Team Member

Biography

Laura Russell previously completed her Bachelor of Science at The University of Western Ontario, graduating with a double major in Medical Sciences and French Studies. She is currently a PhD candidate under the supervision of Dr. Richard Kim in the division of Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Western Ontario. Her research focuses on investigating the effects of genetic variation in liver membrane-bound transport proteins (OATPs, NTCP) on bile acid and drug disposition. The first objective of her research is to identify novel genetic variants that contribute to altered disposition of bile acids and drugs including statins. The second objective of her research is to identify circulating biomarkers that reflect drug transporter function, in order to better predict drug disposition in patients and reduce inter-individual variation in drug response. In the future, Laura hopes to pursue a career in research and pharmacy with the goal of improving patient care.