Pharm.D., University of Rhode Island, 2004

Program Track: Drug Disposition and Response

Primary Advisor: Raman Venkataramanan

Current Research:

I am interested in applying pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic principles to understand the functional metabolic capacity and transporter activity in orthotopic liver transplant patients and to utilize this information to optimize drug therapy in this patient population. My research examines the ability and mechanism of an investigative agent to protect against ischemia-reperfusion injury of the liver. The aim of this research is: 1) to measure the effect of I/R injury on the microcirculation and graft function immediately after transplantation and the protective ability of a prostacyclin analogue against I/R-induced hepatic injury, and 2) to measure the effect of I/R injury on the expression and activity of hepatic drug transporters and the protective effect of a prostacyclin analog against I/R-induced alterations in hepatic drug transporters. Studies are being conducted in vitro and in vivo. Evaluation of drug metabolism and transport is done in animal tissues, human tissues, and fresh human hepatocytes. Basic analytical techniques used include HPLC-UV, LC-MS/MS, RT-PCR and Western Blotting.