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

Headshot of Tigran Margaryan Read Bio

Tigran Margaryan, PhDPostdoctoral Fellow

Vahuni Karapetyan, PhD Read Bio

Vahuni Karapetyan, PhDPostdoctoral Fellow

Headshot of William Knight Read Bio

William KnightResearch Technician

Publications

Resources


Chemistry Technician

We are seeking a talented and motivated Research Technician to join our PK Core Laboratory team. In this role, you’ll be instrumental in advancing our mission by preparing and analyzing biological samples using cutting-edge HPLC and LCMS techniques. As we pursue CAP/CLIA certification, you’ll play a vital role in providing accurate, precise, and state-of-the-art testing services to support healthcare professionals and patients.