Associate Professor of Pharmaceutics
E-Mail: qmao@u.washington.edu

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Research Interests:
ABC protein-mediated drug transport; structure, function and molecular mechanisms of ABC Transporters; Role of ABC transporters in drug disposition during pregnancy.

BCRP in pregnancy: substrate specificity, expression, and regulation.

Biography:

Dr. Mao joined the University of Washington in 2002. Research in Dr. Mao’s laboratory is directed towards understanding the structure and function relationship, molecular mechanisms of medically important ABC transporters, and their role in drug disposition. Currently, his research centers on 1) identification of substrates and inhibitors of the Breast Cancer Resistance Protein (BCRP/ABCG2); 2) molecular mechanisms by which BCRP gene expression is regulated; 3) identification of amino acid residues in BCRP that are critical for substrate recognition and selectivity; 4) in collaboration with structural biologists, he is also engaged in determining BCRP structure; 5) role of BCRP in drug disposition during pregnancy. Knowledge gained from these studies will help us develop new ways to circumvent drug resistance in diseases such as cancers, and will be important for prediction of potential drug-drug interactions and changes in pharmacokinetics of drugs that are BCRP substrates. Dr. Mao’s research has been continuously supported by NIH since 2002.