Prerna Dodeja, M.S. (PHARM ’21), was selected as a recipient of the NIH-funded Quantitative Methodologies Pilot competition, awarded through the Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) at the University of Pittsburgh. The QuMP Program aimed to encourage and support novel applications of quantitative methodologies, and projects funded by the program involve trans-disciplinary collaborations between translational investigators and quantitative scientists. The Grant will cover 12 months graduate funding for Dodeja to conduct the proposed research.
Dodeja’s proposal focuses on personalizing dosing of 17-alphahydroxyprogesterone caproate (17-OHPC), which is a progesterone analogue given for prevention of preterm birth. Her research aims to incorporate clinically relevant patient covariates such as genotype, race, body weight and body surface area to build a robust population model and personalize dosing of 17-OHPC based on these factors. These mathematical modeling tools are not routinely utilized in the obstetric setting and fill an important knowledge gap to help clinicians improve patient outcomes.
The long-term goal of her research is to optimize dosing in pregnant, postpartum and lactating women using quantitative pharmacology tools.
Dodeja is a third year PhD Candidate in the Pharmaceutics track under the mentorship of Professor Raman Venkataramanan and Professor Jan Beumer.