Vivian Rodriguez-Cruz is the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Highlighted Trainee Author for the July 2021 issue. She is a postdoctoral trainee at the State University of New York at Buffalo under the mentorship of Dr. Marilyn E. Morris. The JPET article that earned her selection as a Highlighted Trainee Author is titled “Υ-Hydroxybutyric Acid-Ethanol Drug-Drug Interaction: Reversal of Toxicity with MCT1 Inhibitors” and is available at https://doi.org/10.1124/jpet.121.000566.
Dr. Rodriguez-Cruz’s areas of research are drug pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. She is currently studying the drug of abuse gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) drug-drug interactions and a possible treatment for its overdose utilizing monocarboxylate (MCT) transporter inhibitors.
The anticipated impact of Dr. Rodriquez-Cruz’s research is that through in vitro and in vivo toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic studies, we can elucidate significant drug-drug interactions that can impact the efficacy and toxicity of gamma-hydroxybutyrate acid (GHB). The use of MCT1 inhibitors is shown to be a promising treatment for GHB overdose.
Outside the laboratory, Vivian enjoys spending time with her dogs and going on walks.