Dr Harendra Parekh
Dr

Harendra Parekh

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 61887

Background

Harendra's research interests span pharmaceutical medicinal chemistry and pharmaceutics as applied to innovative formulation & device co-development, and advanced non-viral, bioresponsive drug/gene delivery system design, synthesis and evaluation. His team at the School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences have been instrumental in developing highly innovative and versatile platform delivery systems: for direct, nose-to-brain delivery of therapeutics with their Sol-Gel platform; a US-patented bioresponsive linker technology for stabilisation of peptide therapeutics in their natural conformation, transforming endogenous molecules into safe & effective medicines; engineering bioresponsive lipid nanoparticles (bLNPs) with tissue targeting and a unique gene 'catch-&-release' feature; 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 e.g. for ocular indications. Harendra actively engages with pharma industry executives, and investors, globally, to showcase his array of disruptive platforms designed with clinical translation front and centre of all research endeavours.

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.

Dr Parekh was appointed to a teaching and research role in the School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2005. He is Scientific Founder & Chief Research Officer of two start-up companies that hold his platform technologies at their core (www.preveceutical.com; www.biogenetherapeutics.com). He also holds an adjunct-Faculty position at Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal University (India).

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

99 works between 2001 and 2025
All (99) Journal Article (72) Book Chapter (11) Conference Publication (12) Book (1) Other Outputs (3)

21 - 40 of 99 works

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

2021

Conference Publication

Shell properties of a new acoustofluidic delivery agent

AL-Sadiq, H. A., Tupally, K. R., Parekh, H S. and M Veidt, M. (2021). Shell properties of a new acoustofluidic delivery agent. EPSM 2020, Engineering and Physical Sciences in Medicine, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 28-29 October 2020. Dordrecht, Netherlands: Springer Netherlands.

Shell properties of a new acoustofluidic delivery agent

2021

Journal Article

Impact of different emollient esters on body emulsions: sensory, physicochemical, and biometrological characterization

Fabbron-Appas, Catherine Tolomei, Pandey, Preeti, Parekh, Harendra S., Sales, Caroline Cianga, Duque, Marcelo Dutra, Andreo-Filho, Newton, Lopes, Patricia Santos, de Noronha, Regina Lucia F. and Leite-Silva, Vania Rodrigues (2021). Impact of different emollient esters on body emulsions: sensory, physicochemical, and biometrological characterization. Journal of Sensory Studies, 36 (4) e12660. doi: 10.1111/joss.12660

Impact of different emollient esters on body emulsions: sensory, physicochemical, and biometrological characterization

2021

Conference Publication

Thermosensitive Micellar Hydrogels of Clozapine for Nose-to-Brain Delivery

Tan, Madeleine SA, Pandey, Preeti, Balmanno, Alexandra, Falconer, James R., Siskind, Dan J. and Parekh, Harendra S. (2021). Thermosensitive Micellar Hydrogels of Clozapine for Nose-to-Brain Delivery. 2021 CRS Virtual Annual Meeting, Mount Laurel, NJ United States, 25-29 July 2021 .

Thermosensitive Micellar Hydrogels of Clozapine for Nose-to-Brain Delivery

2021

Other Outputs

Peptides and uses thereof

Parekh, Harendra, Tupally, Karnaker, Cabot, Peter and Kandale, Ajit (2021). Peptides and uses thereof. 2021300202.

Peptides and uses thereof

2021

Conference Publication

Novel opioid peptides as allosteric modulators of nociception

Saifuddin, Danial, Lohman, Rink-Jan, Tupally, Karnaker Reddy, Parekh, Harendra S. and Cabot, Peter J. (2021). Novel opioid peptides as allosteric modulators of nociception. ASMR medical research week: Queensland virtual symposium, Online, 9-10 June 2021.

Novel opioid peptides as allosteric modulators of nociception

2021

Journal Article

Development and optimization of supercritical fluid extraction setup leading to quantification of 11 cannabinoids derived from medicinal cannabis

Qamar, Sadia, Manrique, Yady J., Parekh, Harendra S. and Falconer, James R. (2021). Development and optimization of supercritical fluid extraction setup leading to quantification of 11 cannabinoids derived from medicinal cannabis. Biology, 10 (6) 481, 1-20. doi: 10.3390/biology10060481

Development and optimization of supercritical fluid extraction setup leading to quantification of 11 cannabinoids derived from medicinal cannabis

2021

Journal Article

Extraction of medicinal cannabinoids through supercritical carbon dioxide technologies: a review

Qamar, Sadia, Torres, Yady J.M., Parekh, Harendra S. and Falconer, James Robert (2021). Extraction of medicinal cannabinoids through supercritical carbon dioxide technologies: a review. Journal of Chromatography. B, Analytical Technologies in the Biomedical and Life Sciences, 1167 122581, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2021.122581

Extraction of medicinal cannabinoids through supercritical carbon dioxide technologies: a review

2021

Journal Article

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between clozapine and norclozapine serum levels and peripheral adverse drug reactions

Tan, Madeleine S. A., Honarparvar, Faraz, Falconer, James R., Parekh, Harendra S., Pandey, Preeti and Siskind, Dan J. (2021). A systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between clozapine and norclozapine serum levels and peripheral adverse drug reactions. Psychopharmacology, 238 (3), 615-637. doi: 10.1007/s00213-020-05746-y

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between clozapine and norclozapine serum levels and peripheral adverse drug reactions

2021

Journal Article

Shell properties and concentration stability of acoustofluidic delivery agents

Alsadiq, Hussain, Tupally, Karnaker, Vogel, Robert, Kokil, Ganesh, Parekh, Harendra S. and Veidt, Martin (2021). Shell properties and concentration stability of acoustofluidic delivery agents. Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine, 44 (1), 79-91. doi: 10.1007/s13246-020-00954-4

Shell properties and concentration stability of acoustofluidic delivery agents

2020

Journal Article

Evaluation of microalgae and cyanobacteria as potential sources of antimicrobial compounds

Alsenani, Faisal, Tupally, Karnaker R., Chua, Elvis T., Eltanahy, Eladl, Alsufyani, Hamed, Parekh, Harendra S. and Schenk, Peer M. (2020). Evaluation of microalgae and cyanobacteria as potential sources of antimicrobial compounds. Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, 28 (12), 1834-1841. doi: 10.1016/j.jsps.2020.11.010

Evaluation of microalgae and cyanobacteria as potential sources of antimicrobial compounds

2020

Conference Publication

Can monitoring clozapine and norclozapine levels reduce the occurrence of peripheral ADRs?

Tan, Madeleine S. A., Honarparvar, Faraz , Falconer, James R., Parekh, Harendra S., Pandey, Preeti and Siskind, Dan J. (2020). Can monitoring clozapine and norclozapine levels reduce the occurrence of peripheral ADRs?. ASCEPT-APSA Joint Virtual Scientific Meeting, Hamilton Central, QLD, Australia, 24-26 November 2020.

Can monitoring clozapine and norclozapine levels reduce the occurrence of peripheral ADRs?

2020

Conference Publication

Therapeutic drug monitoring as a tool for clozapine therapy in minimising peripheral ADRs

Tan, Madeleine , Honarparvar, Faraz , Falconer, James , Parekh, Harendra , Pandey, Preeti and Siskind, Dan (2020). Therapeutic drug monitoring as a tool for clozapine therapy in minimising peripheral ADRs. Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR) Queensland Post Graduate Students Virtual Scientific Symposium, Sydney, NSW Australia, 10-11 November 2020.

Therapeutic drug monitoring as a tool for clozapine therapy in minimising peripheral ADRs

2020

Journal Article

Surface-engineered nanoliposomes with lipidated and non-lipidated peptide-dendrimeric scaffold for efficient transdermal delivery of a therapeutic agent: Development, characterization, toxicological and preclinical performance analyses

Manikkath, Jyothsna, Parekh, Harendra S. and Mutalik, Srinivas (2020). Surface-engineered nanoliposomes with lipidated and non-lipidated peptide-dendrimeric scaffold for efficient transdermal delivery of a therapeutic agent: Development, characterization, toxicological and preclinical performance analyses. European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 156, 97-113. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2020.09.001

Surface-engineered nanoliposomes with lipidated and non-lipidated peptide-dendrimeric scaffold for efficient transdermal delivery of a therapeutic agent: Development, characterization, toxicological and preclinical performance analyses

2020

Conference Publication

Development and optimization of clozapine-loaded PLGA nanoparticles for nose-to-brain delivery using supercritical fluid technology

Tan, Madeleine S. A. , Parekh, Harendra S., Pandey, Preeti , Siskind, Dan J. and Falconer, James R. (2020). Development and optimization of clozapine-loaded PLGA nanoparticles for nose-to-brain delivery using supercritical fluid technology. 7th FIP Pharmaceutical Sciences World Congress, The Hague, Netherlands, 4-6 October 2020.

Development and optimization of clozapine-loaded PLGA nanoparticles for nose-to-brain delivery using supercritical fluid technology

2020

Journal Article

Nose-to-brain delivery of antipsychotics using nanotechnology: a review

Tan, Madeleine S. A., Parekh, Harendra S., Pandey, Preeti, Siskind, Dan J. and Falconer, James R. (2020). Nose-to-brain delivery of antipsychotics using nanotechnology: a review. Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery, 17 (6) 17425247.2020.1762563, 839-853. doi: 10.1080/17425247.2020.1762563

Nose-to-brain delivery of antipsychotics using nanotechnology: a review

2020

Other Outputs

A cyclic peptide

Parekh, Harendra, Cabot, Peter, Tupally, Karnaker and Kandale, Ajit (2020). A cyclic peptide. 2020212659.

A cyclic peptide

2020

Other Outputs

A Cyclic Peptide

Parekh, Harendra, Cabot, Peter, Tupally, Karnaker and Kandale, Ajit (2020). A Cyclic Peptide. US-20220089646-A1.

A Cyclic Peptide

2020

Journal Article

Cell membrane penetration without pore formation: chameleonic properties of dendrimers in response to hydrophobic and hydrophilic environments

de Luca, Sergio, Seal, Prasenjit, Parekh, Harendra S., Tupally, Karnaker R. and Smith, Sean C. (2020). Cell membrane penetration without pore formation: chameleonic properties of dendrimers in response to hydrophobic and hydrophilic environments. Advanced Theory and Simulations, 3 (7) 1900152, 1900152. doi: 10.1002/adts.201900152

Cell membrane penetration without pore formation: chameleonic properties of dendrimers in response to hydrophobic and hydrophilic environments

2019

Journal Article

Nuts, cereals, seeds and legumes proteins derived emulsifiers as a source of plant protein beverages: a review

Qamar, Sadia, Manrique, Yady J., Parekh, Harendra and Falconer, James Robert (2019). Nuts, cereals, seeds and legumes proteins derived emulsifiers as a source of plant protein beverages: a review. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 60 (16), 1-21. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2019.1657062

Nuts, cereals, seeds and legumes proteins derived emulsifiers as a source of plant protein beverages: a review

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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