Dr Harendra Parekh
Dr

Harendra Parekh

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 61887

Background

Harendra's research interests are in the area of synthetic pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmaceutics as applied to nano-carriers, and advanced non-viral drug/gene delivery system design, synthesis and evaluation. His team at PACE have been instrumental in developing highly versatile micro- & nanobubble formulations, which when used in-conjuction with ultrasound, pave the way for improved rates of 'on-demand' drug delivery and release in target tissue. Harendra also has a keen interest in developing bioresponsive drug/gene delivery systems with current engagement with pharma partners, globally, to commercialise his platforms. Separately, Dr Parekh has been developing a program to reformulate TCMs, in collaboration with researchers at a leading Chinese research institute; the outcomes of this work was aired across Asia in a BBC World News story, and showcased (TV & radio) by the Australian Academy of Science, National Touring Series.

BScPharm(Hon I), PhD (Nottingham)

Harendra completed his BSc in pharmacy (UK) and registered as a Pharmacist in 1998. He went onto undertake his PhD in Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Nottingham in the same year. Under the supervision of Dr B. Kellam and Dr. S. R. Chhabra he investigated the development of novel linkers for solid phase peptide and glycopeptide synthesis. Harendra was awarded his PhD in 2002, and after a short time working in community pharmacy in the UK relocated to Australia and took up a position as research officer in the School of Chemistry at UQ. He continues to be a member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of GB and is also registered with the AHPRA (pharmacist) in QLD.

During his post-doctoral tenure he explored the area of non-viral gene delivery via chemical synthesis of novel dendrimeric systems. Emphasis was on the treatment of age-related macular degeneration and in 2004 he received Uniquest's Trailblazer Prize for commercialisation potential. In May 2005 Dr Parekh was appointed Lecturer within the School of Pharmacy, and promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2011. He also holds adjunct positions at Manipal University (India), and the National University of Singapore's Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Institute (NNI).

Availability

Dr Harendra Parekh is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Chemical Sciences Medicinal and biomolecular chemistry Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), University of Portsmouth
  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Nottingham

Research impacts

Dr Parekh is engaged directly with leading clinicians/physicians across the fields of ophthalomology, ENT, cancer and endocrinology. In addition Dr Parekh engages with pharma industry partners, globally, to translate his platforms from the bench-to-bedside, through a highly multi-disciplinary team approach.

Dr Parekh's Nanobubble platform has received media attention, having been aired across Australia.

Search Professor Harendra Parekh’s works on UQ eSpace

98 works between 2001 and 2024
All (98) Journal Article (71) Book Chapter (11) Conference Publication (12) Book (1) Other Outputs (3)

1 - 20 of 98 works

2024

Journal Article

Exploring peptide dendrimers for intestinal lymphatic targeting: formulation and evaluation of peptide dendrimer conjugated liposomes for enhancing the oral bioavailability of Asenapine maleate

Shreya, Ajjappla Basavaraj, Pandey, Abhijeet, Kulkarni, Sanjay, Bhaskar, K Vijaya, Parekh, Harendra S. and Mutalik, Srinivas (2024). Exploring peptide dendrimers for intestinal lymphatic targeting: formulation and evaluation of peptide dendrimer conjugated liposomes for enhancing the oral bioavailability of Asenapine maleate. Scientific Reports, 14 (1) 28225, 1-22. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-79372-5

Exploring peptide dendrimers for intestinal lymphatic targeting: formulation and evaluation of peptide dendrimer conjugated liposomes for enhancing the oral bioavailability of Asenapine maleate

2024

Journal Article

Phase transforming in situ gels for sustained and controlled transmucosal drug delivery via the intravaginal route

Thapa, Ritu, Pandey, Preeti, Parat, Marie-Odile, Gurung, Shila and Parekh, Harendra S. (2024). Phase transforming in situ gels for sustained and controlled transmucosal drug delivery via the intravaginal route. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 655 124054, 1-15. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2024.124054

Phase transforming in situ gels for sustained and controlled transmucosal drug delivery via the intravaginal route

2024

Book Chapter

Integration of dendrimer-based delivery technologies with computational pharmaceutics and their potential in the era of nanomedicine

Tupally, Karnaker Reddy, Seal, Prasenjit, Pandey, Preeti, Lohman, Rink-Jan, Smith, Sean, Ouyang, Defang and Parekh, Haredra (2024). Integration of dendrimer-based delivery technologies with computational pharmaceutics and their potential in the era of nanomedicine. Exploring Computational Pharmaceutics - AI and Modeling in Pharma 4.0. (pp. 328-378) edited by Defang Ouyang. Hoboken, NJ, United States: Wiley. doi: 10.1002/9781119987260.ch10

Integration of dendrimer-based delivery technologies with computational pharmaceutics and their potential in the era of nanomedicine

2024

Journal Article

Intranasal delivery of imaging agents to the brain

Almahmoud, Abdallah, Parekh, Harendra S., Paterson, Brett M., Tupally, Karnaker Reddy and Vegh, Viktor (2024). Intranasal delivery of imaging agents to the brain. Theranostics, 14 (13), 5022-5101. doi: 10.7150/thno.98473

Intranasal delivery of imaging agents to the brain

2023

Journal Article

Ameliorative anticancer effect of dendrimeric peptide modified liposomes of letrozole: n vitro and in vivo performance evaluations

Hegde, Aswathi R., Paul, Milan, Kumbham, Soniya, Roy, Amrita Arup, Ahmad, Sheikh F., Parekh, Harendra, Biswas, Swati and Mutalik, Srinivas (2023). Ameliorative anticancer effect of dendrimeric peptide modified liposomes of letrozole: n vitro and in vivo performance evaluations. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 648 123582, 1-22. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2023.123582

Ameliorative anticancer effect of dendrimeric peptide modified liposomes of letrozole: n vitro and in vivo performance evaluations

2023

Journal Article

Opportunities for bioactive glass in gastrointestinal conditions: a review of production methodologies, morphology, composition, and performance

Harrop, Angus C. F., Tupally, Karnaker R., Pandey, Preeti and Parekh, Harendra S. (2023). Opportunities for bioactive glass in gastrointestinal conditions: a review of production methodologies, morphology, composition, and performance. Molecular Pharmaceutics, 20 (12), 5954-5980. doi: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.3c00188

Opportunities for bioactive glass in gastrointestinal conditions: a review of production methodologies, morphology, composition, and performance

2023

Journal Article

Anti-CD4 antibody and dendrimeric peptide based targeted nano-liposomal dual drug formulation for the treatment of HIV infection

Mutalik, Sadhana P., Gaikwad, Shraddha Y., Fernandes, Gasper, More, Ashwini, Kulkarni, Sanjay, Fayaz, Shaik Mohammad Abdul, Tupally, Karnaker, Parekh, Harendra S., Kulkarni, Smita, Mukherjee, Anupam and Mutalik, Srinivas (2023). Anti-CD4 antibody and dendrimeric peptide based targeted nano-liposomal dual drug formulation for the treatment of HIV infection. Life Sciences, 334 122226, 1-17. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122226

Anti-CD4 antibody and dendrimeric peptide based targeted nano-liposomal dual drug formulation for the treatment of HIV infection

2023

Journal Article

Porous silicon embedded in a thermoresponsive hydrogel for intranasal delivery of lipophilic drugs to treat rhinosinusitis

Bakshi, Shrishty, Pandey, Preeti, Mohammed, Yousuf, Wang, Joanna, Sailor, Michael J., Popat, Amirali, Parekh, Harendra S. and Kumeria, Tushar (2023). Porous silicon embedded in a thermoresponsive hydrogel for intranasal delivery of lipophilic drugs to treat rhinosinusitis. Journal of Controlled Release, 363, 452-463. doi: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.09.045

Porous silicon embedded in a thermoresponsive hydrogel for intranasal delivery of lipophilic drugs to treat rhinosinusitis

2023

Conference Publication

Bivalent kappa-selective opioid peptides with enhanced metabolic stability and potency

Saifuddin, D., Lohman, R.-J., Tupally, K., Parekh, H. and Cabot, P. (2023). Bivalent kappa-selective opioid peptides with enhanced metabolic stability and potency. 81st FIP World Congress Of Pharmacy And Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 24-28 September 2023. PKP Publishing.

Bivalent kappa-selective opioid peptides with enhanced metabolic stability and potency

2023

Journal Article

Design and development of novel, short, stable dynorphin-based opioid agonists for safer analgesic therapy

Lohman, Rink-Jan, Tupally, Karnaker Reddy, Kandale, Ajit, Cabot, Peter J and Parekh, Harendra S (2023). Design and development of novel, short, stable dynorphin-based opioid agonists for safer analgesic therapy. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 14 1150313, 1150313-14. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1150313

Design and development of novel, short, stable dynorphin-based opioid agonists for safer analgesic therapy

2023

Journal Article

A systematic review of ultrasound-mediated drug delivery to the eye and critical insights to facilitate a timely path to the clinic

Rad, Isaac J., Chapman, Luke, Tupally, Karnaker Reddy, Veidt, Martin, Al-Sadiq, Hussain, Sullivan, Robert and Parekh, Harendra S (2023). A systematic review of ultrasound-mediated drug delivery to the eye and critical insights to facilitate a timely path to the clinic. Theranostics, 13 (11), 3582-3638. doi: 10.7150/thno.82884

A systematic review of ultrasound-mediated drug delivery to the eye and critical insights to facilitate a timely path to the clinic

2022

Journal Article

Design and development of novel, short, stable dynorphin-based opioid agonists for safer analgesic therapy

Lohman, Rink-Jan, Tupally, Karnaker Reddy, Kandale, Ajit, Cabot, Peter J. and Parekh, Harendra S. (2022). Design and development of novel, short, stable dynorphin-based opioid agonists for safer analgesic therapy. British Journal of Pharmacology, 180 (1), 129-129. doi: 10.1111/bph.15862

Design and development of novel, short, stable dynorphin-based opioid agonists for safer analgesic therapy

2022

Journal Article

Fabrication and Characterization of Clozapine Nanoemulsion Sol–Gel for Intranasal Administration

Tan, Madeleine S. A., Pandey, Preeti, Lohman, Rink-Jan, Falconer, James R., Siskind, Dan J. and Parekh, Harendra S. (2022). Fabrication and Characterization of Clozapine Nanoemulsion Sol–Gel for Intranasal Administration. Molecular Pharmaceutics, 19 (11), 4055-4066. doi: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.2c00513

Fabrication and Characterization of Clozapine Nanoemulsion Sol–Gel for Intranasal Administration

2022

Journal Article

Application of sol–gels for treatment of gynaecological conditions—physiological perspectives and emerging concepts in intravaginal drug delivery

Thapa, Ritu, Gurung, Shila, Parat, Marie-Odile, Parekh, Harendra S. and Pandey, Preeti (2022). Application of sol–gels for treatment of gynaecological conditions—physiological perspectives and emerging concepts in intravaginal drug delivery. Gels, 8 (2) 99, 99. doi: 10.3390/gels8020099

Application of sol–gels for treatment of gynaecological conditions—physiological perspectives and emerging concepts in intravaginal drug delivery

2022

Journal Article

Clozapine-encapsulated binary mixed micelles in thermosensitive sol–gels for intranasal administration

Tan, Madeleine S. A., Pandey, Preeti, Falconer, James R., Siskind, Dan J., Balmanno, Alexandra and Parekh, Harendra S. (2022). Clozapine-encapsulated binary mixed micelles in thermosensitive sol–gels for intranasal administration. Gels, 8 (1) 38, 38. doi: 10.3390/gels8010038

Clozapine-encapsulated binary mixed micelles in thermosensitive sol–gels for intranasal administration

2022

Journal Article

Fractional factorial design study for the extraction of cannabinoids from CBD-dominant cannabis flowers by supercritical carbon dioxide

Qamar, Sadia, Torres, Yady J. M., Parekh, Harendra S. and Falconer, James Robert (2022). Fractional factorial design study for the extraction of cannabinoids from CBD-dominant cannabis flowers by supercritical carbon dioxide. Processes, 10 (1) 93, 93. doi: 10.3390/pr10010093

Fractional factorial design study for the extraction of cannabinoids from CBD-dominant cannabis flowers by supercritical carbon dioxide

2022

Journal Article

Multi-physics study of acoustofluidic delivery agents' clustering behavior

AlSadiq, Hussain, Tupally, Karnaker Reddy, Vogel, Robert, Parekh, Harendra S. and Veidt, Martin (2022). Multi-physics study of acoustofluidic delivery agents' clustering behavior. Physics in Medicine and Biology, 67 (1) 015002, 015002. doi: 10.1088/1361-6560/ac4666

Multi-physics study of acoustofluidic delivery agents' clustering behavior

2021

Conference Publication

Thermosensitive nanoemulsion-based Sol-Gel of Clozapine for nose-to-brain delivery

Tan, Madeleine S.A., Pandey, Preeti, Falconer, James R., Siskind, Dan J. and Parekh, Harendra S. (2021). Thermosensitive nanoemulsion-based Sol-Gel of Clozapine for nose-to-brain delivery. Micro and Nanoparticles in Drug and Vaccine Delivery Symposium, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 3 December 2021.

Thermosensitive nanoemulsion-based Sol-Gel of Clozapine for nose-to-brain delivery

2021

Conference Publication

Nanoemulsion-based sol-gel of Clozapine for nose-to-brain delivery

Tan, Madeleine S. A., Pandey, Preeti, Falconer, James R., Siskind, Dan J. and Parekh, Harendra S. (2021). Nanoemulsion-based sol-gel of Clozapine for nose-to-brain delivery. Drug Delivery Australia Virtual Meeting: Advanced Materials in Drug Delivery, Online, 18 - 19 November 2021.

Nanoemulsion-based sol-gel of Clozapine for nose-to-brain delivery

2021

Journal Article

Effects of ethanol on the supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of cannabinoids from near equimolar (THC and CBD balanced) cannabis flower

Qamar, Sadia, Torres, Yady J. M., Parekh, Harendra S. and Falconer, James Robert (2021). Effects of ethanol on the supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of cannabinoids from near equimolar (THC and CBD balanced) cannabis flower. Separations, 8 (9) 154, 154. doi: 10.3390/separations8090154

Effects of ethanol on the supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of cannabinoids from near equimolar (THC and CBD balanced) cannabis flower

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2028
    Developing a universal direct acting antiviral nasal spray against multiple respiratory viruses (NHMRC Ideas Grant administered via QUT)
    Queensland University of Technology
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2026
    Intranasal delivery of clozapine to reduce side-effects: The preclinical evidence
    NHMRC IDEAS Grants
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2028
    ARC Training Centre for Environmental and Agricultural Solutions to Antimicrobial Resistance (ARC CEA-StAR)
    ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centres
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2022 - 2024
    Formulation of emtricitabine-infused sol-gel and in vivo evaluation of brain distribution a novel therapeutic strategy to improve antiretroviral drug delivery to the brain
    Australian Centre for HIV and Hepatitis Virology Research (ACH4)
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2023
    Development, optimisation and evaluation of sol-gel formulations for nose-to-brain delivery
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2021
    Sol-Gels for nasal CBD delivery for COVID
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2018
    Disulfide bond containing amino acids
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2016
    Establishing a High-Throughput, Microwave-Assisted Automated Peptide Synthesis Facility at PACE
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2015
    The assessment of mitochondrial oxygen consumption and cytoplasmic glycolysis in cells to identify and characterize new therapeutic targets for diseases
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2012
    Development of nanoparticle mucosal delivery systems for siRNA-based cancer therapies
    Cancer Council Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2010
    UQ Travel Awards Category 2 - Dr Harendra PAREKH
    UQ Travel Grants Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2010
    Analytical instrumentation enabling rapid compound separation and chemical structure analysis via mass fingerprinting
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2011
    Complexation and Cellular Uptake of Genes with Novel Peptide-Based Dendrimers: A Fundamental Joint Study involving Synthesis, Optical Single-Molecule Spectroscopy and Simulations
    Go8 Australia - Germany Joint Research Co-operation Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2008
    Localisation of sortilin in the developing retina: background for our model system for antibody targeted drug delivery to CNS tissue
    Pharmaceutical Society of Australia
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2009
    Non-viral vectors for targeted delivery of RNAi nucleotides to cervical cancers
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2007
    Shimadzu Prominence Gradient HPLC System
    Cancer Bequest Fund
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2006
    Cholesterol-based Dendrimers in Non-viral Gene Therapy
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant

Availability

Dr Harendra Parekh is:
Available for supervision

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Available projects

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Dr Harendra Parekh directly for media enquiries about:

  • Bubble liposomes
  • Cancer - prostate
  • Dendrimers
  • Dendrosomes
  • Diabetes
  • Gene delivery systems - in pharmacy
  • Liposomes - bubble
  • Non-viral gene delivery systems in pharmacy
  • Pharmacy
  • Prostate cancer
  • siRNA delivery - pharmacy

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