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Lunawati L. Bennett

Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences

About

Dr. Lunawati L. Bennett received her B.A. degree in Food Science and Nutrition from Bogor Agricultural Institute, Indonesia (1982); M.S. degree in Food Science and Nutrition from University of Missouri Columbia (1985); M.R.E degree in Christian Education from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary (1988); and Ph.D. degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences (2002) and Pharm.D. degree (2004) from Idaho State University. Prior to joining Union University as an Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. Bennett served as Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) for the past four years. Dr. Bennett teaches pharmacology of drug action to first and second year pharmacy students. These drugs are used in the treatment of disorders of the endocrine, gastrointestinal, respiratory, cardiovascular, and central nervous systems and drugs for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Dr. Bennett has a love for teaching pharmacy students and integrating Christian values in the classroom.
Her Doctoral research included examining the interactions between luteinizing hormone releasing hormone, opioid receptors and estrogen in SK-N-SH human neuroblastoma cells. The current focus of her research includes understanding the role of antioxidants on the cardiovascular system, diabetes mellitus and various cancers, and identifying natural antioxidants useful in treating these diseases. Dr. Bennett is a member of the Rho Chi Pharmacy Honor Society, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, American Pharmacists Association, and American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. She has published peer reviewed scientific articles and had poster presentations at national scientific meetings. Prior experiences in Dr. Bennett’s career include managing and working as a pharmacist in several retail pharmacies, conducting research in a flavor and fragrance industry, conducting research in food industries, teaching Christian Education courses in a Christian college, and working as a college campus minister.

Education

  • Ph.D, Idaho State University

  • Pharm.D., Idaho State University

  • M.R.E., Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary

  • M.S., University of Missouri Columbia

  • B.A., Bogor Agricultural Institute, Indonesia

Scholarship

Books

Articles

Presentations

  • Redox Biology, Micronutrients, and Metabolic Vulnerabilities in Chronic Disease: Implications for Clinical Nutrition Practice (2026)

    ANA Regional Symposium: East Coast '26

  • Gut Microbiota, Nutrition, and Drug Response in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Targeting the Gut Liver Axis for Improved Therapeutic Outcome (2026)

    ANA Virtual Symposium: Personalized Nutrition for Oncology & Cancer Care

  • The connection between gut microbiota and inflammatory bowel disease (2025)

    22nd Annual Union University Symposium (UU)

  • The role of the gut microbiome in acne vulgaris: Implication for pharmacologic management (2025)

    22nd Annual Union University Symposium (UU)

  • The importance of intestinal microbiota in rheumatoid arthritis (2025)

    22nd Annual Union University Symposium (UU)

  • Role of the breast and intestinal microbiome in breast cancer development and response to therapy (2025)

    22nd Annual Union University Symposium (UU)

  • Role of gut microflora in diabetes mellitus type 1 and type 2 (2025)

    22nd Annual Union University Symposium (UU)

  • Microbiomes and heart disease (2025)

    22nd Annual Union University Symposium (UU)

  • From gut to skin: exploring the relationship between psoriasis and gut microbiome (2025)

    22nd Annual UU Symposium

  • Hormone Receptor-Positive (HR+) Breast Cancer Growth is Inhibited by High Dose Vitamin C and Low Dose Sorafenib (2024)

    Union University Scholarship Symposium

  • Exploring Treatment Options in Fabry Disease to Address Management Gaps and Improve Patient Outcomes (2022)

    Pharmacy Times Continuing Education (PTCE) Live Webinar

  • Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) Cells Growth Is Inhibited by High Dose Ascorbic Acid (2022)

    Experiential Biology Meeting

  • Uvaria afzelii (UA) Induce Tumor Suppressor Proteins and Induction of ROS in SK-N-SH Human Neuroblastoma Cells (2021)

    Union University Scholarship Symposium

  • Role of a Pharmacist During COVID-19 (2021)

    Virtual Class to International Pharmacy Students; Institut Teknologi Bandung

  • Vaccination and Treatment Options for COVID-19 (2021)

    Virtual Class to International Pharmacy Students; Institut Teknologi Bandung

  • Clausena anisata Leaf Induced Cell Death in Human Mesothelioma Lung Cancer MSTO Cell Lines via MEK 1, 2, and 4, MTOR, and Cyclin B1 (2020)

    17th Annual Union University Scholarship Symposium

  • Piper Guineense Leaf Induced Cell Death in Human Mesothelioma MSTO-211H Cell Lines via inhibition of MEK and cell cycle (2020)

    17th Annual Union University Scholarship Symposium

  • Continuing Education Program on Enzyme Replacement Therapies (ERTs) (2020)

    National Association of Specialty Pharmacy (NASP)

  • Synergistic Effect of Sorafenib and Resveratrol in Human Cancer MDA-MB-231 cells (2020)

    American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics at Experimental Biology Conference

  • Clausena anisate induced cell death in human breast cancer MCF7 cell line via cell cycle inhibition and inhibition of MEK kinases and MDR/ABC. (2019)

    16th Annual Union University Symposium

  • Spigalia anthelmia induced cell death in human breast cancer MCF7 cell line via cell cycle inhibition and inhibition of MEK kinases and MDR/ABC. (2019)

    16th Annual Union University Symposium

  • The effect of vitamin C on SH-SY5Y cell line. (2019)

    16th Annual Union University Symposium

  • Chair and Gave Speech in Section 403 Cancer Cell Biology:” Vitamin C Effect on Certain Cancer Cell Lines (2018)

    BIT 8th Annual World Congress of Molecular & Cell Biology

  • Future Drug Formulation and Development (2018)

    Summer school at Institut Teknologi Bandung to International Pharmacy Students (48 students)

  • Vitamin C Induced Cell Death via EGFR and MMP2 in Human Liver HepG2 cancer cells (2018)

    15th Annual Union University Symposium

  • Ascorbic Acid Induced Cell Death in Human Breast Cancer MDA-MB-231 Cell Lines via EGFR, Caspase 3, and MMP2 (2018)

    15th Annual Union University Symposium

  • Vitamin C Induced Apoptosis on Human Mesothelioma (MSTO-211H) cells via MMP2 and Caspase 3 (2018)

    15th Annual Union University Symposium

  • High Dose Ascorbate Effect on Certain Cancer Cell Lines (2018)

    American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics

  • The Effect of Vitamin C on Human Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Cells (CaCO2) is Through up-regulation of Apaf-1 and PTEN (2018)

    15th Annual Union University Symposium

  • Summer school (2017)

    Summer school at Institut Teknologi Bandung to international pharmacy students

  • Chairperson (2017)

    Chairperson oral presentations. 17th Asian Conference on Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP)

  • Curcumin with Afatinib Inhibit Proliferation and Invasion, and Induce Apoptosis of Human SaOS2 Osteosarcoma Cells (2017)

    American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy

  • Emerging Pharmacogenomics in Health Care Management. (2017)

    Asian Conference on Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP)

  • Guest Lecture (2017)

    Guest Lectures to faculty and pharmacy students at Universitas Indonesia, Pancasila and Padjadjaran

  • Implementation of Drug Knowledge Competencies in a Pharmacology Sequence (2017)

    American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy

  • Vitamin C Effects on Human Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Cells (CaCO2) (2017)

    14th Annual Union University Symposium

  • Vitamin C Synergistically Enhances the Effects of Bortezomib in Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Cells (CaCo2) (2017)

    14th Annual Union University Symposium

  • Vitamin C Effect on Bone Cancer Cell Lines (SaOS2) (2017)

    14th Annual Union University Symposium

  • Ascorbic Acid and 1,2-Dithiole-3 thione Effect on Human Liver Carcinoma Cells (2017)

    14th Annual Union University Symposium

  • Biologics: What Pharmacists Need to know (2016)

    16th Asian Conference on Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP)

  • Vitamin C Effect on Lung Cancer and Breast Cancer Cell Lines. (2016)

    13th Annual Union University Scholarship Symposium

  • Resveratrol Synergistically Enhances the Efficacy of Sorafenib Mediated Apoptosis via ROS, apaf-1 and Caspase 3 in Human Breast Cancer Cells. (2016)

    13th Annual Union University Scholarship Symposium

  • Emerging Vitality of Pharmacogenomics in Health Care Management. (2016)

    13th Annual Union University Scholarship Symposium

  • Cancer and Antioxidants: Good or Bad. (2015)

    Bit’s 8th Annual World Cancer Congress

  • The Effect of High Dose Vitamin C and Sorafenib on Neuroblastoma, Hepatocarcinoma, and Kidney Cell Lines. (2015)

    Bit’s 8th Annual World Cancer Congress

  • Assessing Students’ Perceptions of Pharmaceutical Sciences in an Integrated Infectious Diseases Pharmacotherapy Course (2012)

    American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy

  • CYP1A2 Genotype Analysis in a Cohort of Pharmacy Students as an Aid in Teaching Pharmacogenetics (2011)

    American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy

  • Investigating the Role of Microemulsions in the Permeability of Cytotoxic Agents Using a CaCO-2 Cell Model (2009)

    International Congress of Pharmaceutical International Congress of Pharmaceutical

  • Student Perception of the Pharmacy Curriculum Outcomes Assessment compared to In-House End-of-Year Exam (2009)

    American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy

  • Use of the Pharmacy Curriculum Outcomes Assessment in Assessing First through Third Year Professional Students (2009)

    American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy

  • Evaluation of Medicinal Herbs for Antidiabetic Activity (2009)

    Annual meeting of the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET)/FASEB

Awards