Expertise among the PhASR personnel includes quantitative pharmacology; bioanalytical methodology, design of pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic studies in animal disease models and in humans enrolled in clinical trials; data analysis and modeling of PK/PD data to inform drug development decisions.
Mitch Phelps, PhD; co-director, is the Kimberly Professor of Pharmacy in the College of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology. He also has appointments in the College of Medicine, Departments of Biological Chemistry & Pharmacology and Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine. Dr. Phelps has been with the OSUCCC – James since 2006, applying his expertise in analytical methodologies, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) study design, data analysis and modeling. Dr. Phelps directs the quantitative pharmacology (QP) arm of PhASR activities to develop collaborative research projects with other investigators, support PK/PD experimental design, modeling, and data analysis, and ensure that resources are utilized efficiently to support high-impact science. His independent research focuses on developing drug therapies to treat cancer and understanding the sources of variability in outcomes of patients treated with anticancer and immunomodulatory agents. He is principal investigator and co-investigator on several research grants funded by the NIH and other public and private organizations. Dr. Phelps earned his PhD in Biophysics from Ohio State, and prior to completing doctoral training, he spent eight years as a chemist in private industry.
Steven K. Clinton, MD, PhD; co-director is a physician scientist who received his medical degree (M.D.) and Ph.D. from the University of Illinois, Urbana. He subsequently completed his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at University of Chicago Hospitals and Clinics, and his fellowship in Medical Oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School. Dr. Clinton joined the faculty at The Ohio State University in 1998 in the Division of Medical Oncology / Department of Internal Medicine, in the College of Medicine. He serves as the leader of the Molecular Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention Program for The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. He serves The James Cancer Hospital as Director of the Genitourinary Oncology Service Line with over thirty-six 3 dozen faculty in urology, radiation oncology, and medical oncology. In addition to therapeutic trials in GU Cancer, he has a vigorous research effort in carcinogenesis and the impact of chemoprevention and diet and nutrition as modulators of cancer biology. Professor Clinton has published extensively on molecular and cellular mechanisms of carcinogenesis in both in vitro and preclinical animal models. He has an active effort in epidemiologic studies and biomarker characterization related toc cancer etiology. His team has conducted multiple phase I/II studies in humans focusing upon nutrients, novel anticancer food products rich in plant bioactive compounds, and dietary patterns coupled with exercise programs. He has published extensively on the analysis and quantification by HPLC MS of plant bioactive compounds in foods and biological samples (blood, tissue, and stool) from rodent and human studies. Dr. Clinton served as Co-Director of the OSUCCC SR, Nutrient and Phytochemical Analytic Shared Resource (NPASR), from its inception in 2010 to 2023. He was instrumental in promoting the seamless merger of PhASR and NPASR in 2023, as these SR increasingly employ similar analytic tools and require similar technical expertise among staff. Thus, integration provides efficiency and enhances the concentration of intellectual capital and skills of staff necessary to support OSUCCC investigators. Dr. Clinton’s efforts include discussion of projects with OSUCCC faculty, guiding biological sample procurement and processing, coordinating analytic priorities of the SR, directing project throughput, and assisting in data analysis. He is available to assist in developing collaborative projects with new and existing users, and scientific support of the nutrient and phytochemical arm of the PhASR. He will continue to ensure PhASR-NPA is a highly valued CCC Shared Resource, staying on the forefront of nutrient and phytochemical analytics at the Ohio State University.
Nicole Abbott, PhD, is a research specialist and chemist with background training in biochemistry and the application of LC-MS, ELISA and other analytical platforms for the study of biosynthetic pathways and anticancer drug activity. Dr. Abbott previously worked for the Nevada State Public Health Laboratory as a chemist and as manager of the Emergency Response Laboratory, and for the Centers for Disease Control as a research scientist/analytical chemist. In these roles, she led the development of novel assays, validation of these assays per FDA guidelines and application of the assays based on strict quality standards, including Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), Clinical Improvement Amendments (CLIA) and College of American Pathologists (CAP). Dr. Abbott will apply her analytical chemistry expertise toward assay development, validation and application of these assays to efficiently measure drugs, metabolites and biomolecules in research specimens.
Zhiliang (Leon) Xie, BS; is a senior researcher with 24 years of experience in bioanalytical methodologies. His experience ranges from protein characterization in research to quantification of therapeutics (large and small molecules) in support of pharmacokinetic analysis. Leon utilizes his vast experience with ELISAs and LC-MS/MS to develop and validate analytical methods for the quantification of small molecules and monoclonal antibody therapeutics in clinical and preclinical samples.
Joo Young Na, PhD, is a postdoctoral scholar who supports pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics study design and data analysis using statistical modeling approaches. Dr. Na received her PhD in clinical pharmacology from Seoul National University, College of Medicine, in 2023. Dr. Na’s current research interest includes clinical and preclinical pharmacology, and her current projects are focused on pharmacometrics. The overall goal of her research is to bridge the knowledge gap between drug development and clinical application thereby supporting personalized pharmacotherapy via pharmacometrics.
James (Jimmy) Larkin, PhD; is a postdoctoral scholar who earned his PhD in Chemistry from Rice University and serves as a Captain in the Army Reserve. Dr. Larkin has over seven years of experience with analytical chemistry instrumentation, including GC-MS, LC-UV, and LC-MS. He has a strong background in protein/peptide chemistry, fluorescence assays, and the development of novel hybrid biomacromolecular structures. His expertise supports clinical and preclinical studies through the development, validation, and application of analytical assays to quantify chemotherapeutics and monoclonal antibody therapeutics in a variety of matrices.
Teresa Imhof, BS; is a research technician with a background in the Air Force and holds a bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory technology. She has worked extensively in regulated hospital laboratories across multiple disciplines, including chemistry, microbiology, blood bank, and hematology. In these roles, she played a key part in running diagnostic tests and ensuring the accuracy of results for patient care. Teresa Imhof contributes to the day-to-day operations of the PhASR cancer research lab by managing the clinical sample inventory, running samples, and ensuring the smooth execution of experiments. Her role supports the lab’s efforts to advance scientific understanding and develop novel approaches to cancer treatment.
Kasey Hill, PhD; is a senior research specialist and chemist in the PhASR and focuses primarily on technical consultation and administrative support. Dr. Hill has extensive expertise in bioanalytical method development and quantification of small molecules and many years maintaining LC-MS systems and other laboratory equipment. Prior to joining the PhASR, Dr. Hill served as the materials lead at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and as a chemist at Avanti Polar Lipids, Inc., where she developed and validated LC-MS methods for drug formulations in a cGMP facility. Dr. Hill earned her Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Tennessee.