Postdoc Research Spotlight: Dominique Farrera

As a 2025 graduate of the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, Dominique Farrera, PhD, reflects on her time as a graduate student. "My mentor consistently challenged me to think through scientific questions on my own rather than simply providing the answers. That approach gave me the confidence to design experiments, troubleshoot problems, and defend my interpretations while knowing guidance was always available when I needed it. My dissertation committee complemented that by providing thoughtful feedback and offering different perspectives that strengthened both my research and my scientific thinking."

Now, as a postdoc, she continues her work exploring the role of MASH-induced transporter alterations in pharmacokinetics and therapeutic efficacy. In March 2025, she published "Alterations of valsartan pharmacokinetics in a rodent model of metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis" in ScienceDirect. Her research looked at how metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a liver disease caused by problems with metabolism and fat buildup in the liver, changes the way the body processes Valsartan, a medication commonly used to treat cardiovascular disease. She used rats that were given a form of MASH that closely resembles the disease in humans. This is important because many people with heart disease also have MASH, and MASH can interfere with the proteins that help the body absorb, transport, and remove medications. As a result, MASH could change how much Valsartan is in the body and how long the drug stays there. Medications used in patients to treat comorbidities associated with MASH may be subject to this altered disposition and potential toxicity. 

Most recently, Farrera published "Altered renal disposition of adefovir in metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis using the fast-food diet and thioacetamide-induced model to extrapolate renal secretion" in ScienceDirect. This research looked at how MASH affects the way the body processes Adefovir, an antiviral medication used to treat hepatitis B. Adefovir relies on certain proteins called organic anion transporters to help move the drug through the body. MASH and related fatty liver disease are among the most common liver diseases worldwide. As MASH gets worse, it can change the levels and activity of these transport proteins, which may cause medications like Adefovir to be processed differently. This could lead to higher levels of the drug in the body and an increased risk of side effects or toxicity. Patients with MASH and co-occurring chronic hepatitis B virus are becoming increasingly prevalent, presenting a unique challenge in clinical practice. 

This is significant because as metabolic liver disease and chronic hepatitis B increasingly coexist, understanding how MASH alters drug handling is critical for patient safety. The study findings demonstrate that MASH can interfere with the kidneys’ ability to remove Adefovir from the body. This means the drug could stay in the body longer and potentially reach higher levels, which could increase the risk of side effects. These findings suggest that doctors may need to pay closer attention to kidney function and possibly adjust adefovir doses in patients who also have MASH.

Farrera has presented her findings at multiple conferences, finding the opportunities to be worthwhile experiences: "Conferences are especially rewarding because they provide opportunities to network with other researchers, communicate your science to a broad audience, and hear different perspectives on your work. Those conversations often lead to new ideas, help strengthen your research, and sometimes even open the door to future collaborations."

Believing her research journey has not been a solo experience, Farrera credits her mentor, Nathan Cherrington, PhD, associate dean for research, with having a significant impact on her development by creating a collaborative lab environment while also encouraging independent thinking. "There's always an open exchange of ideas, and everyone is encouraged to contribute their own perspectives and approaches to solving problems," shared Farrera. "At the same time, I've been given the opportunity to take ownership of my projects, make scientific decisions, and develop my own ideas. That balance of support and independence has been instrumental in helping me transition from being a trainee who follows directions to becoming an independent scientist who can think critically, lead projects, and confidently defend my scientific conclusions."

"Dominique has been a very independent scholar who made some unique contributions," said Cherrington. "There aren’t very many trainees who can say that during their training they were the first author on papers ranging from molecular mechanisms to animal studies to human clinical trials. She has a unique skill set that will be very desirable in the job market."

As her research continues, Farerra thinks advances in AI are going to have a huge impact as it becomes more integrated with multi-omics research, "We're generating enormous amounts of genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolomic, and other datasets, and AI is making it much more feasible to integrate and interpret all of that information. Instead of looking at each dataset independently, we can identify patterns and relationships across multiple biological systems that would be difficult or impossible to detect manually." 

There are also more high-quality public datasets than ever before. AI is helping researchers leverage these resources much more efficiently by accelerating data mining, hypothesis generation, and biomarker discovery. Farerra believes that combination of expanding datasets and AI-driven analysis will continue to accelerate drug discovery, improve understanding of disease mechanisms, and move healthcare providers closer to truly personalized medicine.

What's next for Farrera is to continue her postdoctoral training, where she'll build her research experience and expand her skill set. Her long-term goal is to transition into the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry in a scientist role where she can apply her background in pharmacology, toxicology, and translational research. She's particularly interested in positions in drug development, biomarker discovery, or drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics, where she can contribute to research that directly improves patient care.