Exceptional St. John’s Pharmaceutical Students Honored for Cancer Research

Two doctoral candidates at St. John’s University’s College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences won national student awards recently at the 2024 Annual Meeting of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) in Salt Lake City, UT.

Akanksha Patel, pursuing a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences with a specialty in Industrial Pharmacy, received the Best Abstract award from the AAPS, and the Student Research Award from the American Association of Indian Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAiPS) during this year’s session. The AAiPS is a prominent professional organization that serves Indian pharmaceutical scientists in the United States. Established in 1999, AAiPS has played a vital role in uniting pharmaceutical researchers, manufacturing and quality professionals, pharmacy practitioners, and academicians. The organization is deeply committed to fostering the growth of young scientists and students by offering mentoring programs, scholarships, and grants.

The AAPS is a professional, scientific organization of approximately 7,000 individual members and more than 10,000 actively participating stakeholders in academia, industry, government, and other pharmaceutical, science-related, research institutes worldwide. Its mission is to advance the capacity of pharmaceutical scientists to develop products and therapies that improve global health.

“My journey in pharmaceutical sciences is marked by unwavering dedication, relentless curiosity, and a passion for advancing drug delivery systems to tackle some of the most challenging cancers,” said Akanksha, who was recognized for her continuing work to advance research in innovative drug delivery systems, with a focus on targeted therapies for cancer.

Henis J. Patel, a Ph.D. candidate in Pharmaceutical Sciences specializing in Industrial Pharmacy, won the Graduate Student Award sponsored by the International Pharmaceutical Excipient Council (IPEC) of the Americas Foundation. He has been invited to present his research at the AAPS Annual Meeting. This scholarship recognizes excellence in graduate-level research in pharmaceutical excipients, which are inactive ingredients in drug formulations. IPEC-Americas is a US trade association whose members include excipient producers, distributors, finished drug manufacturers, and companies and individuals that supply other specialized services to industry segments. More than 80 US companies are IPEC-Americas members. IPEC-Americas brings together diverse stakeholders that share a common objective: safe and effective production and use of excipients. 

Henis was acknowledged for his outstanding graduate research that focuses on Sotorasib, an inhibitor recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treating non-small cell lung cancer. “Receiving the IPEC Graduate Student Award is a significant honor that validates my research in pharmaceutical excipients and their role in innovative drug delivery systems,” he said. “This recognition motivates me to continue pushing the boundaries of formulation science, and provides a platform to share my work with a broader scientific community. It inspires me to continue pursuing excellence in pharmaceutical research and innovation, driving forward solutions that enhance drug efficacy and patient outcomes. I am confident that this award will open new opportunities for collaboration and contribute meaningfully to my career growth in pharmaceutical research and development.”

Both students credited St. John’s with helping them achieve their research and career goals.

“Balancing research with teaching responsibilities, I took on the roles of teaching fellow and graduate assistant in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. These roles allowed me to teach Pharm.D. and Nursing students various labs based on pharmacy practice, formulation design, and microbiology,” Akanksha said. “I found immense fulfillment in instilling Good Laboratory Practices and guiding students in formulation development—experiences that deepened my commitment to education and research excellence. I am also profoundly grateful to the department for their financial assistance, which made these opportunities possible.”

Henis said, “My education at St. John’s has shaped my research career. The supportive environment, access to state-of-the-art facilities, and mentorship from experienced faculty have enabled me to explore cutting-edge technologies in pharmaceutical sciences. The emphasis on innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration has fostered my technical skills and personal growth.”

Ketankumar D. Patel, Ph.D., Associate Professor, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, serves as a faculty member and mentor to both students. “Henis has demonstrated exceptional dedication in the field of cancer nanotechnology,” he said. “This award is a well-deserved recognition of his tireless efforts and contributions toward developing advanced, patient-centric dosage forms, specifically for lung cancer patients.”

Dr. Patel continued, “Akanksha joined St. John’s University with a strong passion and determination to develop next-generation therapeutics for drug-resistant cancer. As one of the most accomplished graduate students, she has garnered recognition for her innovative research, which has resulted in publications and prestigious awards, particularly lung and colon cancer.”