Dr. Christian Fernandez, Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Center for Pharmacogenetics Pitt Pharmacy, was awarded a research grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). This four-year grant, titled "Mechanistic Study of PEG-asparaginase-Induced Liver Injury," will provide a total of $1.59 million over the grant period.
This project investigates a novel mechanism of liver injury caused by the anti-leukemia drug PEGylated asparaginase (PEG-ASNase). Success in this research could extend the therapeutic benefits of PEG-ASNase to adult patients, improving survival rates for acute lymphoblastic leukemia and addressing a significant clinical challenge in cancer therapy.
