Scott Bergman, PharmD Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Dr. Bergman's clinical practice site is at the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield. His appointment with the Division of Infectious Diseases allows him to help treat patients with a variety of infections such as pneumonia, pyelonephritis, osteomyeletitis, meningitis, tuberculosis, viral hepatitis and HIV/AIDS. His research interests revolve around the appropriate dosing of anti-infectives and the treatment of healthcare-associated infections.
Bergman SJ, Slain D, Petros K. Evaluation of a newly implemented once-daily aminoglycoside dosing and monitoring program [abstract P434E]. Poster presentation at the 41st ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting in Anaheim, CA Dec 2006
Bergman SJ, Slain D, Hare J. Evaluation of thrice-weekly vancomyin dosing in high-flux hemodialysis [abstract 373]. Poster presentation at the ACCP Annual Meeting in St Louis, MO Oct 2006.
Treatment of Nursing Home-acquired Pneumonia. ACPE-accredited continuing education presentation for pharmacists and technicians presented in Morgantown, WV May 2006.
Weapons of Mass Destruction Found! An update on new anti-infectives. ACPE-accredited continuing education presentation at the West Virginia Society of Health-System Pharmacists Annual Meeting in Charleston, WV April 2006
Bergman SJ, Petros KO, Briggs FE. Potential cost-savings in the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia [abstract RP-117]. Poster presentation at the 39th Annual ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting in Orlando, FL Dec 2004
Chris Herndon, PharmD, BCPS, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy PracticeHerndon CM. Pharmacologic management of cancer pain. Journal of Neuroscience Nursing 2003;35:321-326.
Herndon CM, Kalauokalani DL. Overview of pain management research for the practicing clinician. American Journal of Pain Management 2003;13:163-168.
Herndon CM, Jackson KC, Fike DS, Woods TA. End-of-life care education in United States pharmacy schools. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care 2003;20:350-355.
Herndon CM, Kalauokalani DL, Cunningham AC, Jackson KL, Dunteman E. Anticipating and treating opioid associated adverse effects. Expert Opinion on Drug Safety 2003;2:305-319.
Herndon CM, Jackson KC, Hallin PA. Management of opioid-induced gastrointestinal effects in patients receiving palliative care. Pharmacotherapy 2002;22:240-250.
Herndon CM, Fike DS, Anderson AC, Dole EJ. Continuous Subcutaneous Infusion practices of United States Hospices. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. 2001;22:1027-1034.
Burleson BS, Herndon CM. Use of megestrol acetate for cancer related anorexia/cachexia in palliative care. TSHP Journal 2001;1:58-63.
Herndon CM, Fike DS, Anderson AC, Dole EJ. Pharmacy Student Training In United States Hospices. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care 2001;18:181-186.
Herndon CM. Continuous Subcutaneous Infusion for Palliative Pain Management. American Journal of Pain Management 2000;10:53-59.
Herndon CM, Finley MR., Dole EJ, Quaranta LT, Forman WB. Successful use of gabapentin in the treatment of phantom limb pain. American Journal of Pain Management 1999;9:124-127.
Jessica L. Kerr, PharmD, CDE
As a component of my scholarship activities at SIUE, I maintain a geriatric/ambulatory care clinic in coordination with the Veterans Affairs Medical Center Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Belleville, Illinois. The focus for this clinic is Cardiovascular Risk Management and Prevention. Research interests include prevention strategy programs for patients and caregivers, polypharmacy, diabetes and implementation of interdisciplinary management of disease. Commitments to the profession include delivery of continuing education programs and professional society membership.
RESEARCH INTERESTS: hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, polypharmacy, heart failure and anticoagulation. With these research interested I am particularly interested in the impact a pharmacist may contribute to the health care team
Britt, BB, Kerr JL. Schulz R. Guideline Adherence of Antithrombotic Use for
Atrial Fibrillation at Discharge in a Veterans Affairs Facility. Annals of Pharmacology. Submitted December 2005
Kerr JL, Lynch JC. Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Women. U.S. Pharmacist. Submitted December 2005.
Altman JS, Kerr JL, Thrower MR. The Need for a More Stringent LDL-C Goal in Patients with Diabetes. The Journal of Pharmacy Technology. To be published in December 2005.
Kerr JL, Oppelt TF, Rowen RC. Role of Clopidogrel in Unstable Angina and Non-ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction; From Literature and Guidelines to Practice. Pharmacotherapy 2004;24(8):1037-1049.
Kerr JL, Snella KA. A clinical pharmacist’s impact of detailing prescribers on the management of hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacists Journal. 2002;3(2)35-41.
Losing Its Flame: How to Assess and Help Patients to a Smoke-Free Life. University of South Carolina Annual Pharmacy Symposium. Columbia, South Carolina. October 23, 2004.
Atrial Fibrillation: Out with the Old In with the New? South Carolina Society of Health-System Pharmacist. Columbia, South Carolina. September 30, 2004.
Women’s Health: Understanding the therapies and controversy. Southeastern Society of Health-System Pharmacists. May 16, 2003.
Mark Luer, Pharm.D. Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Chair
My research interests include the kinetics of drug transport at the blood-brain barrier and the physiologic/pathophysiologic processes that govern CNS drug disposition. This research has been supported by a variety of extramural sources including National Institutes of Health, American Heart Association, Epilepsy Foundation of America, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, and the American College of Clinical Pharmacy.
Luer MS , Neill KK, Gurley BJ, Shannon ML, Killian AD, Rodvold KA. Fluctuations in Vancomycin CNS Tissue Concentrations Following Intermittent and Continuous Infusions in the Rat. Neurological Research. 2004;26:312-315.
Luer MS, Hamani C, Dujovny M, Gidal B, Cwik M, Deyo K, Fischer JH. Saturable Transport of Gabapentin at the Blood-Brain Barrier. Neurological Research 1999;21(6):559-62.
Chris Lynch, Pharm. D. Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Dr. Lynch’s research interests include diabetes, hypertension, women’s health and the application of clinical practice guidelines to patient care in ambulatory medicine and community pharmacy arenas.
Co-author, “Effect of Pharmaceutical Care on Diabetes Indicators in an Urban Public Hospital”, National Institutes of Health Pilot Grant.
Co-investigator, “HOE 901/4002. Target glycemic control and the incidence of symptomatic nocturnal hypoglycemia in insulin naïve subjects with type 2 diabetes on oral hypoglycemic agent(s) and treated with insulin glargine or NPH human insulin.” Tulane University Medical School.
Author: “A 2-year, Controlled Study to Evaluate the Impact of the Provision of Intensive Pharmaceutical Care and Free Medications on the Health of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.” 1999 SmithKline Beecham Quality Care Research Fund Proposal.
Author: “Implementing a Continuous Pharmaceutical Care Program to Serve Urban Diabetic Patients”. American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy New Investigators Program.
Julie P. Karpinski, Pharm.D., BCPS, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Research interests associated with SIUE Drug Information and Wellness Center include outreach health promotion programs, public health education about medications and common disease states, and geriatric medicine. Drug Information areas of interest and research include drug interactions, investigational and new drug entities, and evaluation of drug information resources. Recent publication and presentation topics have focused on these topics.
Meyer J, Generali J, Karpinski J. Evaluation of herbal-drug interaction data in tertiary resources. Hosp Pharm. 2004;39(2):149-160.
Karpinski JP. Pharmacy Practice Issues in Oncology: Drug Information. In: Concepts in Oncology Therapeutics. 3 rd ed. Balmer C, Finley R, eds. Bethesda, MD: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists; 2004: publication in process.
Karpinski JP . Drug Interactions in Palliative Care. In: The M. D. Anderson Symptom Control and Palliative Care Handbook. 3 rd ed. Elsayem A, Bruera E, eds. Publication in process.
Coming soon to a Cancer Center near you. M.D. Anderson Cancer Center 27 th Annual Pharmacy Symposium on Cancer Chemotherapy. Houston, Texas. Nov 1, 2005.
A Look at What’s Coming Down the New Drug Pipeline. M. D. Anderson Cancer Center 26 th Annual Pharmacy Symposium on Cancer Chemotherapy. Houston, Texas. Oct 18, 2004.
New Drug Approvals & Products in the Pipeline. Gulf Coast Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Houston, Texas. June 17, 2004.
Getting a Handle on Drug Interactions in Oncology. Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacists 56 th Annual Seminar. Houston, Texas. April 16, 2004.
Lisa Lubsch, PharmD, AE-C. Clinical Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice
My research interests include adolescent pharmacotherapy, the metabolic syndrome in children, and quality improvement initiatives in pediatric asthma and cystic fibrosis. Along with multiple local and national presentations on the above topics, publications relevant to research area:
Lubsch L, Lynch JL. Caring for children with diabetes. U.S. Pharmacist 2006; in press
Sanders BH, Lubsch L, West DS. Prevalence and Treatment of Metabolic Syndrome in Adolescents with Type 2 Diabetes. The Annals of Pharmacotherapy 2006; 40 (9):1517-1521.
Lubsch L. Are Antidepressants Safe to Use in Children and Adolescents?. J Arkansas Med Society 2004; 101(1):27-29.
Therese Poirier, Pharm.D., MPH. Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Dr Poirier’s current research interests are in the evaluation of teaching pedagogy and student learning characteristics to learning outcomes. Previous clinical research involved the following areas: quality assessment evaluations, evaluation of pharmacists to provide cost-effective clinical pharmacy services, and drug interaction software evaluations. Dr Poirier has also conducted pharmacoepidemiologic research and pedagogical research.
“Guidelines for manuscripts describing instructional design or assessment: The IDEAS format”. Am J Pharm Educ 2004; 68(4) Article 92.
“Healthy People 2010: Challenges, opportunities, and a call to action for America’s pharmacists.” Pharmacotherapy 2004 (9):1241-1294.
“An online Doctor of Pharmacy program for pharmacy practitioners: development and evaluation of six courses”. Am J Pharm Edu 64:272-276, Fall 2000.
Erin M. Timpe, Pharm.D., BCPS. Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice
My practice site is as a Drug Information Specialist at the SIUE Drug Information and Wellness Center. My primary research interests, associated with the wellness component of the center, include: improving health care in rural areas, and promoting prevention and knowledge of common health problems, including osteoporosis, smoking cessation, and diabetes, in the community. Practicing in drug information, I have evaluated and presented on issues related to drug safety and adverse events, drug interactions, evaluating literature and resources, and hospital policies and procedures. As an Assistant Professor, I am also interested in incorporating and evaluating innovative teaching methods in the classroom. I serve as a peer-reviewer for American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists, The Annals of Pharmacotherapy,The Journal of Pharmacy Technology, and The Journal of Women’s Health.
Timpe EM , Amarshi N, Reed PJ. Evaluation of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors in a State Managed Care Plan. Am J Man Care. Am J Manag Care. 2004;10(part 2):124-129.
Timpe EM , Motl SE, Hogan ML. Environmental Exposure to Category D and X Medications by Pregnant Healthcare Professionals. Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 2004;61:1556-61.
Lakesha Wiley, Pharm.D. Clinical Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice
My research interests include diabetes, anticoagulation, patient medication adherence, and the development and implementation of pharmacist-managed clinical services.
Co-investigator, “Venous Thrombosis Prophylaxis in Inpatient Bariatric Surgery: A Retrospective, Cohort Evaluation.” University of Illinois-Chicago
Miranda Wilhelm, Pharm.D., Clinical Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Dr. Wilhelm’s clinical practice site is at the Schnucks Pharmacy in Edwardsville, Illinois. Her research interests consist of development and implementation of clinical pharmacy services in community-based practice. Specific programs include medication therapy management, smoking cessation classes, blood pressure management clinic, providing immunizations, cardiovascular risk assessments, and diabetes education classes. Other areas of interest relate to health and wellness such as preventative screenings and disease state education. Publications and presentations related to these interests include:
Emming V, Wilhelm M, Ruisinger J, Howard P. Acceptance and Impact of Pharmacist Interventions in an Outpatient Blood Pressure Management Clinic. Poster presentation at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Midyear Clinical Meeting.
Koerner J, Wilhelm M, Ruisinger J, Howard P. Effectiveness of a Collaborative Pharmacist-Dietitian Taught Diabetes Education Program. Poster presentation at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Midyear Clinical Meeting.
Stack T, Grauer D, Wilhelm M, Ruisinger J. Development of an Instrument to Measure
Medication Health Literacy. Poster presentation at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Midyear Clinical Meeting.
Wilhelm M, Kerner S. Implementation and Evaluation of a Smoking Cessation Program
Facilitated by Community Pharmacists. Poster presentation at the American Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting.
Wilhelm M, Grauer D, Ruisinger J, Denton J. Development, Implementation and Evaluation of a Prescription Savings Program for Older Adults. Poster presentation at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Midyear Clinical Meeting.
Reducing Cardiovascular Events in High Risk Patients: Emphasis Diabetic Counseling. ACPE-accredited continuing education presentation for pharmacists presented in Hays, Kansas.
William R. Wuller, M.S. Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice
My research interests include topics related to health system pharmacy management and pharmacy student experiential education. Management topics of particular interest are patient medication safety and benchmarking of hospital pharmacy activities. With regard to experiential education, topics of particular interest are outcomes associated with innovative experiential learning objectives and associated preceptor guidelines and studying changes in student professionalism as they progress from the first professional year through graduation.
Wuller, W.R.; MacKinnon III, G.E. Incorporating DUE in the Physician Credentialing Process. P&T. 1993. 18, 457-462.
Wuller, W.R.; Hurd, P.R. Personnel Directors Perceptions of Hospital Pharmacists. Am. J. Hosp. Pharm. 1992, 49, 395-397.
Michael Crider, Ph.D., Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chair
A major area of research in my laboratory over the last 12 years has been in the development of nonpeptide ligands of somatostatin [somatotropin release-inhibiting factor (SRIF)]. Research from a number of laboratories has shown that the b -turn, Phe 7-Trp 8-Lys 9-Thr 10, is necessary for biological activity with residues Trp 8 and Lys 9 being essential. Additional studies have shown that the Phe 6 and Phe 11 residues may help stabilize the bioactive conformation of SRIF. SRIF exerts its biological effects by binding to a family of G-protein-coupled receptors (sst 1-sst 5). Due to its poor bioavailablity and rapid degradation by proteases, the therapeutic utility of SRIF-14 is limited. As a result, the development of peptidomimetics of SRIF is of considerable interest. A broad screening program was initiated with collaborators at Novo Nordisk A/S focusing on a scaffold to which Phe 7, Trp 8, and Lys 9 mimetic were attached. This focused screen led to the discovery of a thiourea (NNC 26-9100) with high affinity (K i = 6 nm) for the subtype 4 somatostatin receptor (sst 4). This was the first report of a nonpeptide exhibiting high binding affinity and selectivity at a cloned human receptor. Subsequent studies from our laboratory have been directed at exploring the structure activity relationships of thioureas and related compounds at ssts. Present studies are directed toward microwave-assisted synthesis of novel scaffolds that contain the key structural fragments which are thought to impart binding affinity for ssts.
Ankersen, M.; Crider, M.; Liu, S.; Ho, B.; Andersen, H.S.; Stidsen, C.E. Discovery of a Novel Nonpeptide Somatostatin Agonist with SST 4 Selectivity. J. Am.Chem. Soc. 1998, 120, 1368-1373.
Liu, S.; Crider, A.M.; Tang, C.; Ho, B.; Ankersen, M.; Stidsen, C.E. Nonpeptide Somatostatin Agonists with sst 4 Selectivity: Synthesis and Structure Activity Relationships of Thioureas. J. Med. Chem. 1998, 41, 4693-4705.
Liu, S.; Crider, A.M.; Tang, C.; Ho, B.; Ankersen, M.; Stidsen, C.E. 2-Pyridylthioureas: Novel Nonpeptide Somatostatin Agonists with sst 4 Selectivity. Curr. Pharm. Des. 1999, 5, 255-263.
Crider, A.M.; Liu, S.; Li, T.; Mahajan, S.; Ankersen, M.; Stidsen, C.E. Somatostatin Receptor Subtype 4 (sst 4) Ligands: Synthesis and Evaluation of Indol-3-yl-and 2-Pyridylthioureas. Lett. Drug Design and Discovery2004, , 84-87.
Radhika Devraj, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
My interests are patient-centered and can be broadly divided into three main areas—health-related quality of life, patient compliance and patient safety.
Health-related quality of life (HRQOL)—I am interested in evaluating the impact of interventions, diseases or medications on patient health-related quality of life, and in identifying ways to enhance use of HRQOL instruments in routine patient care.
Patient Compliance: Compliance with medication therapy has long been an important issue in enhancing patient outcomes. I am interested in various aspects of patient compliance with treatment and medication therapy.
Patient safety: I am interested in the broad area of patient safety particularly medication errors, and ways to minimize/eliminate it.
Desikan R , Mason HL, Rupp MT, Skehan M (2002). Health-related quality of life and health care resource utilization: A comparison of three instruments. Quality of Life Research 11: 739-751.
Burroughs TE, Desikan R, Waterman BM, Gilin D, McGill J (2004). Development and Validation of the Diabetes Quality of Life Brief Clinical Inventory. Diabetes Spectrum 17(1): 41-49.
Desikan R , Dunagan WC, Bailey TC, Fraser VF. Reporting of adverse drug events: Examination of a Hospital Incident Reporting system. AHRQ grant. accepted for publication in Advances in patient safety: From Research to Implementation, 2005
Gireesh V. Gupchup, PhD, Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Associate Dean for Student and Professional Affairs
RESEARCH FOCUS: The focus of my research endeavors is the evaluation of the structure, processes, and outcomes involved in the delivery of pharmaceutical and health care services and products in underserved populations. The principal funding for my research endeavors has been obtained from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), pharmaceutical organizations such as GlaxoWellcome Inc. and Takeda Pharmaceuticals, and the New Mexico Department of Human Services. Based on my research focus some interesting projects have involved the design and validation of asthma and diabetes-specific health related quality of life questionnaires for Pueblo and Navajo populations, respectively. Also, my research group developed a pharmacist initiated diabetes disease management program for Hispanic communities in Northern New Mexico. We have studied the reasons behind the use of Hispanic patients using established socio-behavioral models, and most recently, we have studied co-morbid depression in Hispanic diabetes patients. Another area of interest has been the study stress and health-related quality of life among student pharmacists.
Gupchup, G.V., Borrego, M.E., Santos, R., & Shah, B.M. (2005). Economic, patient preference and health-related quality of life considerations for intranasal corticosteroids in allergic rhinitis: implications for managed care. Disease Management and Health Outcomes 13, 169-184.
Gupchup, G.V., Borrego, M.E., & Konduri, N. (2004). Impact of student life-stress on health related quality of life among Doctor of Pharmacy Students. College Student Journal 38, 292-301.
Kumar, R.N., Gupchup, G.V., Dodd, M.A., Iskedjian, M., Einarson, T.R., Raisch, D.W., & Shah, B.J. (2004). Health care costs associated with four categories of skin ulcers in New Mexico Medicaid fee-for-service patients. Advances in Skinand Wound Care 17, 143-149.
Gupchup, G.V., Marfatia, A.A., Worley, M.M., Raisch, D.W., Bartley, M., & Bennett, B. (2003). Intention to Use Herbal Medicines Among Older Outpatients. Journal Social and Administrative Pharmacy 20, 249-256.
Gupchup, G.V., Hubbard, J.H., Teel, M., Singhal, P.K., Tonrey, L., Riley, K., Rupp, M.T., & Coultas, D.B. (2001). Developing a community specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL) questionnaire for asthma: the Asthma-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire for Native American Adults (AQLQ-NAA). Journal of Asthma, 38, 169-178.
Gupchup, G.V., Wolfgang, A.P., & Thomas, J. III. (1996). Development of a scale to measure directive guidance by pharmacists. The Annals of Pharmacotherapy, 30, 1369-1375.
William M. Kolling, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
My laboratory research interests can be placed in the broad category of surface and interfacial phenomena. Recent work focuses on the synthesis and stabilization of drugs and delivery systems in the nanometer size range. Nanoparticles have a very high surface free energy, and this property thermodynamically drives the system to form large aggregates. My student colleagues have successfully prepared systems below 1 micron in size, and this work continues at SIUE.
Another project has examined the interaction between water vapor and drugs, excipients, and dosage forms. My colleagues and I have shown that water vapor sorption analysis is a powerful tool in the characterization of drugs with polymorphic crystal forms and isomorphic desolvates. We have also examined film delivery systems and tableting excipients.
Nesamony, J. and Kolling, W. M. IPM/DOSS/water microemulsions as reactors for silver sulfadiazine nanocrystal synthesis. J Pharm Sci 94: 1310-1320, 2005.
Manek, R. V. and Kolling, W. M. Influence of moisture on the crystal forms of niclosamide obtained from acetone and ethyl acetate. AAPS PharmSciTech 5 (1) Article 14, 2004. (online http://www.aapspharmscitech.org)
Prodduturi, S., Manek, R. V., Kolling, W. M., Stodghill, S. P., and Repka, M. A. Solid-state stability and characterization of hot-melt extruded poly(ethylene oxide) films. J Pharm Sci (in press).
Maria Kontoyianni, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
1) In a recent publication, Gunasekaran and Nussinov compiled and analyzed a list of 98 proteins for which both the bound target/ligand (holo) and free (apo) forms exist. They focused on changes at the macromolecular level, and presented three classes of binding sites: those with no conformational change (rigid), ones with moderate change upon ligand binding, and finally flexible sites where large conformational changes occur.
I have used the above data-set, which I am now expanding, in order to investigate trends/patterns that correlate degree of complexity and ligand characteristics for each of the classes above with the nature of the respective binding pockets. Contrary to theirs, my work focuses on small molecules and not the targets. So far, I have looked at function in terms of EC, class/fold distinction using SCOP, and multiple alignments. My intent is to also look at electrostatic potentials and structural alignments of the binding pockets, long-range interactions (Bruce Tidor's work), normal modes, and pharmacophore hypotheses.
2) Database: Examine and systematize sets of known drugs against respective homologous protein families in order to extrapolate common scaffolds and pharmacophore hypotheses (ligand-based methodologies) that can then be used as starting points to building drugs piece-by-piece. These sets of scaffolds are representative of a generalized lead-like rather than drug-like chemical space applicable to a particular protein family. With these starting units, lead optimization will follow using the Multiple Copy-Simultaneous Search (MCSS by Karplus) for linking the moieties towards different "hot" spots of the active site. The advantage of starting with smaller molecules is to identify structures that have ideal pharmaco-kinetic properties, an increased chemical diversity, and a higher chance of optimal binding to a target than larger, complex molecules. My approach is computational, as opposed to experimental fragment based screening, and instead of using a pre-existing library of fragments, it concentrates on targets within a specific family of proteins. Thus, it derives its knowledge base from a combination of compound and protein space, rather than a generalized chemical selection. Common scaffolds have long been used in the G-protein coupled receptors' area, where the objective is the design of high-affinity ligands against more than one type of receptors.
3) Investigate the induced effects of a uniform series of imidazoles on P450 using Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations. The idea is to explore interactions in the active site and attempt to understand the origins of structural variation observed experimentally. Thus far, I have performed simulations on the rabbit cytochrome 2B4, which shows a rather substantial conformational variation depending upon the bound ligand. However, the ultimate intent is to explore and compare findings of the above eukaryotic P450s with the human forms that are the most homologous and structurally available. In order to probe the role of factors dictating selectivity, more rigorous MD simulations may need to be undertaken.
Guim Kwon, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
My long-term research interests are to understand the mechanisms involved in the regulation of b -cell proliferation and survival, which may provide potential strategies to modulate b -cell mass in diabetic patients to prevent or reverse type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Insulin released by pancreatic b -cells is a key regulator of glucose homeostasis. Its action on the peripheral tissues including liver, muscle, and adipocytes is essential in maintaining normoglycemia in the circulation by stimulating glucose uptake into these cells. Autoimmune destruction of b -cells results in type 1 diabetes characterized by hyperglycemia and complications including accelerated cardiovascular and peripheral vascular diseases, neuropathy, nephropathy, retinopathy, and premature death. Development of type 2 diabetes is proposed to involve a sequence of events including obesity-mediated insulin resistance, over production of insulin by b -cells to compensate insulin resistance, and b -cell exhaustion and death after a prolonged period of high levels of insulin secretion. In both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, therefore, maintaining b -cell mass is a key to prevent or treat these diseases.
b -cell mass is determined by a combination of various events including b -cell proliferation, growth, and death. Specific mechanisms involved in these processes are not known. Our previous studies indicate that in b -cells mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a serine/threonine kinase, is essential for increased protein synthesis and cell proliferation in response to nutrients and growth factors. A potent inhibitor of mTOR, rapamycin, inhibits glucose-stimulated protein and DNA synthesis by isolated rat islets in a dose-dependent manner. Elucidation of mechanisms involved in mTOR activation may shed lights on the mechanisms involved in b -cell proliferation. Understanding mechanisms involved in b -cell death including ER stress mediated apoptosis is my other research interest. Some of the methods used in my laboratory are Western blots, immunohistochemistry, [3H]thymidine incorporation, and cell cycle progression experiments.
Xu, G., Kwon, G., Marshall, C. A., Lin, T.-A., Lawrence, J. C., McDaniel, M. L. (1998) Branched-chain amino acids are essential in the regulation of PHAS-I and p70 S6 kinase by pancreatic b -cells. J. Biol. Chem. 273: 28178-28184
Xu, G., Kwon, G., Cruz, W., Marshall, C. A., McDaniel, M. L. (2001) Metabolic regulation by leucine of translation initiation through the mTOR-signaling pathway by pancreatic b -cells. Diabetes. 50: 353-360
McDaniel, M. L., Marshall, C. A., Pappan, K. L., Kwon, G. (2002) Metabolic and autocrine regulation of the mammalian target of rapamycin by pancreatic b -cells. Diabetes 51: 2877-2885
Kwon, G., Pappan, K. L., Marshall, C. A., Schaffer, J. E., McDaniel, M. L. (2004) cAMP dose-dependently prevents palmitate-induced apoptosis by both protein kinase A- and cAMP-guanine nucleotide exchange factor-dependent pathways in b -cells. J. Biol. Chem. 279: 8938-8945
Timothy B. McPherson, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Research interests include drug and nutritional supplement delivery, pharmaceutical compounding and product quality, and implantable materials for tissue engineering. Recent projects include the formulation, in vitro testing, and in vivo evaluation of a soy extract for LDL cholesterol reduction; the processing and application of natural extracellular matrix biomaterials for wound healing; the role of compounded prescriptions in contemporary pharmacy practice.
2005 McPherson TB, Ostlund RE, Goldberg AC, Bateman JH, Schimmoeller L, and Spilburg CA. Phytostanol tablets reduce human LDL-cholesterol, Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 57(7):889, 2005.
2003 Spilburg CA, Goldberg AC, McGill JB, Stenson WF, Racette SB, Bateman J, McPherson TB, and Ostlund RE. Fat-free foods supplemented with soy stanol-lecithin powder reduce cholesterol absorption and LDL cholesterol, Journal of the American Dietetic Association 103:577, 2003.
2001 Allman AJ, McPherson TB, Badylak SF, Liang HA, Swanson BR, HogenEsch H, Merrill L, Kallakury B, Sheehan C, Raeder RH, and Metzger DW. Xenogeneic extracellular matrix grafts elicit a Th2 restricted immune response. Transplantation 71:1631-1640, 2001.
2000 McPherson TB, Liang H, Record RD, and Badylak SF. Gal a (1,3)Gal epitope in porcine small intestinal submucosa. Tissue Engineering 6:233, 2000.
1998 McPherson TB and Badylak SF. Characterization of fibronectin derived from porcine small intestinal submucosa. Tissue Engineering 4:75,
2006 Journal of the American Pharmacists Association 46:568-573
Bill Neumann, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Severe pain syndromes reduce quality of life in patients with inflammatory and neoplastic diseases, partly because reduced analgesic effectiveness with chronic opiate therapy (i.e., tolerance) leads to escalating doses and distressing side-effects. Accordingly, there is major interest in new approaches to maintain opiate efficacy during repetitive dosing, without engendering tolerance or unacceptable side-effects. Considerable evidence implicates nitroxidative stress caused by the presence of superoxide, nitric oxide and subsequently peroxynitrite in opiate analgesic tolerance. The goal of our collaborative work in this area is to provide a pharmacological basis for developing inhibitors of peroxynitrite biosynthesis and/or peroxynitrite scavengers as potent adjuncts to opiates in the management of chronic pain.
In addition, my lab is focused on the development of strategies for preparing selective inhibitors of tissue/factor-factor VIIa as potent and safe antithrombotic drugs. We are interested in novel molecular recognition strategies for rendering highly polar benzamidine-containing inhibitors orally bioavailable. In addition, we are extending our cross-coupling methodologies for the rapid modular assembly of scaffold systems and peripherals that have application to optical imaging agents and fluorescent in vivo monitoring probes, as well as new antithrombotic constructs.
Poreddy, Amruta Reddy; Neumann, William L.; Udipi, Kishore; Salvemini, Daniela; Tremont, Samuel. Polyethylene glycolated superoxide dismutase mimetics. PCT Int. Appl. (2006), 166 pp. CODEN: PIXXD2 WO 2006069326
Dorshow, Richard B.; Asmelash, Bethel; Chinen, Lori K.; Debreczeny, Martin P.; Fitch, Richard M.; Freskos, John N.; Galen, Karen P.; Gaston, Kimberly R.; Marzan, Timothy A.; Poreddy, Amruta R.; Rajagopalan, Raghavan; Shieh, Jeng-Jong; Neumann, William L.. New optical probes for the continuous monitoring of renal function. Proceedings of SPIE (2008), 6867(Molecular Probes for Biomedical Applications II)
Trujillo, John I.; Huang, Horng-Chih; Neumann, William L.; Mahoney, Matthew W.; Long, Scott; Huang, Wei; Garland, Danny J.; Kusturin, Carrie; Abbas, Zaheer; South, Michael S.; Reitz, David B.: Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of pyrazinones containing novel P1 needles as inhibitors of TF/VIIa. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters 2007, 17, 4568-4574.
Kusturin, Carrie K. Liebeskind, Lanny S.; Rahman, Hayat, Sample, Kirby R.; Schweitzer, Barbara A.; Srogl, Jiri, Neumann, William L. Switchable Catalysis: Modular Synthesis of Functionalized Pyrimidinones via Selective Sulfide and Halide Cross-Coupling Chemistry, Organic Letters, 2003, 5, 4349.
Kusturin, Carrie L.; Liebeskind, Lanny S.; Neumann, William L. A New Catalytic Cross Coupling Approach for the Synthesis of Protected Aryl and Heteroaryl Amidines, Organic Letters 2002, 4(6), 983-985.
Marcelo Nieto, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Opioid analgesics: Opioid analgesics have remained the mainstay in the management of severe pain. They produce their effect through interaction with m, k or dreceptors in the central nervous system or in the peripheria. Centrally acting mopioids (morphine) are potent analgesics and are the most widely used. However, it has been reported a number of side effects (i.e., tolerance, dependence, respiratory depression, and inhibition of gastrointestinal transit) that often limit their use. Centrally acting k opioid agonists have also been shown to be potent analgesics but their therapeutic utility is limited because they can elicit dysphoria and other adverse effects. A great deal of attention is pay to the research and development of opioids with novel activity profiles or with distinct physico-chemical properties due to the limitation of the analgesics that are in use.
Continuing advances in understanding the pharmacology of pain and analgesia that have resulted from the application of molecular biology techniques and the development of selective ligands for the various receptor classes involved in nociceptive transmission, have established that pain is an extremely complex and dynamic process involving multiple interrelated neurotransmitter/neuromodulator systems in the spinal cord, in ascending and descending spinal pathways, and at supraspinal sites.
The identification of novel compounds that more effectively treat both acute and chronic pain states, and which lack side effects associated with current therapies, remains a major challenge in biomedical and pharmaceutical research.
My research interests are focused in the design and synthesis of ligands to investigate the opioid receptors. Using the experience gained in the last years is my interest to use natural products that may have affinities with the opioid receptors as scaffolds in the design of small molecules or semi-synthetic analogues.
Antiinfective agents: The well-known state of AIDS disease, caused by the infection of the human immunodeficiency virus, is estimated in over 40 million cases worldwide. This disease results in a severely immuno compromised state leading to infections by other diseases such as tuberculosis, ultimately, enhancing the dissemination of other opportunistic diseases such as cytomegalovirus. Toxoplasmosis is a disease prominent in aids patients, but infection is also a concern in pregnant women (congenital toxoplasmosis) and is spread by a household cat. Cytomegalovirus (beta-herpesvirus) is an opportunistic infection disseminated in individuals with compromised immune function. Approximately half of the adult population in developed countries has been infected with HCMV (human cytomegalovirus).
HCMV protease inhibitors: HCMV protease is a protease produced by the virus as an essential capsid assembly protein. A great deal of attention is being paid to these enzymes as a therapeutic targets for the development of novel antiherpetic. A variety of drugs have been developed to treat herpes virus infection, including naturally occurring proteins and synthetic nucleoside analogs. The drugs currently used to treat HCMV infection, such as ganciclovir (GCV), cidofovir (CDV), foscarnet (PFA), an valganciclovir, an orally bioavailable valine ester prodrug of ganciclovir, lack the acceptable side effect and safety profiles of the drugs approved for treatment of other herpes viruses.
Antituberculosis agents: Tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic infectious disease caused by mycobacteria of the “tuberculosis complex”, including Mycobacterium bovis, Mycobacterium africanum and mainly Mycobacterium tuberculosis. TB is the classic example of a disease caused by an intracellular parasite. The infection is usually transmitted from person to person by the inhalation of infective droplet nuclei that result from the aerosolization of respiratory secretions and may involve any organ system, but the lung is the usual site of the primary lesion and the main organ infected. According to World Health Organization (WHO), TB kills more youth and adults than any other infectious disease in the world today. It is a worse killer than malaria and AIDS combined and kills more women than all the causes of maternal mortality. It is responsible for 100,000 children deaths each year.
“Preparation of New Antimicrobial Benzenesulfonamidefluorquinolones”. M. Nieto, F. Alovero, M. Mazzieri y R. Manzo. Argentinean Patent Application # P970100693. (1997)
B. E. Kane, M. J. Nieto, C. R. McCurdy, D. M. Ferguson. A unique binding epitope for salvinorin A, a non-nitrogenous kappa-opioid receptor agonist. FEBS J. (2006) 273, 1966-74.
M. J. Nieto, F. L. Alovero, R. H. Manzo, M. R. Mazzieri. Benzenecarboxamide Analogues of Fluoroquinolones (BCFQs). Antibacterial Activity and SAR Studies. Lett. Drug Design and Discovery (2006) 3(2), 108-111.
C. R. McCurdy, K. J. Sufka, J.E. Warnick, M.J. Nieto. Analgesic Profile of Salvinorin A, a Structurally Unique Kappa Opioid Agonist. Pharmacol, Biochem and Behavior, (2006) 83, 109-113.
M. Nieto, F. Alovero, R. Manzo and M. Mazzieri. "A New Class Of Fluoroquinolone: Benzenesulfonamidefluoroquinolones (BSFQs). Antibacterial Activity And SAR Studies. II." Eur. J. Med. Chem. (2005) 40(4), 361-369.
M.J. Nieto, A.E. Phillip, J. Poupaert, C.R. McCurdy. “Solution-Phase Parallel Synthesis of Spirohydantoins Derivatives” J. Comb. Chem. (2005) 7(2), 258-263.
E. Muri, M. J. Nieto, J. Williamson. "Hydroxamic Acids as Pharmacological agents. An Update". Med. Chem. Rev. On Line (2004) 1(4) 385-394.
M. Nieto, P.Rodríguez-Manzanares, R. Manzo, M. Mazzieri. “Hydrophobicity estimations of benzenesulfonamidofluoroquinolones (BSFQs) by RP-LC. Influence of chromatographic parameters in QSAR studies”, Med.Chem.Res. (2003) 12(2), 94-110.
B. Bradbury, P. Bartyzel, T. S. Kaufman, M. J. Nieto, S. Scesney, B. Gaumond, H. C. Marsh, Jr., R. D. Sindelar. “Synthesis and Complement Inhibitory Activity of B/C/D-Ring Analogues of the Fungal Metabolite 6,7-Diformyl-3’,4’,4a’,5’,6’,7’,8’,8a’-octahydro-4,6’,7’-trihydroxy-2’,5’,5’,8a’-tetramethylspiro [1’(2’H)-naphthalene-2(3H)-benzofuran]”. J. Med. Chem. (2003) 46, 2697-2705.
Cathy Santanello, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
My present scholarly interest is on effective teaching practices and how this affects student outcomes in the college classroom. I am engaged in classroom assessment activities that involve students and teachers in the continuous monitoring of student’s learning. Other areas of pedagogical interest include case study writing and its application in the classroom, student enrichment through study abroad and other civic engagement activities, and effective course design.
Cathy maintains an interest in her former research in Lyme disease and its pathogens and tick vectors in the Midwest. Various strains of the bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi, exist in different parts of the United States, often making this disease difficult to diagnose and treat. Cathy has been involved in the isolation of the bacterium and the identification of its genome.
Santanello, C.; Eder, D. Classroom Assessment Techniques: It Makes Sense to Stop, Look, and Listen to Students Early in the Semester. The National Education Association Higher Education Advocate. 2001, 19 (1), 5-8.
Feir, D.; Santanello, C.; Li, B.; Xie, C.; Masters, E.; Marconi, R.; Weil, G. Evidence Supporting the Presence of Borrelia burgdorferi in Missouri. The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 1994, 52(4), 199-204.
Ken A. Witt, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
My research is centered on the blood-brain barrier (BBB), with respect to alterations in the tight junction complex during disease/stress conditions and central nervous system (CNS) drug delivery. Under normal physiological conditions, the BBB provides a physical and metabolic partition between the systemic circulation and the brain parenchyma, which serves to establish and maintain the highly regulated environment necessary for optimal neuronal function. The BBB has a number of channels and transporters that regulate the passage of nutrients into and wastes and toxins out of the brain. However, these same attributes that are necessary for proper neuronal function create a formidable obstacle for the entry of pharmaceutical agents into the brain. Additionally, alterations of the BBB tight junction complex can occur during both chronic and acute disease states and stressors, potentially resulting in reduced neurological functioning and altered CNS drug delivery.
Recent work has focused on the examination of opioid drug delivery during inflammatory pain states and alteration of the tight junctional proteins under inflammatory and hypoxic stress. Investigation of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor and Nuclear Factor kappa-B activity within the endothelial cells of the BBB, associated with hypoxic stress, has identified upstream avenues of tight junction modification. Future research will continue to identify the mechanisms associated with BBB regulation in coordination with CNS drug delivery.
K.A. Witt, K.S. Mark, and T.P. Davis. Biphasic alteration of in vivo blood-brain barrier tight junctions in rat after post-hypoxic reoxygenation.(in Submission).
M.J. Seelbach, T.A. Brooks, R.D. Egleton, K.A. Witt, and T.P.Davis. Peripheral Inflammatory Pain Modulates Morphine Delivery to the Brain: A Role for P-glycoprotein. (in Submission)
K.A. Witt , K.S. Mark, J.D. Huber, and T.P. Davis. Hypoxia Inducible Factor and Nuclear Factor Kappa-B Activation in Blood-Brain Barrier Endothelium Under Hypoxic/Reoxygenation Stress Journal of Neurochemistry, 2005 Jan;92 (1):203-14.
K.A. Witt, K.S. Mark, S. Hom, and T.P. Davis. Effect of hypoxia/reoxygenation on rat blood-brain barrier permeability and tight junctional protein expression. Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol. 2003 Dec;285 (6):H2820-31.