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)

81 - 98 of 98 works

2011

Journal Article

The effect of pH on PAMAM dendrimer-siRNA complexation - Endosomal considerations as determined by molecular dynamics simulation

Ouyang, Defang, Zhang, Hong, Parekh, Harendra and Smith, Sean C. (2011). The effect of pH on PAMAM dendrimer-siRNA complexation - Endosomal considerations as determined by molecular dynamics simulation. Biophysical Chemistry, 158 (2-3), 126-133. doi: 10.1016/j.bpc.2011.06.003

The effect of pH on PAMAM dendrimer-siRNA complexation - Endosomal considerations as determined by molecular dynamics simulation

2011

Journal Article

Low-generation asymmetric dendrimers exhibit minimal toxicity and effectively complex DNA

Shah, Neha, Steptoe, Raymond J. and Parekh, Harendra S. (2011). Low-generation asymmetric dendrimers exhibit minimal toxicity and effectively complex DNA. Journal of Peptide Science, 17 (6), 470-478. doi: 10.1002/psc.1347

Low-generation asymmetric dendrimers exhibit minimal toxicity and effectively complex DNA

2011

Book Chapter

An introduction to dendrimers-versatile drug/gene delivery vectors

Parekh, H. S (2011). An introduction to dendrimers-versatile drug/gene delivery vectors. Nanotechnology in health care. (pp. 355-367) edited by P.D. Gupta and N. Udupa. Nataniyon Ka Rasta, Jaipur: S.P. Publications.

An introduction to dendrimers-versatile drug/gene delivery vectors

2011

Book Chapter

An evidence-based perspective of herbal remedies for cancer patients.

Parekh, Harendra S. and Jing, Jing (2011). An evidence-based perspective of herbal remedies for cancer patients.. Evidence-based anticancer herbal medicine. (pp. 399-422) edited by William C.S. Cho. New York, U.S.A.: Springer Verlag.

An evidence-based perspective of herbal remedies for cancer patients.

2011

Book Chapter

Dendrimers as carriers for the effective delivery of drugs and genes

Shah, Neha, Ouyang, Defang, Mutalik, Srinivas and Parekh, Harendra (2011). Dendrimers as carriers for the effective delivery of drugs and genes. Nanotechnology in health care. (pp. 367-391) edited by P.D. Gupta and N. Udupa. Jaipur, India: S.P. Publications.

Dendrimers as carriers for the effective delivery of drugs and genes

2011

Book Chapter

An evidence-based perspective of herbal remedies for cancer patients

Parekh, Harendra S. and Jing, Jing (2011). An evidence-based perspective of herbal remedies for cancer patients. Evidence-based Anticancer Materia Medica. (pp. 399-422) B.V.: Springer.

An evidence-based perspective of herbal remedies for cancer patients

2010

Journal Article

Structure, dynamics, and energetics of siRNA-cationic vector complexation: A molecular dynamics study

Ouyang, D. F., Zhang, H., Herten, D. P., Parekh, H. S. and Smith, S. C. (2010). Structure, dynamics, and energetics of siRNA-cationic vector complexation: A molecular dynamics study. Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 114 (28), 9220-9230. doi: 10.1021/jp911906e

Structure, dynamics, and energetics of siRNA-cationic vector complexation: A molecular dynamics study

2010

Journal Article

Structure and dynamics of multiple cationic vectors-siRNA complexation by all-atomic molecular dynamics simulations

Ouyang, Defang, Zhang, Hong, Parekh, Harendra S. and Smith, Sean C. (2010). Structure and dynamics of multiple cationic vectors-siRNA complexation by all-atomic molecular dynamics simulations. Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 114 (28), 9231-9237. doi: 10.1021/jp911913c

Structure and dynamics of multiple cationic vectors-siRNA complexation by all-atomic molecular dynamics simulations

2010

Journal Article

Dendrosome-based delivery of siRNA against E6 and E7 oncogenes in cervical cancer

Dutta, Tathagata, Burgess, Melinda, McMillan, Nigel A. J. and Parekh, Harendra S. (2010). Dendrosome-based delivery of siRNA against E6 and E7 oncogenes in cervical cancer. Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology, and Medicine, 6 (3), 463-470. doi: 10.1016/j.nano.2009.12.001

Dendrosome-based delivery of siRNA against E6 and E7 oncogenes in cervical cancer

2009

Journal Article

Development and validation of a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method for quantification of peptide dendrimers in human skin permeation experiments

Mutalik, S., Hewavitharana, A., Shaw, P. N., Anissimov, Y. G., Roberts, M. S. and Parekh, H. S. (2009). Development and validation of a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method for quantification of peptide dendrimers in human skin permeation experiments. Journal of Chromatography. B, Analytical Technologies in the Biomedical and Life Sciences, 877 (29), 3556-3562. doi: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2009.08.039

Development and validation of a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method for quantification of peptide dendrimers in human skin permeation experiments

2009

Journal Article

Flexibility of short-strand RNA in aqueous solution as revealed by molecular dynamics simulation: Are A-RNA and A'-RNA distinct conformational structures?

Ouyang, Defang, Zhang, Hong, Herten, Dirk-Peter, Parekh, Harendra S. and Smith, Sean C (2009). Flexibility of short-strand RNA in aqueous solution as revealed by molecular dynamics simulation: Are A-RNA and A'-RNA distinct conformational structures?. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 62 (9), 1054-1061. doi: 10.1071/CH09090

Flexibility of short-strand RNA in aqueous solution as revealed by molecular dynamics simulation: Are A-RNA and A'-RNA distinct conformational structures?

2009

Journal Article

A new dawn for the use of traditional Chinese medicine in cancer therapy

Parekh, Harendra S., Liu, Gang and Wei, Ming Q. (2009). A new dawn for the use of traditional Chinese medicine in cancer therapy. Molecular Cancer, 8 (1) 21, 21.1-21.8. doi: 10.1186/1476-4598-8-21

A new dawn for the use of traditional Chinese medicine in cancer therapy

2009

Journal Article

A combined approach of chemical enhancers and sonophoresis for the transdermal delivery of tizanidine hydrochloride

Mutalik, S., Parekh, H., Davies, N. M. and Udupa, Nayanabhirama (2009). A combined approach of chemical enhancers and sonophoresis for the transdermal delivery of tizanidine hydrochloride. Drug Delivery, 16 (2), 82-91. doi: 10.1080/10717540802605053

A combined approach of chemical enhancers and sonophoresis for the transdermal delivery of tizanidine hydrochloride

2009

Journal Article

Reducible disulfide-based non-viral gene delivery systems

Ouyang, D., Shah, N., Zhang, H, Smith, S. C. and Parekh, H. S. (2009). Reducible disulfide-based non-viral gene delivery systems. Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry, 9 (10), 1242-1250. doi: 10.2174/138955709789055225

Reducible disulfide-based non-viral gene delivery systems

2008

Conference Publication

Development and validation of RP-HPLC method for quantification of peptide dendrimers in skin permeation experiments

Mutalik, Srinivas, Parekh, Harendra S., Hewavitharana, Amitha K., Shaw, P. Nick, Anissimov, Yuri G. and Roberts, Michael S. (2008). Development and validation of RP-HPLC method for quantification of peptide dendrimers in skin permeation experiments. Australian Pharmaceutical Science Association Conference 2008, Canberra, ACT Australia, 6-9 December 2008.

Development and validation of RP-HPLC method for quantification of peptide dendrimers in skin permeation experiments

2007

Journal Article

The advance of dendrimers - A versatile targeting platform for gene/drug delivery

Parekh, H. S. (2007). The advance of dendrimers - A versatile targeting platform for gene/drug delivery. Current Pharmaceutical Design, 13 (27), 2837-2850. doi: 10.2174/138161207781757024

The advance of dendrimers - A versatile targeting platform for gene/drug delivery

2006

Journal Article

Synthesis of a library of polycationic lipid core dendrimers and their evaluation in the delivery of an oligonucleotide with hVEGF inhibition

Parekh, H. S., Marano, R. J., Rakoczy, E. P., Blanchfield, J. and Toth, I. (2006). Synthesis of a library of polycationic lipid core dendrimers and their evaluation in the delivery of an oligonucleotide with hVEGF inhibition. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 14 (14), 4775-4780. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2006.03.029

Synthesis of a library of polycationic lipid core dendrimers and their evaluation in the delivery of an oligonucleotide with hVEGF inhibition

2001

Journal Article

A Dde-based carboxy linker for solid-phase synthesis

Chhabra, S. R., Parekh, H., Khan, A., Bycroft, B. and Kellam, B. (2001). A Dde-based carboxy linker for solid-phase synthesis. Tetrahedron Letters, 42 (11), 2189-2192. doi: 10.1016/S0040-4039(01)00101-0

A Dde-based carboxy linker for solid-phase synthesis

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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