Dr. Joseph D. Ma

Clinical Pharmacology

Joseph D. Ma, Pharm.D.

Assistant Professor of Clinical Pharmacy
Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Telephone: (858) 822-3787
Email: joema@ucsd.edu

Research Summary:

Dr. Ma's research interests are in examining the validity and utility of methods used to evaluate the clinical significance of drug-drug and drug-transporter interactions. Dr. Ma is also interesting in examining inter- and intra-individual pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic variability in special populations. Specifically, he is involved in phase I clinical trial development and execution in cancer patients at the UCSD Moores Cancer Center.
He is Co-Investigator of an educational campaign project (Pharmacogenomics Education Program™) that strives to educate health care professionals and students about pharmacogenomic concepts and clinical applications.

Academic Achievements

Education: B.S. in Biology (1998) UCI; Pharm.D. (2002) UCSF; Fellowship in clinical pharmacology from (2002-2004) Bassett Healthcare, Cooperstown, NY.
Awards and Honors: NIDA Intramural Research Training Award, NIH (1997, 1998); UCSD SSPPS 3rd year Class Faculty Teaching Award (2008).
Leadership Experience: Clinical Trial Associate, Early Development, Amgen, Inc. (2004-2007); Meeting Program Committee Member, ACCP Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX, (2009); Co-chair, Symposium: Innovations and Controversies in Quantifying Drug-Drug Interactions, ACCP Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX, (2009).

Teaching

* Pharmacy Therapeutics (SPPS 212B).
* Drug Discovery, Development, & Commercialization (SPPS273/BIOM267 /PHARM210/MGT217250).
* Pharmacy Practice (SPPS 201, 202, 203).

Key Contributions to Pharmaceutical Sciences

* Evaluated accuracy and validity of in vivo cytochrome P450 (CYP) and P-glycoprotein phenotyping methods and probe drugs.
* Established novel course elective for pharmacy, medical, graduate, and business students encompassing areas of drug discovery, development, and commercialization.
* Clinical research in in vivo phenotyping studies, methodology evaluation, and utility of limited sampling strategies.

Selected Recent Publications

(PubMed List)
Ma et al. (2004). Genetic polymorphisms of cytochrome P450 enzymes and the effect on interindividual, pharmacokinetic variability in extensive metabolizers. J Clin Pharmacol 44:447-456
Ma et al. (2006). Duration of pleconaril effect on cytochrome P450 3A activity in healthy adults using the oral biomarker midazolam. Drug Metab Dispos 34:783-785.
Ma et al. (2008). Quantitative assessment of hepatic blood flow using intravenous indocyanine green. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 64:1133-1134.
Ma et al. (2009). Effect of intravenous flumazenil on oral midazolam pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics for use as a cytochrome P450 3A probe. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther 47:111-119.
Ma JD et al. (2010). Evaluation of in vivo P-glycoprotein probes: A need for validation. Clin Pharmacokinet. 49:223-37

Potential Collaborative Programs with the Pharmaceutical Industry

* Experience in private and public sector in clinical trial operations, management, and execution.
* Experience in Proof of concept, phase I (FIH), and drug-drug interaction studies.
* Developing novel teaching methods for health care professionals encompassing areas of drug discovery, development, and commercialization.