Pharmaceutical Sciences Update
Medicinal Chemistry
Dr. Damoder Reddy Motatipally has joined Dr. Watkins as a post-doctoral fellow in Medicinal Chemistry. Damoder received his PhD from the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology in Hyderabad, India. He will be working on the synthesis of a natural product with anticancer activity as well as working to develop synthetic reactions that will be useful in the discovery of drug candidates with additional biological activity.
Dr. Allorie Smith is will be completing her fellowship in Medicinal Chemistry at the end of July and will be transitioning into a faculty position with the UUSOP. Allorie has been actively involved in the synthesis of anti-anthrax related compounds and in the development of new methodology for the preparation of difficult-to-access compounds containing 7-member rings. She has been a tremendous asset to the school and will continue to be so in her new position.
Pharmaceutics
Dr. Richard Addo is currently working on completing a research project that was funded by the Pew Grant Research Program at Union University in November 2013. This project involves developing a therapy for Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) in the form of nanoparticles incorporating an anti-oxidant drug, thymoquinone. Dr. Addo also recently concluded a study that dealt with the development of a UPLC method for the simultaneous and rapid detection of multiple proton pump inhibitors. This method can be used for the analysis of the drugs in various dosage forms for content, stability, etc. in an efficient manner. He is currently in the process of publishing a manuscript based on this research. Dr. Addo was also involved in a collaborative research project with multiple universities that recently culminated in the publication of a manuscript titled, "The effect of antisense to NF-κB in an albumin microsphere formulation on the progression of left-ventricular remodeling associated with chronic volume overload in rats" in the Journal of Drug Targeting. Dr. Addo was invited to the 5th World Congress on Biotechnology in Valencia, Spain to deliver a talk related to his research, specifically the ocular delivery of proteins and peptides on June 26, 2014. Over the past year, Dr. Ruhi Ubale has been working with Dr. Addo as a post-doctoral fellow; she will soon be taking up a position of Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at AUHS University School of Pharmacy in Long Beach, CA.
UUSOP Center for Interprofessional Education/Population Health and Rural Medicine
The identity of Union University is based on its core values of being excellence-driven, Christ-centered, people-focused and future-directed. In line with these core values the School of Pharmacy has created the Center for Interprofessional Education/Population Health and Rural Medicine (IPE/PHaRM). Created by and under the direction of Dr. Sean King, Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, the purpose of the Center for IPE/PHaRM is to advance Union University's ability to care for the underserved population of West Tennessee while broadening the interprofessional educational experiences of our students and other healthcare providers. Our mission includes affording students opportunities to provide more collaborative and patient-centered care in a structured, real-world setting. The Center achieves its mission through interprofessional learning experiences, community service learning experiences, clinical experiences, research, continuing education programs and simulation education.
The Center was developed to serve as a model for effectively creating and utilizing interdisciplinary collaborations between pharmacists, nurses, social workers, physicians and other health care professionals in a community setting. We work to increase access to free health screenings, health education, medication advice, medical consultations and follow-up appointments to individuals within our community. The Center also serves as a rubric for demonstrating how community pharmacy can play an integral role in addressing Healthy People 2020 goals and objectives and demonstrates the positive impact the profession can have on improving the health of communities. An important focus of the Center is to improve the medication consumption behavior of patients' prescribed cholesterol, hypertension and/or diabetes medications. This focus, coupled with free health screenings provided through the auspices of the Center, could reduce the negative impact these disease states have on our community. Finally, the Center will allow community pharmacy to play an integral role in addressing the serious issues associated with inadequate functional health literacy and its effect on the medication consumption process. It is believed the activities associated with the Center will equip UUSOP students and faculty with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively address the health promotion and disease prevention needs of the underserved and prepare our students to adequately address the many issues associated with medication adherence and inadequate FHL.
The Center for IPE/PHaRM serves as a research and service center of excellence that advances research, teaching, and service in the areas of medication use, health outcomes and the management of pharmacy organizations. The Center for IPE/PHaRM works closely with the Union University School of Pharmacy, School of Social Work and various providers of health care within the West Tennessee community and affords faculty and students with opportunities to gain valuable experience in health promotion and disease prevention, caring for the underserved and research methodologies. By supporting the goals in alignment with the purpose of the Million Hearts™ Campaign and addressing goals and objectives relating to Healthy People 2020, specifically the LHI Clinical Preventative Services, the Center is positively impacting the health and wellness of West Tennessee residents and reaching a population that may otherwise not have access to these important health services. The research, services and education provided through the Center have assisted UUSOP students and the patients we serve to better understand the role pharmacists can play in providing access to affordable healthcare and the positive impact the profession may have within communities.
Fulbright Scholar
Dr. Joel Owen receives Fulbright Grant
Questions about the Pharmaceutical Sciences Department? Contact Dr. Blake Watkins, Chair of the UUSOP Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, at bwatkins@uu.edu.