Fran Aweeka, PharmD

Professor
Vice Chair of Research
Phone: +1 415 476-1148
Fax: +1 415 476-0307

Affiliations

What I do

I am a clinical scientist and professor. My primary areas of interest include the pharmacology of drugs for HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis. I direct a laboratory, Drug Research Unit, that supports this research and the research of other UCSF investigators and researchers at other national and international institutions. I am also involved in the doctor of pharmacy degree program; I serve as codirector of the Inquiry component for our School’s newest curriculum and cochair the pharmaceutical sciences pathway. I also mentor students interested in pharmacology or international research.

Departmental research area

My research expertise

pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics of drugs used for HIV, malaria or tuberculosis, effective use of life-saving medications for vulnerable populations in Africa, novel treatments for HIV and HIV-associated inflammation in domestic populations

Clinical expertise

malaria and HIV co-infection, anti-viral drugs, anti-malarial drugs

Professional background

Biography

Dr. Aweeka has >25 years of experience as a clinical pharmacologist focusing on HIV, malaria and tuberculosis treatments. She is interested in deciphering pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) distinctions for vulnerable populations and investigating clinically relevant drug-drug interactions in patients residing in either resource replete or resource limited settings. The Drug Research Unit (DRU, also known as the Global Health Pharmacology Laboratory) for which Dr. Aweeka serves as Director, is recognized for state of the art analytical techniques for quantification of HIV, malaria, TB and oncology drugs in plasma, dried blood spots or within target cells or tissues and these methods are used to support numerous research investigations. Dr. Aweeka serves as PI on an NIH RO1 on PK/PD of malaria and antiretroviral drugs in HIV co-infected children and women in Uganda. The DRU serves as a Pharmacology Core for DAIDS programs; e.g. AIDS Clinical Trials Group and the Center for AIDS Research (supporting >30 NIH studies). Dr. Aweeka has completed the Mentor Development Program and is willing to mentor faculty, fellows, residents and students interested in an academic research career.

Research keywords

  • Malaria, Falciparum
  • Lopinavir
  • Benzoxazines
  • HIV Protease Inhibitors
  • Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic
  • Antimalarials
  • Nevirapine
  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • Ethanolamines
  • drug interactions
  • Quinolines
  • Ritonavir
  • Artemisinins
  • malaria
  • Fluorenes