Dr. Lucy Martinez-Guerrero is The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Highlighted Trainee Author for the October 2021 issue. She is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Arizona under the mentorship of Dr. Nathan Cherrington. Dr. Martinez-Guerrero earned her PhD in physiological sciences under Dr. Stephen Wright’s mentorship. The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics article that earned her selection as a Highlighted Trainee Author is titled “Cationic Compounds with SARS-CoV-2 Antiviral Activity and their Interaction with OCT/MATE Secretory Transporters” and is available at https://doi.org/10.1124/jpet.121.000619.

Dr. Martinez-Guerrero’s current research is on pharmacokinetics of drugs. As a T32 NIEHS Postdoctoral Trainee in the Environmental Toxicology of Human Disease center, she checks how altered secretion caused by toxic exposures, drug-drug interactions (DDIs), or disease poses a problem for an increasing number of at-risk individuals. The main emphasis of her work is on the apical step of organic anion secretion (and reabsorption) on the kidney.

The anticipated impact of Dr. Martinez-Guerrero’s research is to help identify patients who may be at greater risk of toxicity due to reduced renal clearance of organic anions. She will clarify the apical step for organic anions secretion and reabsorption in the kidney and show how the specific contribution of such transporters influences the renal disposition of drugs and toxicants during disease.

Outside of the lab, Lucy enjoys dancing and reading. She also enjoys playing board games with her husband Corey and her kids Coral and Lucas.