Xiaowei Dong, PhD

Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences

P1 Curriculum Director

Education & Experience:

I received a BS in Industrial Analysis from Sichuan Institute of Light Industry and Chemical Technology, an MS in Applied Chemistry from East China University of Science and Technology, and a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Kentucky. Prior to my current position at the HSC College of Pharmacy, I worked as a lead formulator for drug development at Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation for four years.

Teaching Areas & Interests:

Prior to joining the UNT Health Science Center, I initiated and led a training program (as part of a global training initiative) in the Department of Pharmaceutical and Analytical Development at Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation, mainly focused on basic education of drug product development and improvement of communication within the Technical Research & Development Department at Novartis. I joined the System College of Pharmacy in 2013 and am now the Course Director for Pharmaceutics I and Pharmaceutics II as well as teaching in the Skills Lab and conducting summer research.  In my role as Course Director, we have developed the first required course for the PhD track in Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Professional Activities & Awards:

I am a member of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists and am also a co-inventor in several pending patents. In 2008, I was selected as one of six students nationwide to participate in the 2008 AAPS Graduate Student Symposium in Drug Delivery and Pharmaceutical Technology sponsored by Bristol-Myers Squibb. Additionally, I am an active reviewer for many journals such as the Journal of Controlled Release, International Journal of Nanomedicine and PlosOne.

Scholarly Interests:

My research is focused on drug delivery and formulation development with a primary emphasis on cancer and brain drug delivery. The goal is to find successful novel delivery systems to efficiently deliver anti-cancer drugs to tumors or the brain. I also have extensive experience in drug product development and manufacturing. The projects I have worked on covered the development stages from pre-clinical to clinical Phase III. Thus, my research interests also include translating pharmaceutical research into commercial products where I have a special interest in novel oral solid dosage forms. In vitro cell studies and in vivo animal studies are essential, and the studies of the underlying mechanisms about why and how the novel delivery systems enhance therapeutic outcomes are emphasized in my lab. Moreover, I am actively looking for collaboration opportunities with groups working on drug discovery to provide support on formulation development of novel compounds. The ultimate goal of my research is to provide more medication options for the patient’s benefit and to make a significant contribution to healthcare improvement.