Pharmacy grads take innovative approaches to healthcare

Motivated to make an impact in the lives of others, the most recent graduates from the Harrison College of Pharmacy’s graduate program are taking the next step in their careers.

Iva Durdanovic and Chung-Hui Huang completed their Ph.D.s in Pharmaceutical Sciences, graduating in December, and are stepping into the next chapter of their academic journeys, pursuing postdoctoral research positions.

“Completing my Ph.D. is both an incredible privilege and a deeply meaningful milestone,” said Durdanovic. “The mentorship, encouragement and sense of belonging I experienced have been immense, and I am honored to represent HCOP as I move forward into the next stage of my career.”

Durdanovic, who was in the pharmacology sequence at HCOP under the direction of Dr. Miranda Reed, is now pursuing postdoctoral training at the University of Florida where she will be working alongside Dr. Karim Oweiss in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Durdanovic will personally be involved in investigating neural communication and connectivity for those living with essential tremors.

“What makes this work especially meaningful is its direct translational impacts. Dr. Oweiss’ lab also conducts clinical research on brain-machine interfaces in patients with essential tremor, allowing findings to directly inform clinical strategies and patient outcomes,” said Durdanovic.

She is appreciative of the the strong foundation that she gained through her time at HCOP along with the collaborative approach that HCOP takes to learning.

“HCOP felt like more than just an academic program, it truly felt like a supportive and engaged community,” said Durdanovic.

“Earning a doctorate from a prestigious research university and from a program that is nationally recognized for its collaborative and interdisciplinary approach to pharmaceutical sciences is something I take great pride in.”

Huang is proud of reaching this emotional milestone and completing his degree at HCOP. He is now joining Dr. Yang Gao as a postdoctoral researcher at Ohio State University’s Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics.

Huang will be researching tumor-immune interactions, cancer metastasis and therapeutic resistance.

“I will investigate why solid tumors fail current treatments and how metastatic niches form across major organs,” said Huang. “I will utilize advanced techniques, including single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, multi-omics integration, tumor immunology, and in vivo cancer models. This work aims to uncover the fundamental mechanisms that drive therapeutic resistance and cancer progression.”

Huang, who completed the pharmaceutics sequence under Drs. Gary Piazza and Adam Keeton, appreciates the collaborative and supportive environment he experienced at HCOP.

“Some of my favorite moments include working closely with lab mates during challenging experiments,” said Huang. “I benefitted greatly from guidance that encouraged me to think critically, stay persistent, and grow as an independent researcher.”   

The environment, coupled with the extensive hands-on experience with in vivo studies, tumor models and experimental oncology gave him the scientific foundation to take this next step.

“The combination of supportive mentorship and challenging research opportunities helped me build the confidence and skill set needed for my next step as a postdoc,” said Huang. “I am grateful for HCOP and the experiences that brought me here and I am motivated to continue contributing to impact cancer research in my next chapter.”

Committed to developing the next generation of pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists, the Harrison College of Pharmacy offers a graduate program in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Within the program are sequences in Health Outcomes and Research Policy, Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology, as well as graduate certificates in medicinal chemistry and neuroscience.