The American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) has announced that it has awarded the Dale E. Wurster Research Award in Pharmaceutics to UConn School of Pharmacy’s professor Diane Burgess. Dr. Burgess is currently the School’s Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor of Pharmaceutics and Pfizer Distinguished Chair in Pharmaceutical Technology.

“Dr. Burgess’ research is focused on formulation science, drug delivery and manufacturing science of complex parenterals as well as implantable biosensors for metabolic monitoring,” noted today’s AAPS press release. “Research efforts covers the basic science of interfacial chemistry, the application of this in preformulation and formulation development, the development of novel drug delivery systems, and the in vitro and in vivo testing of these drug delivery systems including investigation of biopharmaceutics and pharmacodynamics. Her research is applied to solving problems with respect to drug and gene delivery and focuses on microsphere, nanoparticle, liposome, emulsion, hydrogel and in situ forming delivery systems. In the area of implantable biosensors, efforts are focused on biocompatible coatings to prevent the foreign body reaction that would otherwise result in loss of sensor sensitivity and eventual sensor failure.”

According to colleague Vladimir Torchillin, Ph.D, “Professor Burgess’ outstanding research achievements have significantly and meaningfully advanced pharmaceutics, the profession, and the industry.”

The AAPS Dale E. Wurster Research Award in Pharmaceutics, endowed in part by Pfizer and The University of Iowa College of Pharmacy and the University of Iowa Pharmaceuticals (UIP), recognizes individuals who have made significant research contributions to the pharmaceutical sciences in the specific field of pharmaceutics. For purposes of this award, pharmaceutics is broadly defined to encompass such research areas as physical pharmacy, preformulation, dosage form design, formulations, biopharmaceutics, and pharmacokinetics.