Director, Formulations R&D, Pharmaceutical Sciences
Gita Shankar, Ph.D., has an extensive background in pharmaceutics, biochemistry, polymer chemistry, and drug delivery. At SRI, she directs early stage preformulation of discovery compounds, preclinical formulation, and clinical product development for small molecules and biologics.
Shankar has supervised formulation development of drug product programs for more than 20 Investigational New Drug (IND) candidates and is an inventor on five oral formulation patents. One of her inventions for oral formulation of vancomycin has been successfully licensed for development as a planned treatment of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
She holds an Exemptee Certificate as a Manufacturer of Clinical Drugs, issued by the California Pharmacy Board. She is a member of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Controlled Release Society and a nominated member of Radiation Research Society.
Shankar received her Ph.D. in polymer chemistry and drug delivery from the Center for Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, India. In addition, she holds a second Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology from Oregon Health Sciences University.
Recent publications
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Monocyte Chemotactic Protein-Induced Protein 1 and 4 Form a Complex but Act Independently in Regulation of Interleukin-6 mRNA Degradation
Here we report that MCPIP1 interacts with MCPIP4 to form a protein complex but they act independently in regulation of IL-6 mRNA degradation.
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SR-2P vaginal microbicide gel provides protection against herpes simplex virus 2 when administered as a combined prophylactic and postexposure therapeutic
Here, we show that a dose of SR-2P administered 24 h prior to infection provides some protection against the virus, but to a lesser degree than SR-2P administered either once a day for 2 days or 1 h prior to infection.
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Formulation Approaches to Improving the Delivery of an Antiviral Drug with Activity against Seasonal Flu
The main objective of the present study was to develop formulations of noscapine hydrochloride hydrate with enhanced solubility and bioavailability using co-solvent- and cyclodextrin-based approaches.
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Tablet formulation of an active pharmaceutical ingredient with a sticking and filming problem: direct compression and dry granulation evaluations
Direct compression and dry granulation tableting techniques were evaluated using factorial experimental design.
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Formulation Development and Evaluation of Innovative Two-Polymer (SR-2P) Bioadhesive Vaginal Gel
The main objective of this investigation was to study the feasibility of developing a vaginal bioadhesive microbicide using a SRI’s proprietary two-polymer gel platform (SR-2P).
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Prophylactic treatment with a novel bioadhesive gel formulation containing aciclovir and tenofovir protects from HSV-2 infection
Over-the-counter access to an inexpensive, effective topical microbicide could reduce the transmission of HIV and would increase women’s control over their health and eliminate the need to obtain their partners’ consent for prophylaxis.