Andrew Heitman is the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Highlighted Trainee Author for the December 2022 issue. Currently, he is a pre-doctoral trainee at Georgetown University in the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology. His mentor is Dr. Sorell L. Schwartz. The JPET article that earned his selection as a Highlighted Trainee Author is titled "A Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetic Model of the Brain Considering Regional Lipid Variance" and is available at https://doi.org/10.1124/jpet.122.001256.

Mr. Heitman’s current work comprises the development and application of systems biology models to drug distribution in the central nervous system. Human-based models of drug distribution are continually evolving, and this work aims to identify potential mechanisms impacting the distribution of small molecules. In particular, his work focuses on the impact of lipid distribution in the brain and free concentrations of drug both extra and intracellularly. The construction of a model that accounts for lipid variation can be a useful tool for drug discovery and provides a platform for hypothesis generation on the novel and repurposed compounds. He is also interested in methodology in population pharmacokinetic modeling and agent-based modeling of drug movement in the brain tissue.

The anticipated impact of Mr. Heitman’s current research is to help define factors that may lead to unequal distribution of drugs in the brain and start to explain potential variance in drug response in both healthy and diseased populations. 

Outside of his work, Andrew enjoys playing and coaching hockey, fishing, and hunting.  He also enjoys spending time with his family.