Tovmasyan Laboratory
About
As the leader of the Pharmacokinetics (PK) Core at the Ivy Brain Tumor Center, our laboratory is established to provide state-of-the-art analytical platform for services and a broad range of pharmacological and pharmaceutical expertise critical in conducting clinical research. The Ivy Center hosts the largest number of Phase 0 clinical trials for brain tumor patients in the world and the results obtained in the PK Core within each ongoing clinical trial, along with the data received from Pharmacodynamics (PD) Core, will enable physicians to directly implement the most efficient regimens for brain tumor treatment. Such an approach is distinctly different from conventional clinical trials and is based on personalized precision medicine, where each patient has the unique prospect of receiving individualized therapeutic, therapeutic dose and schedule based on the results received from PK/PD Cores.
CURRENT RESEARCH
The Tovmasyan Laboratory also offers its services to investigators worldwide conducting preclinical research in the biomedical field, such as drug discovery, medicinal chemistry, drug distribution, metabolism, etc. The Lab will assist with small-molecule research in preclinical studies providing services in assessment and design of preclinical PK studies for experimental drugs, collection and processing of biospecimens including cells, biofluids (blood, plasma, saliva, urine, CSF, etc.) and tissues, development, validation and implementation of analytical methods for drugs, drug metabolites, and biomarkers, data analysis and interpretation, publishing guidance, and assistance with grant applications.
The Tovmasyan Laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation for sample processing and storage (vacuum concentrator (Labconco), centrifuges (Eppendorf 5804R, 5427R, 5404R), homogenizers (Omni Bead Ruptor Elite 24 and Pro-Scientific SB-1 Silent Brushless Digital), -30oC and -80oC freezers, sonicators, incubators, mixers, shakers, water bath), bio-analytical (AB SCIEX QTRAP 6500+ QTrap interfaced with a SHIMADZU Exion UHPLC system and associated AnalystTM software for operation and data analysis, system control and data acquisition/processing) and computational software WinNonlin (Certara USA, Inc., Princeton, NJ). Such leading-edge platform enables PK Lab to perform innovative research and complex analyses and to ensure specific, sensitive, reliable, and reproducible measurements for clinical and preclinical studies.
Lab Members
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Tigran Margaryan, PhDPostdoctoral Fellow
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Vahuni Karapetyan, PhDPostdoctoral Fellow
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Murugesh Kandasamy, PhDPostdoctoral Fellow
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William KnightResearch Technician
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Brett RudolphResearch Technician
Publications
- T. Margarya, et al., Simultaneous determination of LY3214996, abemaciclib, and M2 and M20 metabolites in human plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, and brain tumor by LC-MS/MS. May 14 2022
- Batinic-Haberle et al., Mn porphyrin-based redox-active drugs – Differential effects as cancer therapeutics and protectors of normal tissue against oxidative injury. October 17, 2018.
- Tovmasyan et al., Radiation-mediated tumor growth inhibition is significantly enhanced with redox-active compounds that cycle with ascorbate. September 20, 2018.
- Cline et al., Post-irradiation treatment with MnTnHex-2-PyP5+ mitigates radiation pneumonitis in the lungs of non-human primates after whole-thorax exposure to ionizing radiation. March 7, 2018.
- Leu et al., CNS bioavailability and radiation protection of normal hippocampal neurogenesis by a lipophilic Mn porphyrin-based superoxide dismutase mimic, MnTnBuOE-2-PyP5+. August 2017.
- Boss et al., Potential for a novel manganese porphyrin compound as adjuvant canine lymphoma therapy. July 6, 2017.
- Weitzel et al., Neurobehavioral radiation mitigation to standard brain cancer therapy regimens by Mn(III) n-butoxyethylpyridylporphyrin-based redox modifier. May 25, 2016.
- Miriyala et al., Novel role of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal in AIFm2-mediated mitochondrial stress signaling. February 2016.
- Tovmasyan et al., Anticancer therapeutic potential of Mn porphyrin/ascorbate system. December 2015.
- Ashcraft et al., Mn(III) meso tetrakis(N-butoxyethylpyridinium-2-yl)porphyrin, a potent SOD mimic and redox-regulator of cellular signaling pathways, prevents radiation-induced mucositis, xerostomia, and fibrosis in mice, while radiosensitizing tumors. November 15, 2015.
- Batinic-Haberle et al., An educational overview of the chemistry, biochemistry and therapeutic aspects of Mn porphyrins – From superoxide dismutation to H2O2-driven pathways. August 2015.
- Weitzel et al., Radioprotection of the brain white matter by Mn(III) N-butoxyethylpyridylporphyrin-based superoxide dismutase mimic, MnTnBuOE-2-PyP5+. January 2015.
- Tovmasyan et al., Rational Design of Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) Mimics: The Evaluation of the therapeutic potential of new cationic Mn porphyrins with linear and cyclic substituents. October 21, 2014.
- Li et al., Differential Localization and Potency of Manganese Porphyrin Superoxide Dismutase-Mimicking Compounds in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. 2014.
- Jumbo-Lucioni et al., Oxidant and anti-oxidant modifiers of acute outcome in a Drosophila model of classic galactosemia. April 30, 2014.
- Tovmasyan et al., Simple prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems for assessing the biological actions of SOD mimics as potential therapeutic agents. April 30, 2014.
- Sheng et al., Metalloporphyrins as Therapeutic Catalytic Oxidoreductants in Central Nervous System Disorders. April 30, 2014.
- Batinic-Haberle et al., SOD therapeutics: Latest insights into their structure-activity relationships and impact upon the cellular redox-based pathways. April 30, 2014.
- Batinic-Haberle et al., The complex mechanistic aspects of redox-active compounds, commonly regarded as SOD mimics. January 8, 2014.
- Tovmasyan et al., Differential Coordination Demands in Fe versus Mn Water-Soluble Cationic Metalloporphyrins Translate into Remarkably Different Aqueous Redox Chemistry and Biology. May 6, 2013.
- Weitner et al., Comprehensive pharmacokinetic studies of hydrophilic MnTE-2-PyP5+ vs. lipophilic MnTnHex-2-PyP5+ biocatalysts: oral vs. intraperitoneal availability. May 2013.
- Tovmasyan et al., Design, Mechanism of Action, Bioavailability and Therapeutic Effects of Mn Porphyrin-Based Redox Modulators. January 2013.
Resources
JOB OPENINGS
Pharmacokinetics Research Technologist
The Research Technologist in this role will prepare and analyze biological samples employing HPLC and LCMS technique and to review and report data. PK Core Laboratory is currently in the process of CAP/CLIA certification and will be supporting healthcare professionals and patients in health management through accurate precise and state-of-the-art testing. We are looking for a Research Technician to join the PK Core Laboratory team to perform UHPLC and LC-MS/MS analysis of preclinical and clinical samples. This position is responsible for the receipt organization testing and reporting of daily preclinical and patient specimens in a drug PK Core laboratory. The laboratory technician will adhere to protocols and quality measures while performing sample preparation and analyzing preclinical and patient results.