2001 - 2005: Doctor of Philosophy, Clinical Pharmaceutical Scientist Program, Dept. of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, Pittsburgh, PA.  Dissertation was entitled “Preclinical and Clinical Pharmacologic Studies of 9-nitrocamptothecin and its 9-aminocamptothecin metabolite”.

1995 -1997: Research Fellowship, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN.

1994 - 1995: Oncology Pharmacy Residency, Warren G. Magnuson Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.

1992 - 1994: Doctor of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, Pittsburgh, PA.

1988 - 1992: Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh School of     Pharmacy, Pittsburgh, PA.

My research program is part of the Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics in the School of Pharmacy at the University of North Carolina (UNC) and the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.  I have been involved in translational studies of anticancer agents for several years.  My research interests focus on the application of pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and pharmacogenetic principles in the optimization of the chemotherapeutic treatment of cancer. Information obtained from preclinical and clinical translational studies can greatly add to the understanding of the pharmacology of anticancer agents, permit individualization of chemotherapeutic treatment based on pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and pharmacogenetic principles, and allow for the rational design of therapeutic regimens.

A second focus of my research is on the development of liposomal and nanoparticle anticancer and evaluating the relationship between the disposition of these agents and the reticuloendothelial system.  As part of these studies I have used microdialysis to evaluate the tumor extracellular fluid disposition of anticancer agents and factors affecting the delivery and removal of anticancer agents.  I have also developed methods and technologies to differentiate between the inactive-encapsulate and active-released forms of the drugs and are evaluating potential phenotypic probes for the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic disposition of liposomal and nanoparticles.  The clinical relevance of studies is underscored by the need to treat solid tumors with anticancer agents that have high tumor penetration, develop methods to increase the tumor delivery of liposomal and nanoparticle agents, and generate administration schedules to enhance selective tumor uptake.