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 October 2025 Highlighted Trainee Authors.
Namrata Bachhav, PhD
Drug Metabolism and Disposition
Namrata Bachhav is working as an Associate Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Consultant where she integrates mechanistic enzymology, quantitative proteomics, and clinical pharmacokinetics to deliver decision-relevant PBPK/PD analyses.
During her PhD program at Washington State University (WSU), Bachhav developed a translational program around steroidal substrates predominantly metabolized by UGT2B17. Early analytical R&D training instilled a quality-by-design mindset and highlighted problems of interindividual variability and translation that drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics are uniquely positioned to address.
In addition to scientific training, mentorship and collaboration have been pivotal in her career decisions. Working with Dr. John Amory at the University of Washington broadened her perspective on leveraging enzyme selectivity and phenotype stratification to improve oral testosterone bioavailability and individualize therapy.
Bachhav’s published work, “Curcumin enhances the oral bioavailability of testosterone by inhibiting its intestinal metabolism,” was conducted when she was a student at WSU. “Oral testosterone shows poor and highly variable bioavailability due to extensive intestinal first-pass glucuronidation by UGT2B17. We hypothesized that intestinal-localized inhibition of UGT2B17 would mitigate pre-systemic loss and reduce variability,” Bachhav explained. “To test this, we characterized curcumin as an intestinal UGT2B17 inhibitor in vitro, then translated the approach clinically, generating evidence consistent with localized intestinal UGT2B17 inhibition and increased oral testosterone exposure.”
She aims to make drug dosing more predictable, individualized, and safe. The overarching goal is to deliver decision-grade evidence that informs labeling and regulatory guidance, reduces empiric trial-and-error, and advances precision pharmacology.
For Bachhav, having her research published in Drug Metabolism and Disposition “honors the contributions of my mentors and collaborators and affirms my commitment to mechanism-based pharmacology that advances individualized dosing and patient outcomes,” she shared.
Daniel Sastre Martínez, PhD
Daniel Sastre Martínez is a research scientist who recently completed his postdoctoral appointment in the Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics at the University of British Columbia.
Sastre Martínez’s published study, “Electrophysiological characterization of the state-dependent inhibition of Kv7.1 and IKs by UCL2077,” focuses on how a small molecule modulates the cardiac ion channels Kv7.1 and IKs, offering a framework to better understand the molecular mechanisms of ion channel modulation. “Because ion channels are central to many diverse physiological processes and are important multitherapeutic targets, I hope this work will not only deepen our scientific understanding but also pave the way for innovative treatments across a wide range of diseases,” Sastre Martínez shared.
The most rewarding and exciting part of Sastre Martínez’s research is when all the results from different experiments start to fit together, especially after months of hard work, data analysis, and troubleshooting. Additionally, the discovery of something new that could contribute to improving human health brings a deep sense of fulfillment.
During his undergraduate studies, Sastre Martínez was drawn to the molecular mechanisms underlying cellular function, which sparked his interest in ion channel research and led him to pursue a MSc in Neurosciences. While studying the cellular and molecular biology of potassium channel Kv1.3 in immune cells during his PhD, he discovered his passion for pharmacology. Sastre Martínez also credits his mentors Drs. Antonio Felipe Campo, David Fedida and Efthymios Kyriakis for inspiring him to see the “big picture” when tackling complex biological problems and deepening his appreciation for collaborative and multidisciplinary research.
“Throughout my career, I have read so many Molecular Pharmacology papers! Being published is a meaningful milestone for me. Having my work recognized represents both a validation of the effort invested in this research and an opportunity to contribute to a community I deeply admire,” Sastre Martínez explained. “It’s truly an honor to connect my work with a broad network of scientists who are advancing pharmacological knowledge, and it encourages me in my research.”
Julio D. Zuarth Gonzalez, PhD
The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
Julio Zuarth Gonzalez is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. His journey into pharmacology research began when he was an undergraduate student at Western Michigan University.
While working under Dr. Lisa Baker, he became involved in research on synthetic cathinones (bath salts), which deepened his interest in understanding how novel psychoactive substances affect behavior and physiology. Then, in a serendipitous turn of events, he met Dr. Jenny Wilkerson during an airport shuttle ride, which led to the opportunity to pursue his doctoral studies under her mentorship.
Zuarth Gonzalez’s research, “Mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine: Bidirectional Effects on Breathing in Rats,” focuses on understanding how certain drugs affect breathing, which is critical because respiratory depression is the primary mechanism of death in opioid overdoses. “I hope my research will contribute to evidence-based practices and help guide policy-making decisions regarding these emerging substances,” he shared.
When it comes to his future plans, Zuarth Gonzalez plans to pursue a career in clinical pharmacology focused on developing therapeutics for substance use disorders. He’s particularly interested in translational research that bridges preclinical findings with clinical applications. Additionally, he’s excited about the potential of incorporating emerging technologies like AI and machine learning into pharmacological research to enhance medication discovery and predict drug effects based on physiological and behavioral parameters.
For Zuarth Gonzalez, being published in the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics is meaningful because of ASPET’s prestigious reputation in the pharmacology community. “Having other professionals from different pharmacological disciplines evaluate and engage with my work pushes me to think more broadly about the implications of my findings.”