Robert S. Jones is the Drug Metabolism and Disposition Highlighted Trainee Author for the September 2020 issue. He is an Associate Scientist in the Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics at Genentech. At the time the work was
performed, Dr. Jones was a graduate student with the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo. His graduate mentor was Dr. Marilyn E. Morris. The Drug Metabolism and Disposition article that earned his selection
as a Highlighted Trainee Author is titled “Contribution of Monocarboxylate Transporter 6 to the Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Bumetanide in Mice” and is available at hhttps://doi.org/10.1124/dmd.120.000068.
Dr. Jones’s area of research in graduate school focused on characterizing an orphan drug transporter, monocarboxylate transporter 6 (MCT6), and evaluating its impact on lipid metabolism and drug transport. During his PhD studies, Robert supported
the development of various in vitro/in vivo models, including a novel CRISPR knockout animal model that he used to examine the contribution of MCT6’s role in endogenous fatty acid metabolism pathways and drug pharmacokinetics. Currently, Dr.
Jones’s research has been involved in the development of novel cellular and animal-based assays to better characterize drug ADME. This includes the execution of investigative research aimed at narrowing the disconnect between in vitro and in
vivo studies in early drug development.
The anticipated impact of his research will be to provide additional support for the endogenous and exogenous roles of orphan drug transporters in early stages of drug discovery. This may also help to identify potential new drug targets in disease where
these transporters contribute significantly to a variety of metabolic pathways.
Outside of his research, Robert enjoys hiking, running, bicycling, and spending time with family. He also enjoys promoting academic collaborations and participating in external scientific organizations such as the AAPS Bay Area Discussion Group (BADG),
where he currently serves as an officer involved in coordinating joint academic/industry scientific seminars.