Fellowship in Pediatric Clinical Pharmacology

Brookie M. Best

Fellowship Director
Brookie M. Best, Pharm.D., M.A.S.
Assistant Clinical Professor of Pharmacy and Pediatrics
UCSD Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
UCSD School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics

Research Background

Dr. Best specializes in pharmacokinetics - the processes by which a drug is absorbed, distributed, metabolized and eliminated by the body - and pediatric clinical pharmacology research. Her research efforts have focused on studying anti-HIV drugs in infants, children, adolescents, non-pregnant adults, and pregnant women, with specific interest and expertise in maternal-fetal clinical pharmacology, therapeutic drug monitoring of antiretrovirals, antiretroviral pharmacogenomics, and penetration of antiretrovirals into the central nervous system. Dr. Best's research program includes an established GLP laboratory experienced in clinical pharmacology assay development and validation, and encompasses projects with key state-wide, national and international HIV/AIDS and pediatric pharmacology collaborative research networks, including the:

  • International Maternal Pediatric Adolescent AIDS Clinical Trials network (IMPAACT)
  • UCSD/Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego Pediatric Pharmacology Research Unit (PPRU)
  • California Collaborative Treatment Group (CCTG)
  • HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center (HNRC)

Fellowship Program Objectives:

The fellowship program is designed to provide extensive training in modern clinical pharmacology research techniques. Training in administrative and operational aspects of performing pediatric clinical pharmacology trials is incorporated into the program.

Coursework and training on:

  • Standard pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies in pediatric and adult patients
  • Pharmacokinetic drug interaction studies
  • Population pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies in pediatric and adult patients
  • Trial simulation techniques
  • Design and coordination of a pediatric clinical pharmacology trial
  • Clinical experience appropriate to candidate’s background
  • Laboratory experience in modern drug analysis techniques at the UCSD Pediatric Pharmacology Assay Laboratory
  • Didactic clinical pharmacology coursework
  • Teaching/presentation experience

Unique skills fellows will acquire during the program:

The fellow has the potential to learn a diverse array of laboratory techniques including gas chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, immunoassay, and clinical and research sample processing. Depending on projects, the fellow will learn to quantitatively measure drugs in many matrices, including plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, breast milk, urine, and dried blood spots.

The fellow will obtain experience in pediatric clinical trial design and pharmacology modeling approaches including standard and population pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, drug interaction assessments, and clinical trial simulations.

Time allocation: Two years

The time devoted to research and clinical activities will be designed to complement the previous experiences of the candidate and accomplish the goals of the fellowship. Over the two-year training period, the fellow will spend 18 months at UCSD and 6 months at the pharmaceutical industry partner company.