Current Research:

Dr. Rohan's research interests lies in the area of drug delivery and targeting. Several research topics are being pursued in her laboratory. The primary focus of the research in the lab is centered on the design of drug delivery systems for application in the areas of infectious disease and gynecologic oncology. One research program in the lab focuses on the development of microbicide products. Microbicides are topical drug delivery systems that can be used to prevent transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). There are approximately 19 million new cases of STIs reported in the US each year with nearly half of these infections being in youths between the ages of 15 and 24. UNAIDS predicts that an additional 45 million people will become infected with HIV by the year 2010 unless prevention efforts are achieved. Men and women urgently need infection prevention technology that is within their personal control. Microbicides would provide such a technology. The research in Dr. Rohan's lab focuses on the development of potential delivery systems for use in microbicide products. They are currently studying the role of the chemical, physical, and biological properties of vaginal and cervical tissues and fluids in the development of vaginal and cervical products and developing in vitro model systems for use in the design of microbicide products. The lab currently collaborates with groups around the world to develop small molecules, peptides & proteins, as well as genetically altered bacteria as microbicide products. Other projects in the lab include the development and optimization of imaging techniques for sentinel node identification in cervical cancer as well as the development of novel delivery systems for chemotherapeutic agents.

Bio:

Dr. Rohan has appointments as Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences in the School of Pharmacy and the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences in the School of Medicine. Additionally, she is an Assistant Investigator at the Magee Womens Research Institute. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from West Virginia University and a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics from the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. After completion of her Ph.D. work Dr. Rohan did a Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences in the area of Mucosal Immunology at the University of Pittsburgh. She currently sits on the Medical Health Advisory Board of the Society for the Advancement of Women’s Health Research and is a member of the Scientific Steering Committee of the Women’s Health Research Coalition. Dr. Rohan’s teaching responsibilities include Pharmaceutical Calculations and Drug Development III.

The basis of Dr. Rohan’s research lies in vaginal and cervical delivery as applied in the areas of infectious disease and gynecologic oncology. Particular interests are in studying the role of chemical, physical, and biological properties of vaginal and cervical tissues and fluids in the development of vaginal and cervical products. Specifically, this knowledge is being utilized to develop a product for prophylactic use against Sexually Transmitted Diseases and HIV. Her research also involves the development and optimization of imaging techniques for sentinel node identification in cervical cancer as well as novel delivery systems for chemotherapeutic agents.