When graduate student Riddhi Kini was a kid, she would always read the labels on pill bottles. Fascinated by medicine, she knew from a young age that she wanted to work in health care and she’s pursuing that dream now, as a PhD student in the pharmaceutics department at the College of Pharmacy.
Kini’s focus is on formulation, the process of turning an active ingredient into a stabilized, effective oral or liquid drug. She works in Dr. Carolyn Fairbanks’ lab studying neuropathic pain, a condition most often treated with opioids.
“As we all know, opioids have a lot of side effects and addiction potential,” Kini said. “For the past 30 years, my advisor Dr. Fairbanks has been working with this molecule called agmatine, a neuromodulator produced by your brain in very small quantities. It helps in pain treatment, is non-addictive, and doesn't cause common side effects seen in other medications on the market.”
The problem is that there’s not really a way to bottle up the naturally occurring brain chemical, so the lab created several strategically substituted agmatines (SSAs) that can cross the brain barrier with the same mechanism of action. When taken orally, the SSAs have a low-absorption rate, so Kini is working on the development of a novel drug delivery system called SEDDS— or a self-emulsifying drug delivery system. Upon reaching the gastrointestinal tract, the drug rapidly turns into small droplets, which are more efficiently absorbed into the intestine. Kini’s presentation of this research in the College of Pharmacy 3-Minute Thesis competition in October won her second place and a $500 travel grant, a major achievement and a triumph over her fear of public speaking.
“Pain treatment is of extreme importance… There’s a very urgent need to treat opioid [overuse] and to treat chronic pain,” Kini said. “My lab team would really like to offer patients an alternative that actually helps relieve pain and doesn't compromise safety in any way.”
Kini’s work in the Fairbanks lab is neuropharmacology-focused, which introduced her to a lot of new concepts that she enjoys, despite being outside the realm of her specialty in formulation.
“There were a lot of new concepts, new tests, animal handling and more that I had to learn. I feel like [the lab team has] been so patient, so kind and humble, and I’ve gotten to learn so many new things,” Kini said.
Kini said she “could stay in the lab forever” and be happy. After finishing her PhD program, she anticipates moving into a postdoctoral research position to expand her skillset before fully entering the field as a research investigator. One of the biggest hurdles she faces is self-doubt— she never expected to be accepted into a PhD program— but she’s found support within the college and advises prospective graduate students to hang on and believe in their own abilities.
“I keep doubting whether I'll be able to do this or not. The strongest support I have is my advisor and my lab,” Kini said. “It's extremely rewarding. The College of Pharmacy here at the University is amazing; all professors that I've met across different programs, they're all super helpful.”