Congratulations to Assistant Professor Brian Werth who received this year’s Young Investigator Award from the Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacist (SIDP). The prestigious award is given to a young investigator who shows research promise in the broad area of infectious diseases.
Brian has demonstrated tremendous research productivity over the past 5 years at the University of Washington School of Pharmacy. His multidisciplinary, translational research program has focused on antimicrobial dosing strategies that optimize efficacy and prevent or overcome resistance in multidrug resistant pathogens. He has made significant contributions to infectious diseases research through education, mentorship, and service.
Since beginning his academic appointment, he has published 22 peer-reviewed papers and received research support from SIDP, pharmaceutical industry, and the National Institutes of Health. He was recently awarded a 4-year, $1.86 million NIH R01 grant as principal investigator, which is an exceptional accomplishment for a young investigator.
Brian and grant coinvestigator UWSOP Medicinal Chemistry’s Libin Xu will continue their novel research into antibiotic resistance mechanisms in the superbug, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA). With Libin’s expertise in ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS) analysis of lipids and Brian’s expertise in antibiotic resistance, they are working to understand the mechanisms of cross-resistance among antibiotics that target the bacterial cell membrane and cell wall. This work could lead to the identification of novel targets for resistance-modifying therapeutics or more sensitive diagnostics to detect resistance. In addition, the team received a UW Royalty Research Fund award of $38,175 for their project, “Targeting Altered Lipid Metabolism in Antiobiotic-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus.” The RRF is funded from royalty and licensing fee income generated by the UW technology transfer program. The fund supports UW faculty seeking to advance new directions in research in disciplines for which external funding opportunities are minimal; for faculty who are junior in rank; and if the award might provide opportunities to increase applicants’ competitiveness for subsequent funding.
To read more about Brian’s collaboration with Libin Xu began with an outing to the College Inn Pub and a new UWSOP Faculty Innovation Grant, click here.
To study with researchers like Drs. Werth and Xu, click on the links for more information about our Graduate Programs in Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research and Policy, and Biomedical Regulatory Affairs.