requires delivering sufficient drug over time
to eradicate a tumor completely. The overall goal of this project
is to engineer nanoparticle drug carriers for the treatment of
prostate cancer. We propose to selectively increase the rate and
extent of drug release of stable long-circulating liposomes by
exploiting elevated secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) expression
in prostate tumors, relative to normal tissues. We will determine
the effect of sPLA2 mediated metabolism of different lipid compositions
in vitro and the effect in vivo using a murine model of human
prostate cancer (PC-3) in athymic mice. We hypothesize that long-circulating
sPLA2 targeted liposomes formulations can be prepared and the
rate and extent of drug release can be increased selectively in
prostate cancers to improve antitumor treatment efficacy and minimize
non-target tissue toxicity. |
AFPE
Award: |
Wyeth
Pharmaceuticals - AFPE - AACP Pharmacy Faculty New Investigator
Grant |
THIRUMA
ARUMUGAM, PH.D. |
Texas
Tech University School of Pharmacy |
Faculty
Position: |
Assistant
Professor, Pharmacology/Toxicology |
Project
Title: |
“Notch-1
Signaling Influences Glial Inflammatory Response through the NF-kB
Activity” |
Project
Description: |
The
resident inflammatory brain cells, microglia, are activated in
response to ischemic insults and produce inflammatory mediators,
many of which are regulated by NFKB. The released cytokines and
oxygen radicals not only damage neurons but also trigger reactive
gliosis that can adversely impact neuronal survival. As Notch-1
signaling is required to sustain the transcriptional activity
of NFKB, we will determine whether Notch-1 signaling influences
NFKB regulated inflammation in microglia. |
AFPE
Award: |
AFPE
21st Century Club Alumni & Friends - AFPE - AACP Pharmacy
Faculty New Investigator Grant
|
MEDHANE
CUMBAY, PH.D. |
Butler
University College of Pharmacy |
Faculty
Position: |
Assistant Professor, Pharmacology |
Project
Title: |
“Agonist-Specific
Dopamine Receptor Coupling to G Proteins” |
Project
Description: |
Certain
drugs that act on the D2 receptors ( and several other agonists
acting on their cognate GPCRs) exhibit preferential activation
of specific signal transduction pathways via a single receptor
isoform, an observation that has been termed functional selectivity
(also agonist-directed trafficking). This proposal seeks to examine
the mechanisms of functional selectivity at the level of receptor
to G protein coupling. |
AFPE
Award: |
AFPE
21st Century Club Alumni & Friends - AFPE - AACP Pharmacy
Faculty New Investigator Grant |
ROBERT
J. DOERKSEN, PH.D. |
University
of Mississippi College of Pharmacy |
Faculty
Position: |
Assistant
Professor, Medicinal Chemistry |
Project
Title: |
“Rational
Computer-Aided Drug Design for Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 Inhibition” |
Project
Description: |
Glycogen
synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3), a serine/treonine mitogen activated
protein (MAP) kinase, is involved in many key biochemical processes
such as hyperphosphorylation of glycogen synthase in the rate-limiting
step of glycogen biosynthesis and tau hyperphosporylation. Building
on our recently published work on glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3)
inhibition by maleimides, and recent work showing that manzamine
A and related derivatives isolated from a common Indonesian sponge
Aconthostrongylophora are GSK-3 inhibitors, we propose computer-aided
rational modification of manzamine A for design of antimalarial
and anti-Alzheimer’s drug leads. |
AFPE
Award: |
Pfizer
Inc. - AFPE - AACP Pharmacy Faculty New Investigator Grant |
LAIRD
FORREST, PH.D. |
University
of Kansas School of Pharmacy |
Faculty
Position: |
Assistant
Professor, Chemistry |
Project
Title: |
“Design
of Polymeric Nanocarriers for Drug and Gene Delivery” |
Project
Description: |
To
develop a targeted, combination gene and drug delivery nanocarrier
for treatment of metastic prostate cancers. The objective is to
develop a single nanocarrier platform that can deliver both plasmid
DNA for gene therapy applications and small-molecule anticancer
drugs, which is suitable for the future addition of a reversibly
linked, targeted PEG-shield. |
AFPE
Award: |
AstraZeneca
Pharmaceuticals - AFPE - AACP Pharmacy Faculty New Investigator
Grant |
PHILLIP
M. GERK, PHARM.D. |
Virginia
Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy |
Faculty
Position: |
Assistant
Professor, Pharmaceutics |
Project
Title: |
“Effects
of Oxidative Stress on Placental ATP-Binding Cassette (ABC) Transporters” |
Project
Description: |
Since
the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters in the placenta protect
the fetus from harmful compounds, damage to these ABC transporters
due to oxidative stress can cause adverse fetal outcomes. It is
important to know how oxidative stress influences the function
of placental ABC transporters. This project will investigate the
influence of pathologic oxidizing agents on the three ABC transporters
that are expressed on the maternal-facing aspect of the maternal-fetal
blood barrier in the placenta. Specifically, the ABC transporter
isoforms ABCB1, ABCG2, ABCC2 will be individually overexpressed
in vitro for use in experiments to characterize oxidant-induced
changes in transporter function, and how those changes can be
overcome by antioxidants. These results will provide important
evidence to support NIH grant submissions. |
AFPE
Award: |
Burroughs
Wellcome Fund Endowed - AFPE - AACP Pharmacy Faculty New Investigator
Grant |
GIUSEPPE
GUMINA, PH.D. |
South
University School of Pharmacy |
Faculty
Position: |
Assistant
Professor, Pharmacy |
Project
Title: |
“Synthesis
and Structure-Activity Relationship Studies of Peptidyl Nucleoside
Analogs as Novel Antitumor Antibiotics” |
Project
Description: |
We
have recently discovered the anticancer activity of a novel peptidyl
nucleoside analog structurally related to puromycin. Unlike the
natural parent molecule, our synthetic analog cannot be converted
to nephrotoxic metabolites in vivo. The proposed project aims
to synthesize a series of analogs of our lead molecule and evaluate
the cytotoxicity in tumor cell lines. Since nephrotoxicity has
been a critical factor in the withdrawal of puromycin from clinical
trials as an anticancer agent, analogs that mimic its activity
without this serious toxic effect may represent promising chemotherapeutic
agents. |
AFPE
Award: |
Burroughs
Wellcome Fund Endowed - AFPE - AACP Pharmacy Faculty New Investigator
Grant |
IFTEKHAR
KALSEKAR, PH.D. |
Butler University College of Pharmacy |
Faculty
Position: |
Assistant
Professor, Social and Administrative Sciences |
Project
Title: |
“Impact
of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors on Mortality
and Morbidity in Patients with an Acute Myocardial Infarction
(AMI): Does the Type of ACE-Inhibitor Matter?” |
Project
Description: |
In
clinical practice, generalizations are made about the class effect
of ACE-inhibitors and no specific ACEinhibitor is recommended
over another for treatment of patients incurring an acute myocardial
infarction (AMI). The overall goal of the study is to examine
the impact of different ACE-inhibitors on mortality and morbidity
in patients with AMI. The study will be conducted using de-identified
medical and prescription claims data of a State Medicaid program.
A retrospective cohort design will be used and patients incurring
an AMI and initiating therapy with ACE-inhibitors will be followed
longitudinally to identify episodes of death and hospitalizations
due
to cardiovascular complications. Differences in outcomes between
ACE-inhibitors will be explored using propensity-matching techniques. |
AFPE
Award: |
sanofi-aventis
- AFPE - AACP Pharmacy Faculty New Investigator Grant |
JESSINA
C. MCGREGOR, PH.D. |
Oregon
State University College of Pharmacy |
Faculty
Position: |
Assistant Professor, Pharmacy |
Project
Title: |
“Surveillance
of Antimicrobial Resistance in Outpatient Clinics” |
Project
Description: |
This
study will measure the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance
in outpatient clinics for 2005, 2006, and 2007. These data will
be analyzed for changes across time and compared to the prevalence
of resistance among inpatients in the same healthcare system.
Questionnaires will be sent to prescribers at the outpatient study
sties to assess their knowledge of the local prevalence of antimicrobial
resistance, and to assess their use of this information in empiric
therapy decision making. This research will serve as the foundation
for future research on the use of surveillance data to improve
antimicrobial empiric therapy decision-making in the outpatient
setting. |
AFPE
Award: |
Pfizer
Inc. - AFPE - AACP Pharmacy Faculty New Investigator Grant |
MIKI
S. PARK, PH.D. |
University
of the Pacific College of Pharmacy |
Faculty
Position: |
Assistant
Professor, Chemistry |
Project
Title: |
“A
Novel In Vitro Model to Predict Oral Drug Bioavailability” |
Project
Description: |
For
most drug candidates, oral dosing is still the preferred route
of administration. Therefore, for an in vitro human model system
to provide an accurate prediction of the oral bioavailability
of drug candidates in humans, it needs to capture all the processes
that affect the bioavailability of drug candidates in humans early
in the drug development process is extremely important. In order
for the in vitro model system to accurately predict the oral bioavailability
of drug candidates in humans, it needs to capture all the processes
that affect the bioavailability of drug candidates: ability to
get absorbed, escape gut and liver first-pass effect. The current
in vitro model systems commonly used to predict oral bioavailability.
The novel in vitro model system proposed here will capture the
ability of drug candidates to get absorbed, escape gut and liver
first-pass metabolism as well as biliary excretion in a single
experiment. We hypothesize that the proposed in vitro model system
will provide a more accurate prediction of the bioavailability
of drug candidates compared to the currently available system. |
AFPE
Award: |
AFPE
21st Century Club Alumni & Friends - AFPE - AACP Pharmacy
Faculty New Investigator Grant |
NATHANIEL
M. RICKLES, PH.D. |
Northeastern
University Bouve School of Pharmacy |
Faculty
Position: |
Assistant
Professor, Social and Administrative Pharmacy |
Project
Title: |
“The
Impact of Training Preceptors in Assessing and Evaluating Student
Communication Skills on Student’s Counseling Skills and
Attitudes”
|
Project
Description: |
There
is concern that critical communication skills are not being completely
reinforced during required community pharmacy rotations. 80 pharmacy
students will be assigned to one of two groups of community pharmacy
rotation sites: (1) where preceptors receive training on assessing
and evaluating student communication skills and (2) where preceptors
do not receive such training. Blinded communication experts will
evaluate tapes of student encounters with “patients”
before and after the rotations. The impact of the preceptor training
will be evaluated by comparing changes in student communication
skills and attitudes before and after rotation. |
AFPE
Award: |
Bayer
HealthCare - AFPE - AACP Pharmacy Faculty New Investigator Grant
|
JEFFERY
N. TALBOT, PH.D. |
Ohio
Northern University |
Faculty
Position: |
Assistant
Professor, Pharmacology |
Project
Title: |
“Separating
Analgesia from Abuse Liability by Deletion of RGS Protein Activity” |
Project
Description: |
Opiods
are the most prescribed and effective analgesics known, but are
rampantly abused. Recent evidence indicates that Regulators of
G protein Signaling (RGS) proteins are key players in shaping
responses to acute/chronic opiods, particularly weaker efficacy
drugs that exhibit less abuse liability. The goal of this research
is to test the hypothesis that genetic deletion of Regulators
of G protein Signaling (RGS) protein activity in vivo selectively
improves the antinociceptive profile of low efficacy opiods relative
to their abuse potential. Insight into RGS protein regulation
of analgesic/addictive properties of opiod drugs in vivo, and
will improve analgesic treatments for pain that lack abuse potential. |
AFPE
Award: |
Ortho-McNeil
Janssen Scientific Affairs - AFPE - AACP Pharmacy Faculty New
Investigator Grant
|
JUNLING
WANG, PH.D. |
University
of Tennessee College of Pharmacy |
Faculty
Position: |
Assistant
Professor, Social and Administrative Sciences |
Project
Title: |
“Pharmacists’
Acceptable Levels of Compensation for Medication Therapy Management
Services: A Conjoint Analysis” |
Project
Description: |
In
order to determine the optimal payment levels for medication therapy
management (MTM) services, the investigators for this proposed
study are currently examining Medicare beneficiaries’ willingness
to pay for these services. The method used in that study is a
preference-based conjoint analysis. This proposed study will elicit
pharmacists’ acceptable levels of compensation for MTM services,
so that the crucial pharmacist perspective can be incorporated
into the policy-making process. A method of preference-based conjoint
analysis, similar to the ongoing study, will be used. This study
will also determine whether compensation for MTM services should
vary not only with the time spent but also with other attributes
of the services, such as number of medical conditions that patients
have, number of mediations that patients are taking, etc. The
study design is a crosssectional survey of active pharmacists
in the State of Tennessee. |
AFPE
Award: |
National
Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation - AFPE - AACP Pharmacy
Faculty New Investigator Grant
|
CRAIGE
C. WRENN, PH.D. |
Drake
University College of Pharmacy |
Faculty
Position: |
Assistant
Professor, Pharmacologys |
Project
Title: |
“Modeling
of Alzheimer’s Disease in Mice by Immunotoxic Lesioning
of the Cholinergic Basal Forebrain” |
Project
Description: |
The
objective of this research proposal is to develop a novel mouse
model of the cholinergic degeneration of Alzheimer’s disease
using the immunotizin mu-p75-saporin. Various doses of the immunotizin
will be injected intraventricularly into male C57BL/6J. Histochemical
and immunhistochemical approaches will be used to assess the potency
and selectivity of mu-p75-saporin. The effect of the mu-p75-saporin
on mnemonic function will be assessed by testing the mice in passive
avoidance learning and spatial learning in the Morris water maze.
Behavioral deficits will be correlated with lesion extent. In
summary, the proposed work will be the first step in the development
and characterization of a novel mouse model of Alzheimer’s
disease. Such a model will greatly aid our understanding of the
impact of cholinergic degeneration on mnemonic function and will
serve as a tool for the screening of putative drug therapies for
Alzheimer’s disease. |
AFPE
Award: |
Ortho-McNeil
Janssen Scientific Affairs - AFPE - AACP Pharmacy Faculty New
Investigator Grant
|
