Six University of Florida College of Pharmacy trainees were recognized by the American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, or ASCPT, as 2026 Presidential Trainee Award winners.
Among this year’s award recipients are UF graduate students Md. Abu Siddique, M.S.; Leonardo da Costa Xavier, B.Pharm.; Devam Desai, M.S.; Hyunjae Jeong, Pharm.D.; Jean Gabriel Malave Rivera, Pharm.D.; and UF postdoctoral fellow Lina Zhou, Ph.D.
ASCPT’s Presidential Trainee Awards honor scholars with top-scoring abstracts, as identified by the ASCPT Scientific Programming Committee. This year’s winners were recognized during the ASCPT 2026 Annual Meeting, held March 4-6 in Denver. Meeting attendees viewed the top posters and interacted with the trainees during the Presidential Trainee Showcase on March 4.
Learn more about the scientific discoveries and the faculty mentors that galvanize excellence from the UF College of Pharmacy’s 2026 Presidential Trainee Award winners below:
Md. Abu Siddique
Md. Abu Siddique, M.S., a graduate student in the Department of Pharmaceutics at the Gainesville campus, was recognized for his abstract, “Machine Learning-Assisted Analysis of Gene Signatures in Normal Pancreas: Insights into Molecular Subtypes of Pancreatic Cancer.” His research aims to find molecular fingerprints in normal pancreatic cells that might signal a patient’s risk for developing pancreatic cancer. With the help of machine learning techniques, Siddique analyzes gene expression patterns to spot early warning signs, hopefully aiding physicians in identifying high-risk patients sooner.
Siddique calls receiving this recognition from ASCPT one of the most meaningful milestones of his life, an achievement made possible by the careful guidance he’s received from his faculty mentor, Thomas Schmittgen, Ph.D., a professor of pharmaceutics.
“It’s incredibly validating to be recognized by a society that shares my passion for translational science and patient-centered research. This award has given me even more drive to keep pushing forward with research that can make a real difference in people’s lives,” Siddique said. “Dr. Schmittgen has taught me how to think like an independent scientist — to ask the right questions, carefully analyze data and maintain high standards. Through his mentorship, I have learned that good research requires critical thinking and asking questions that matter to patients.”
Leonardo da Costa Xavier
Leonardo da Costa Xavier, a second-year graduate student in the Department of Pharmaceutics at the Orlando campus, created the winning abstract, “Mitigating Clopidogrel Resistance: A PBPK/PD Approach to Explore the Role of CES Genotypes and Drug-Drug Interactions.” His work aims to uncover why some patients respond poorly to clopidogrel, a commonly prescribed medication that prevents blood clots following cardiac events or procedures. Using computer-based models that simulate how the drug moves through the body, Xavier studies how genetic differences and drug interactions affect the enzymes responsible for activating the drug.
Xavier aims to aid clinicians in identifying patients at risk of resistance to the drug, ultimately creating more personalized treatment strategies. He credits the mentorship of Francine Azeredo, Ph.D., a research assistant professor of pharmaceutics, for guiding him through this challenging research.
“One of the most important lessons she has instilled in me is the value of patience and thoughtful persistence in research,” Xavier said. “She has taught me that meaningful scientific insights often emerge not from rushing to conclusions, but from carefully examining each assumption and being willing to explore areas that others may overlook. Under her mentorship, I have learned to approach scientific problems with curiosity and humility, recognizing that negative results, unexpected findings or gaps in existing knowledge are often opportunities rather than setbacks.”
Lina Zhou
Orlando-based postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Pharmaceutics Lina Zhou, Ph.D., took home a Presidential Trainee Award for her abstract, “OCT2 Genotype Modulates CNS Exposure and Analgesic Response to Gabapentin in Neuropathic Pain,” which explores how genetic differences affect a patient’s response to gabapentin, a common pain medication. By studying data from patients with chronic neuropathic pain and accounting for differences in gabapentin concentrations, pain scores and genetics, the UF/Genentech fellow hopes to contribute to personalized pain treatments and help clinicians identify patients in need of alternate remedies.
It’s a goal Zhou will attain with help from her mentors, Stephan Schmidt, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Pharmaceutics and director of the Center for Pharmacometrics and Systems Pharmacology, and Natalia de Moraes, Ph.D., an assistant professor of pharmaceutics, both of whom Zhou credits for teaching her how to approach scientific questions with rigor and purpose.
“This ASCPT award is a recognition for my past efforts and a catalyst for the next stage of my career,” Zhou said. “It encourages me to aim higher in my scientific inquiries and motivates me to advance my career, focusing on applying innovative, model-informed approaches to solve complex problems in drug development and therapeutic optimization.”
Hyunjae Jeong
Hyunjae Jeong, an Orlando-based graduate student in the Department of Pharmaceutics, was recognized for his abstract, “DMD-ViT: A Novel Vision Transformer Network for Predicting Disease Progression in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy with Explainable AI to Inform Clinical Trial Design and Personalized Intervention.” His research, conducted in collaboration with ImagingNMD, introduces a novel generative AI model used to predict a patient’s rate and severity of Duchenne muscular dystrophy progression.
Jeong said receiving this recognition from ASCPT keeps him feeling dedicated to translating computational methods into real-world clinical impacts, a commitment imparted to him by his mentor, Sarah Kim, Ph.D., an assistant professor of pharmaceutics.
“Dr. Kim has taught me the importance of always being clear about the ‘why’ behind the research and never losing sight of that direction,” Jeong said. “She consistently reminds me that while innovative methods are important, they should never overshadow the fundamental question of how the research can help advance science or improve patients’ lives. This perspective has helped me continuously refine my research into work that is not only technically strong, but genuinely useful.”
Jean Gabriel Malave Rivera
Gainesville-based, second-year graduate student in the Department of Pharmacotherapy and Translational Research Jean Gabriel Malave Rivera created the winning abstract, “Real-World Impact of CYP2C19 Genotype-Informed Antiplatelet Therapy on Cardiovascular Outcomes Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.” Under the guidance of Larisa Cavallari, Pharm.D., BCPS, FCCP, professor and chair of the Department of Pharmacotherapy and Translational Research, Malave Rivera studies patients’ response to clopidogrel based on their genetic makeup, demonstrating the critical impact of genetic testing in creating personalized treatment strategies.
Malave Rivera called this ASCPT award a testament to the hard work and dedication exercised by his lab.
“Recognitions like this remind me of the importance of contributing to the field of pharmacogenomics and motivate me to continue working hard,” he said. “Dr. Cavallari has encouraged me to think critically about our research questions and how they translate into real-world clinical practice. This bridge between curiosity and practicality has been instrumental in my development as a graduate student.”
Devam Desai
Devam Desai, M.S., a third-year graduate student in the Department of Pharmaceutics at the Orlando campus, received ASCPT recognition for his abstract, “A Quantitative Systems Pharmacology (QSP) Platform for IgA Nephropathy of N-Acetylgalactosamine Conjugated Small Interfering RNA (GALNAC-SIRNA).” Desai’s work uses a mathematical platform model to determine the best dose for a novel gene therapy used to treat IgA nephropathy, an incurable condition also known as Berger disease in which kidney inflammation prevents waste from being filtered from the blood.
Desai was also selected to give an oral presentation on this work during the ASCPT annual meeting. He said he’s been encouraged to complete this research bridging the bench and the bedside by the mentorship of Rodrigo Cristofoletti, Ph.D., an associate professor of pharmaceutics.
“My mentor has provided me with complete independence to make my projects and hypothesis, which has significantly led to my growth as a thinker and researcher,” Desai said. “Winning an ASCPT Presidential Trainee award gives me validation of the work we are doing at UF.”