Thesis defense Alejandra Martínez Chávez - New measuring methods show the way to the brain

10 November                   14.15                    Utrecht University

New measuring methods show the way to the brain
"I find it fascinating how drugs can have such a big effect on our bodies. Pain disappears, a tumor shrinks... I have investigated drugs that prevent tumor cells from dividing: cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, CDK-inhibitors. These work if the right drug concentration can be reached in the tumor: effective, but not toxic. I have developed new bioanalytical methods to determine the drug concentration in various tissues and blood plasma. Those methods are useful in the clinic as well as in scientific research. I have used them in my own research to find out what happens to these CDK-inhibitors inside of the body and to study how specific proteins called drug transporters and drug-metabolizing enzymes affect their fate. These drugs, for example, cannot reach the brain because two drug transporters block them at the blood-brain barrier. I discovered that this can be prevented by inhibiting the drug transporters."
Alejandra will defend her thesis on November 10.

The thesis:
Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors in cancer: bioanalysis and pharmacokinetics

Practical information about the defense
More information on the Utrecht University calendar page.