RFG3 Research Summaries

The overarching aim of Dr. Jeong-Yeol Yoon's study was to explore a rapid, easy-to-use, low-cost, and portable Antithrombin (AT) test that can be translated into real-world clinical and field applications.

Researchers at the University of Arizona R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy have developed a new strategy that helps the immune system recognize and attack lung cancer tumors more effectively. By packaging a chemotherapy drug and an RNA molecule in a tiny lipid carrier, the team boosted an immune response that slowed tumor growth and enhanced the effects of immunotherapy.

Matthew Wun, DVM, MS, DACVIM, a research technologist in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, recently published articles in the Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics and Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia for his work on injectable non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and acute kidney injury in veterinary medicine.

At the University of Arizona College of Medicine–Phoenix, Dr. Melissa M. Herbst-Kralovetz leads a translational women’s health research program focused on the vaginal microbiome — the community of bacteria that plays a crucial role in gynecologic health.

A recent study by Drs. Georg Wondrak and Frank Duca explored the effects of drinking chlorinated water on mouse gut microbiota. Their findings revealed a decline in fecal microbiota diversity and notable shifts in fecal bacterial composition. With potential public health implications for humans, these results underscore the need for further research in human subjects.

Toxicological Sciences has showcased a publication by center member Zelieann Craig, PhD, in their featured Tox Spotlight! Craig’s study found that exposure to di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) – a common ingredient in many personal care products and medications – disrupts follicular reproductive cycles by interfering with the hormone signaling in the ovary responsible for growth, development, and repair. For this reason, exposure to DBP could ultimately lead to reduced fertility and decreased egg number and quality in women.