Sunday evenings at ASDRP during the school year are always very very busy. Advisors and student researchers have time to meet, plan, strategize and execute their research project next steps. Last night was no exception, the Salgotra Lab which focuses on Analytical Biochemistry and Pharmacokinetics research, led by Vasudha Salgotra, one of ASDRP's outstanding principal investigators, met with two of her research teams on campus in Fremont, California.
Vasudha Salgotra, MS is a research professional with a background in analytical chemistry and pharmacy. She has years of experience in supporting preclinical activities in drug development and delivery for small and large biologics. Her professional journey includes designing and validating plate-based immunoassays (ELISAs) and other bioanalytical techniques to study the binding affinity of drugs to targets, and to study the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) properties to understand the pharmacokinetics of the compounds. Based on the experience, this lab will focus on the use of in silico modelling software, in vitro experiments in the lab, and in vivo studies in animals to study the pharmacokinetic properties of small molecules and biologics.
Current Projects for Autumn 2024 in the Salgotra Lab
P-Glycoprotein(P-Gly) inhibitor as a bioenhancer (Increase bioavailability)
Description: P-glycoprotein is a transporter protein which allows the influx and efflux of molecules across epithelium. Some orally administered drugs absorbed partially through this barrier due to efflux activity by P-glycoprotein and hence the required dose of the drug cannot reach the target site completely. For this project, we will study different flavonoid drugs which acts as P-glycoprotein inhibitor and can be given with these low bioavailable drugs to increase its bioavailability. This combination drug will help deliver the required dose of the drug at the target site. In our lab, we will focus on a variety of permeability assays, and plasma stability, plasma protein binding assays to study drug kinetics.
Evaluating the In Silico and In Vitro Pharmacokinetics (ADME) Properties of Small Molecules
Description: As part of discovery process, the physiochemical and pharmacokinetic (ADME) properties of all molecules are evaluated utilizing in silico tools and further confirmed by running in vitro experiments in the lab. These experiments helps in understanding the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion aspects of these molecules. Our lab will focus on using in silico tools available online and setting up in vitro assays in lab to analyze the ADME aspects of small molecules. Future scientists in this lab will learn to write protocols, make dilutions, setting up and troubleshooting assays, using online research tools and reading research papers. Instrument handling and data analysis will be part of the project too.
Physiologic Based Pharmacokinetic (PBPK) Modeling Project to Simulate and Predict the Pharmacokinetics of Drugs
Understanding drug pharmacokinetics and predicting safe and effective dose is the most important aspect for all the drug molecules before it goes to humans. PBPK modeling is a computer modeling approach that incorporates blood flow and tissue composition of organs to define the pharmacokinetics of drugs. The software designed to do PBPK modeling include sources of physiochemical and biochemical variability and simulate the expected PK in a population of individuals.
This will be an online project and require students to collect the information from various research papers on the selected drug molecules and input that information into the software to simulate or predict the pharmacokinetics of drugs.
Members of the Salgotra Lab for the Autumn 2024 term:
Aariv Aggarwal, Irvington High School '28; Tara Arun, BASIS Independent Fremont '27; Dhatrisri Biruduraju, Washington High School '27; Chris Chen, Valley Christian High School '26; Varsha Chris, Washington High School '25; Aadya Hebbar, Cupertino High School '25; Aamir Khan, Lynbrook High School '27; Amogh Maiya, Amador Valley High School '26; Anvi Narula, Mission San Jose High School '26; Shriya Natu, Mission San Jose High School '28; Nikhil Nunna, Carlmont High School '27; Shreya Panathula, American High School '26; Tanmay Paranjpe, Dougherty Valley High School '27; Granth Patel, Fremont High School '25; Pragnya Pisipati, Stratford Preparatory '27; Rishi Rakesh, Bellarmine College Preparatory '26; Kaitlyn Rim, Amador Valley High School '27; Tulika Sarkar, Amador Valley High School '26; Renu Srivathsa, Dublin High School '26; Caitlin Tsai, BASIS Independent Silicon Valley '26; Reva Ukkadam, Cupertino High School '26; Ishita Yadav, Amador Valley High School '26; Luthfa Zaceria, James Logan High School '27; Iris Zhao, Emerald High School '27
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