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

105 works between 2001 and 2025
All (105) Journal Article (74) Book Chapter (11) Conference Publication (12) Book (1) Other Outputs (7)

81 - 100 of 105 works

2013

Journal Article

Rapid identification of primary constituents in parotoid gland secretions of the Australian cane toad using HPLC/MS-Q-TOF

Jing, Jing, Ren, Wei C., Li, Chun, Bose, Utpal, Parekh, Harendra S. and Wei, Ming Q. (2013). Rapid identification of primary constituents in parotoid gland secretions of the Australian cane toad using HPLC/MS-Q-TOF. Biomedical Chromatography, 27 (6), 685-687. doi: 10.1002/bmc.2858

Rapid identification of primary constituents in parotoid gland secretions of the Australian cane toad using HPLC/MS-Q-TOF

2013

Journal Article

Advances in analytical technologies to evaluate the quality of traditional Chinese medicines

Jing, Jing, Ren, Weichao, Chen, Si Bao, Wei, Ming and Parekh, Harendra S. (2013). Advances in analytical technologies to evaluate the quality of traditional Chinese medicines. Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 44, 39-45. doi: 10.1016/j.trac.2012.11.006

Advances in analytical technologies to evaluate the quality of traditional Chinese medicines

2013

Journal Article

Iontophoresis-Mediated Transdermal Permeation of Peptide Dendrimers across Human Epidermis

Mutalik, S., Parekh, H. S., Anissimov, Y. G., Grice, J. E. and Roberts, M. S. (2013). Iontophoresis-Mediated Transdermal Permeation of Peptide Dendrimers across Human Epidermis. Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 26 (3), 127-138. doi: 10.1159/000348469

Iontophoresis-Mediated Transdermal Permeation of Peptide Dendrimers across Human Epidermis

2013

Book Chapter

Fluorescent nucleic acid probes in living cells

Seefeld, Anne, Kokil, Ganesh R., Tupally, Karnaker R., Parekh, Harendra S. and Herten, Dirk-Peter (2013). Fluorescent nucleic acid probes in living cells. DNA and RNA nanobiotechnologies in medicine: diagnosis and treatment of diseases. (pp. 291-328) edited by Volker A. Erdmann and Jan Barciszewski. Berlin, Germany: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-36853-0_12

Fluorescent nucleic acid probes in living cells

2012

Journal Article

Native and β-cyclodextrin-enclosed curcumin: entrapment within liposomes and their in vitro cytotoxicity in lung and colon cancer

Rahman, Shafiur, Cao, Siyu, Steadman, Kathryn J., Wei, Ming and Parekh, Harendra S. (2012). Native and β-cyclodextrin-enclosed curcumin: entrapment within liposomes and their in vitro cytotoxicity in lung and colon cancer. Drug Delivery, 19 (7), 346-353. doi: 10.3109/10717544.2012.721143

Native and β-cyclodextrin-enclosed curcumin: entrapment within liposomes and their in vitro cytotoxicity in lung and colon cancer

2012

Journal Article

Sonophoresis-mediated permeation and retention of peptide dendrimers across human epidermis

Mutalik, Srinivas, Nayak, Usha Y., Kalra, Rohit, Kumar, Aravind, Kulkarni, Raghavendra V. and Parekh, Harendra (2012). Sonophoresis-mediated permeation and retention of peptide dendrimers across human epidermis. Skin Research and Technology, 18 (1), 101-107. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0846.2011.00539.x

Sonophoresis-mediated permeation and retention of peptide dendrimers across human epidermis

2011

Journal Article

Development of an in-line HPLC fingerprint ion-trap mass spectrometric method for identification and quality control of Radix Scrophulariae

Jing, Jing, Chan, Chi-on, Xu, Lijia, Jin, Dengping, Cao, Xinwei, Mok, Daniel K. W., Parekh, H. S. and Chen, Sibao (2011). Development of an in-line HPLC fingerprint ion-trap mass spectrometric method for identification and quality control of Radix Scrophulariae. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, 56 (4), 830-835. doi: 10.1016/j.jpba.2011.07.032

Development of an in-line HPLC fingerprint ion-trap mass spectrometric method for identification and quality control of Radix Scrophulariae

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 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

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

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

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

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Available projects

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Intravaginal drug delivery using the thermoresponsive sol-gel platform for use in sexually transmitted infections

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Marie-Odile Parat

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Development of Antibacterial Topical Formulations for Post-Production Wine By-Products

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Zyta M Ziora, Dr Anjana Jayasree

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Gel-based drug delivery monitored via medical imaging

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Karnaker Reddy Tupally, Dr Brett Paterson

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Design, synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of KOPr/NOPr opioid peptides for the treatment of pain and opioid use disorder

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Rink-Jan Lohman, Dr Karnaker Reddy Tupally, Professor Peter Cabot

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Breakthrough medicines & brain delivery solutions for Alzheimer's disease: Synergising emerging drugs with an advanced sol-gel nose-to-brain platform delivery system

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Ben Ross

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The pharmacological evaluation of beta-endorphin analogues: opioid-based bivalent peptide DB1-7 targeting multiple opioid receptors.

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Karnaker Reddy Tupally, Dr Danial Saifuddin, Professor Peter Cabot

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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