We aim to extend the range of drugs available, and to provide a scientific basis for the quality use of medicines and bioactive substances.
School of Pharmacy pharmaceutical sciences research includes:
- Drug discovery
- Drug metabolism
- Drug action
Research in metabolism has been designated an 'Area of Research Strength' by the University.
From drug to medicine
Specific areas of expertise are:
- Computational methods encompassing rational, structure and analogue based drug design techniques
- QSAR (Quantitative Structural Activity Relationship software)
- Drug target identification and lead optimisation
- Chemical synthesis of bioactive compounds
- Preclinical assessment of new chemical entities including small molecular weight and polypeptide bioactives
- Development of analytical methods for drugs in formulations and body fluids
- Studies on drugs of abuse aimed at harm minimization, and for application in forensic toxicology
- Pharmacokinetic and toxicity studies on synthetic bioactives and those extracted from natural sources
Pharmaceutical equipment
For initial advice contact:
- Dr Allan Gamble
allan.gamble@otago.ac.nz - Associate Professor Joel Tyndall
joel.tyndall@otago.ac.nz - Professor Sarah Hook
sarah.hook@otago.ac.nz
Equipment
- Liquid Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS)
- ABSciex 3200 triple quad
- Agilent 6430 triple quad
- ABSciex QTrap (triple quad plus ion trap)
- Agilent preparative and semi-preparative HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography)
- Particle sizer
- Rheometer
- Texture analyser
- Analytical HPLC (UV, ELSD and MS detectors),
- Infrared (IR) and fluorescence spectroscopy
- Photochemical reactor
- Molecular modelling computers with ligand docking programs (e.g. GOLD)
Pharmaceutical contacts
Dr Allan Gamble has expertise in bioorganic and medicinal chemistry:
- Design, optimization and synthesis of new bioactive chemical entities
- Synthesis and biological evaluation of anti-cancer prodrugs
- Triggered drug delivery systems
Email allan.gamble@otago.ac.nz
Associate Professor Joel Tyndall has expertise in drug discovery:
- Modelling
- Structural biology incorporating structure-based drug design
- Rational drug design
Email joel.tyndall@otago.ac.nz
Professor Sarah Hook has expertise in formulation and delivery of drugs incorporating:
- Development and evaluation of formulations (in vitro and in vivo)
- Accommodating the physical and chemical properties of the drug
- Consideration of the proposed method of delivery (parenteral, oral, inhaled and transdermal)
The Pharmaceutical Sciences Group has experience with a variety of immediate and sustained release formulations, including lipid and polymer based nanoparticles.
Email sarah.hook@otago.ac.nz