Two UF pharmacy trainees win ACCP Student Abstract Awards

Justine Badée, Ph.D., a postdoctoral associate, and Yichao “Wendy” Yu, Ph.D., a 2018 graduate of the University of Florida College of Pharmacy, were recognized as Student Abstract Award winners at the American College of Clinical Pharmacology, or ACCP, Annual Meeting in Bethesda, Maryland. The pair were among eight trainees honored during an awards program and luncheon on Sept. 24. In addition, a panel of judges selected Badée as best presenter and the recipient of the A. Colburn Wayne Memorial Award for the best paper at the conference.

Justine Badee ACCP
Justine Badee with her poster at the ACCP meeting.

Badée, top picture, joined the Center for Pharmacometrics and Systems Pharmacology in 2017 and is mentored by Stephan Schmidt, Ph.D., an associate professor and the Certara Endowed Professor. Her award-winning research examined postnatal development of major hepatic UDP-glucuronosyltransferase, or UGT, enzymes based on microsomal metabolic activity using selective isoform probe substrates and clinically used drugs. Results from the study will be implemented into physiologically-based pharmacokinetic models to improve the prediction of pharmacokinetics of UGT-metabolized drugs and propose rationale dose adjustments across pediatric age groups.

Yichao Yu
Yichao Yu with her poster at the ACCP Annual Meeting.

Yu, bottom picture, trained under the guidance of Hartmut Derendorf, Ph.D., a professor emeritus. Her award-winning study assessed the application of pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamics modeling and simulation for dose recommendations in end-stage renal disease patients receiving hemodialysis. Results from the study were used to assist drug labeling for kidney failure patients receiving hemodialysis.