Each month, the editors of three of the ASPET journals choose their Highlighted Trainee Authors. These early-career scientists are recognized for their innovative research published in The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Drug Metabolism and Disposition, and Molecular Pharmacology. This feature showcases selected young scientists, demonstrates what drives them, and reveals why pharmacology is important to them. This month we are featuring the July 2026 Highlighted Trainee Authors.
Dominique Farrera
Drug Metabolism and Disposition
“I’ve always been drawn to research that bridges basic science and patient care,” says Dominique Farrera, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Arizona. As her PhD progressed, she recognized that additional postdoctoral training would allow her to expand her expertise in translational pharmacology, deepen her understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying transporter alterations in liver disease, and further develop as an independent scientist.
Farrera’s research, “Diagnostic Exogenous Probe Strategy Using Ezetimibe-Glucuronide Effectively Identifies MASH,” focuses on how chronic liver disease, specifically MASH, changes the liver’s ability to transport drugs and other compounds through the body. Farrera and her team developed a simple functional test that measures how well the liver is working, rather than just testing whether the liver appears damaged. “I hope this research helps shift the focus from simply identifying liver disease to understanding how disease changes liver function. By developing exogenous functional tests based on transporters, we can better assess the progression and severity of a person’s liver disease and ultimately move toward more personalized treatment.”
Farrera’s long-term career goal is to move into industry as a study director, leading multidisciplinary research programs that advance new therapeutics and diagnostic approaches from preclinical development toward clinical application. From a research perspective, Farrera is interested in further understanding the molecular mechanisms that drive transporter alterations in liver disease and translating those discoveries into functional biomarkers and therapeutic strategies that can improve patient care.
For Farrera, having her work published in Drug Metabolism and Disposition is especially meaningful because ASPET represents a community dedicated to advancing pharmacology through rigorous, translational science. “It is rewarding to contribute research alongside scientists whose work has shaped the field and to know that our findings may help inform future discoveries and clinical applications.”
Priyanka Karmokar
The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
“Although I began my career as an industrial scientist, I always knew that academia was where I belonged. Research has always excited me because it challenges me intellectually and pushes me to think creatively,” says Priyanka Karmokar, PhD, a Postdoctoral Research Associate at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Karmokar’s passion for cancer research is deeply personal, having lost her father to liver cancer and witnessing the impact that the disease had on him and her family. Teaching and mentorship are equally important, as some of the most influential people in her life have been the mentors who encouraged, challenged, and helped shape her career. Her PhD mentor, Dr. Nader Moniri, inspired her through his dedication to both science and student development.
Karmokar’s research, “The roles of free-fatty acid receptors in the pathophysiology of renal disorders,” focuses on understanding how developmental abnormalities contribute to cancer initiation, progression, and chemotherapy resistance in pediatric liver and kidney cancers. By identifying the biological processes that drive these cancers, Karmokar and her team hope to discover new drug targets and develop more effective therapies. This work can help scientists design better medicines that are more precise, have fewer side effects, and are tailored to the specific needs of pediatric cancer patients.
Looking ahead, Karmokar career goals include becoming an independent investigator and educator leading a research program focused on impactful cancer research. She aims to integrate her multidisciplinary expertise to advance our understanding of cancer biology and contribute to the development of innovative therapeutic approaches that improve patient outcomes.
For Karmokar, being published in The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics is an honor. “I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this scientific community and to share my work with fellow researchers who are dedicated to improving our understanding of disease and developing better therapeutic strategies.”
Lilly Bindel
“Since my childhood, I have been fascinated by science, particularly by how the human body works and how physiological and biochemical processes are connected,” says Lilly Bindel, a medical student at Hannover Medical School (MHH). Bindel was determined to study medicine to understand the mechanisms behind health and disease.
After completing her second year of medical school, she began the doctoral program at the MHH’s Institute of Pharmacology. “My first projects focused on antibacterial drug use in Germany and Europe, including prescribing patterns, bacterial resistance, and costs. This showed me how strongly pharmacology is connected not only with biochemical mechanisms, but also with clinical practice, public health, and rational drug use.”
Bindel’s doctoral supervisor and mentor, Profesor Seifert, gave her the opportunity to continue research alongside her MD studies in a flexible way. His guidance and the supporting environment of her colleagues at the Institute of Pharmacology have strongly influenced her development. Working as part of this research group has shown her how exciting and meaningful pharmacological research can be.
Bindel’s work, “Binding affinities for histamine receptors 1–4: systematic comparison of ligands from the PDSP Ki database and IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology,” is focused on receptor pharmacology, specifically histamine receptors. Comparing which ligands bind to these receptor subtypes helps to understand why drugs may have desired effects, adverse effects, or different therapeutic usage. “I hope that my research will contribute to innovation in pharmacology and pharmacotherapy, ultimately helping to improve treatment options and patients’ lives.”
Bindel’s long-term career goal is to combine medical expertise with pharmacological research and to contribute to a better understanding of drug actions, rational pharmacotherapy, and the development of improved treatment strategies. Ultimately, she would like to work at the intersection between basic receptor pharmacology, clinical pharmacology, and evidence-based pharmacotherapy.
For Bindel, being published in Molecular Pharmacology means having her work reach a broad scientific community and contribute to discussions within the field. “Being recognized as a trainee author is a great honor for me. It encourages me to continue my path in pharmacological research and to become more involved in the international pharmacology community.”
Photo by Tina Hagedorn
Keiichiro Nakamura
Drug Metabolism and Disposition
Keiichiro Nakamura is a PhD candidate at Kitasato University. His interest in pharmaceutical sciences started when he was in high school while studying organic chemistry, and he became fascinated with how relatively small chemical compounds could exert profound effects on the human body and even alter complex physiological functions. “This curiosity led me to pursue pharmaceutical sciences at university. As I learned more about the field, I realized that pharmacokinetics provided a framework for understanding drug behavior in the body,” he says.
Nakamura’s research, “In Vitro Assay for Quantitative Prediction of Human Intestinal Drug Absorption with Cryopreserved Human Intestinal Mucosal Epithelium-Derived Intestinal Stem Cells and 96-Well Vitrigel Inserts,” focuses on developing human-relevant experimental models to better understand how drugs are absorbed in the intestine. The study demonstrates that commercially available cryopreserved human intestinal mucosa can serve as a practical source for establishing functional intestinal stem cell-derived models. Rather than replacing existing intestinal models, Nakamura and his team hope this approach will expand the range of experimental resources available to researchers and provide an additional human-relevant platform for investigating intestinal drug absorption and disposition.
For Nakamura, one of the most rewarding moments was demonstrating that the human intestinal model he helped develop could faithfully reproduce intestinal functions and be used to evaluate drug responses. Equally rewarding has been the opportunity to share this technology with researchers from other universities and pharmaceutical companies.
Being published in Drug Metabolism and Disposition is an honor and an important milestone in Nakamura’s career. Throughout his training as a researcher, he has learned a great deal from studies published in ASPET journals, many of which have shaped how he thinks about pharmacokinetics, drug metabolism, and translational research. “It represents not only recognition of the scientific value of our research, but also an opportunity to contribute to a scientific community that has played a significant role in my own development as a researcher.”