Yousuf Mohammed

Dr Yousuf Mohammed completed his PhD in pharmaceutics and skin drug delivery under the guidance of Associate prof Heather Benson, Prof Michael Roberts and Associate prof Tarl Prow. He has been working within the field of skin delivery at the Therapeutics Research Centre, University of Queensland - School of Medicine since 2012. His current research includes managing a five-year (2018-2023) US FDA funded project titled Bioequivalence of Topical products: Elucidating the Thermodynamic and Functional Characteristics of Compositionally Different Topical Formulations as a Principle Investigator and managing a four-year (2019-2023) US FDA funded project titled Bioequivalence of Topical products: Elucidating the sensorial and functional characteristics of Topical Formulations as a Principle Investigator. He is also currently managing the five-year project (2014-2019) Characterization of Critical Quality Attributes for Semisolid Topical Drug Products as a Co-investigator. These projects aims to improve current regulatory guidelines for topical and transdermal semisolid products in its second year of No Cost Extension. Over the last 6 years, his work has been focused on skin penetration and skin toxicology of drugs and xenobiotics including nanoparticulate materials.

Working on the US FDA project over the last two years has given an opportunity to showcase real world translational research. The work Yousuf and team has done has led to FDA guidance for Acyclovir creams which highlight the novel methods developed as a part of the work carried out locally in Brisbane in between TRI and other labs in the St Lucia campus.

Role of dispensers on physicochemical properties of the cream when dispensed. Difference in product performance upon dispensing from different dispensers was first identified and reported by our group and the change in cream product guidance based on this work is one of the biggest achievements. Our work over the last couple of years and specifically in the current year (July 2016- June 2017) has also identified skin and drug properties that determine product performance. Of special mention is our work on testing IVPT performance with different doses, different skin membrane types and different sampling protocols and different study durations. This a part of grant’s Aim 3 where we proposed to develop ideal IVPT conditions based on careful literature review as well as clearly thought-out experiments to investigate each parameter that can effect a products performance. Our IVPT studies have also included developing in-use product application and testing protocols and have assessed direct comparisons of CQAs with product performance.

Locally within the Australian topical and consumer product regulatory scene, Dr Mohammed’s work published in the Journal of Investigative dermatology has helped dispel false alarms regarding the safety and toxicity of ZnO nanoparticles. The story was captured by numerous (>400) printed and online media articles. This work, coming out at the peak of summer in Australia led to improved consumer confidence regarding better sun protection habits.