Fatima Rivas, PhD
Improving the Uptake of Natural Chemical Compounds to Treat Health Problems
Summary
More than 40% of the American population suffers from obesity-related health conditions such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, a serious chronic disorder. Although many naturally occurring chemical compounds have demonstrated therapeutic potential for these health conditions, unfortunately, our bodies cannot properly absorb them because they do not dissolve well in water.
My research seeks to identify chemical modifications that will enable these natural products to dissolve in water, leading to improved uptake in the human body. I will then test these modified natural products in mouse models to evaluate their capacity to treat health disorders. This study will provide the necessary information to potentially advance these natural products to clinical trials.
Learn more in this Researcher Spotlight blog.
I am honored to receive the PhRMA Foundation Faculty Starter Grant in Drug Delivery. This award will generate critical data to accelerate the advancement of drug delivery platforms for preclinical studies and secure sustainable intramural funding.
