Virender Kumar

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  • Virender Kumar, PhD: research interests 

    I am currently a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutics at the University of Toledo, Department of Pharmacy Practice. My research focuses on developing nanoformulations for small and large molecules to treat liver fibrosis (nonalcoholic, and alcoholic liver fibrosis) and cancers (medulloblastoma, pancreatic, and melanoma). Specific research areas I have focused on include manipulating the Biodistribution, Pharmacokinetics, and Metabolism of small molecules and biologics using nanoformulations for different diseases. Bioanalytical assay development for small and large molecules using UPLC-MS/MS and HRMS. Further, my special interest is in developing various disease models including tumors (orthotopic pancreatic cancer, medulloblastoma, glioblastoma, melanoma, AML, and HCC), liver disease (NAFLD, NASH, ALD, cholestatic liver fibrosis, and partial hepatectomy), and organ injury model (traumatic brain injury, kidney, and lung injury model) in small animals (mice, rat, guinea pig).  

    In my research, I apply strong drug discovery and pharmaceutics principles considering the most recent advancements in biology and material sciences to tackle challenging medical and drug delivery concerns. My research is funded by two grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as a PI: an R21 from 2023 to 2025 and a K01 (Mentored Research Scientist Development Award) from 2021 to 2026. I have demonstrated a successful track record of innovation and productive research, as reflected in my peer-reviewed publications and the NIH funded projects. 

    Based on my research, I have 45 peer-reviewed articles in the areas of drug design, drug delivery, biocompatibility, and pharmacokinetics. Furthermore, I have coedited the fourth edition of book entitled“Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms and Drug Delivery” 4th Edition. Published Nov 2024, by CRC Press. ISBN 9781032480602. I contributed the following chapters in this book: 1) Protein- and Peptide-Based Dosage Forms. Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms and Drug Delivery, 2024. 2) Genome editing technologies. 3) Immunotherapy. I have also assisted with the writing of Chapter 4.28: “Non-Viral Delivery of Nucleic Acid Complexes" in Paul Ducheyne's (2017) Comprehensive Biomaterials II (Elsevier). I assisted with the writing of two chapters in Ram Mahato's (2022) "Organ Specific Drug Delivery and Targeting to the Lungs" (CRC Press). Currently, I am writing four chapters in Ram Mahato’s book “Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms and Drug Delivery” 4th edition (2024). Previously, I co-edited a theme issue entitled "Diabetes Associated Fibrosis and Therapeutic Targets" in ADDR and another theme issue entitled "Desmoplasia and Hypoxia Promoted Chemoresistance of Pancreatic Cancer," for Cancer Letters.  

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  • Virender Kumar

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Cumulative publications in Scholars@UToledo