| Affiliations: |
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| Project Leader: | Noor Zabad N_zabad@tamu.edu Biomedical Sciences |
| Faculty Mentor: |
Dr. Christopher Quick, Ph.D.
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Meeting Times:
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Monday 3-3:50 P.M. and Friday TBA |
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Team Size:
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4 (Team Full)
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| Open Spots: | 0 |
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Special Opportunities:
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Potential to earn co-authorship in a research publication
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Team Needs:
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Those who have a particular interest in scientific writing, experience in pharmacology, or synthesizing information from the scientific literature
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Description:
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Plasma concentration of orally administered drugs can be reduced by metabolism in the first pass through the liver. There are two pathways for drugs to enter the blood circulation: uptake by intestinal capillaries and transport to the liver or uptake by mesenteric lymphatic vessels and transport directly to the venous circulation. The latter route is a target for research because it avoids the “first pass effect”. The fraction transported by the mesenteric lymphatic system depends on the complex interaction of the mechanical properties governing the portal circulation, intestinal interstitium, and the mesenteric lymphatic system. Because the information derived from animal models is limited, we developed a general algebraic formula that predicts the relative rate of drug transport via mesenteric lymphatics. This formula applies to disease states as diverse as hepatic cirrhosis, congestive heart failure, and Crohn’s disease. This project will require validating the model predictions, re-evaluating the implications of prior published experimental studies, and exploring novel clinical applications. This work has the potential to fundamentally change out current understanding of the factors affecting the bioavailability of orally-administered drugs. |