Abebe Mengesha, PhD

Biography

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

• Iowa Academy of Science (IAS)
• American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS)
• American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP)
• German Pharmaceutical Society (DPhG)
• Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Association (EPA)

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE

• Reviewer, Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences (J. Pham. Sci.)
• Reviewer, Pharmaceutical Research (Pharm Res)
• Associate Editor, Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Journal, ISSN: 1029-5933 (Oct. 2005)
• Delegate, United States Pharmacopeial (USP) Convention

HONORS & AWARDS

• Drake University College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, Teacher of the Year 2013-2014
• German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), April 2002 - Aug. 2005

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

I believe that the two key factors in effective teaching are respect for students and deep knowledge of the subject. Respect for students means careful preparation of the material, making lectures more accessible and interactive, and being willing to help students with any questions they may have in class and during office hours. Having deep knowledge of the subject makes lectures easy for anyone to follow. My teaching approach is based on the above two points, prepare myself for each and every lecture and student discussions.

EXPERIENCE

June 2023 - Present
Professor, Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy & Health Science, Drake University

June 2011 – June 2023
Assistant Professor, Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy & Health Science, Drake University

June 2008 – June 2011
Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky

Aug. 2007– June 2008
Postdoctoral Associate, Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri, Kansas City, Missouri

Sept. 2005 – Aug 2007
Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia

GRANTS

Biomarkers for Radiation-Induced DNA Damage during Human Space Exploration: A Base Research Grant. Iowa Space Grant Consortium (ISGC), Co-PI: Pramod Mahajan, $106,687, 2020 – 2024.

Design and evaluation of monoolein-monostearin lipid-based triggerable drug delivery systems in a simulated physiological environment. Iowa Science Foundation (ISF), $4,960.00, 2019.

Epinephrine drug degradation in auto-injector products. Drake Research Grant, Co-PI: Lynn Kassel, $3,000.00, 2020; Harris Research Endowment, CPHS, $2,436.00, 2018,

Effect of temperature and humidity on binary mixtures of monoolein and monostearin lipid crystals for thermo-responsive drug delivery system. Drake Research Grant, $3,000, 2017.

Visiting Fellow, University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine.FUTURE in Biomedicine Program, $1,000, 2015.

Impact of Nanotechnology in Design and Development of Triggerable Drug Delivery Systems for Smart Medicine. Iowa NASA EPSCoR Award, PI: Abebe E. Mengesha; Co-PI: Pramod B Mahajan, approved and funded, $15,000, 2014.

Lipid-Based Triggerable Drug Delivery Systems for Smart Medical System. Iowa NASA EPSCoR Research Building Grant (RBG) Award, Principal Investigator: Abebe E. Mengesha, approved and funded, $15,000, 2013.

Thermosensitive monoglycerides blend for local delivery of chemotherapeutic agents. Better Futures for Iowans, funded $500, 2013.

Thermosensitive monoglycerides blend for local delivery of chemotherapeutic agents. AACP New Investigator Award, Principal Investigator: Abebe E. Mengesha, Ph.D., approved and funded, $10,000, 2013.

Monoglycerides-based matrix as a novel vehicle for thermo-responsive local drug delivery system. Drake University Faculty Research Grant, Principal Investigator: Abebe E. Mengesha, Ph.D., approved and funded, $2980, 2012.

PERSONAL INFORMATION
Married to Chora B. Megene and have two boys (Ananiya and Azariya).

Areas of Expertise

My research interests focus on the field of pharmaceutical technology with special emphasis on lipid-based pharmaceutical products. The two major research areas of my interest are; 1) stimuli-sensitive, local drug delivery system of anticancer drugs to a tumor bed via lipid matrices; and 2) predicting the functionality of phospholipid-based products by analysis of the stability and composition of lipids.

Currently Accepting Student Researchers?   Yes

Education

• Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Technology, Eberhard-Karls University of Tübingen, Germany, August 2005
• M.S. in Pharmaceutics, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, July 2000

Courses Taught

• PHAR 138 - Pharmaceutical Calculations
• PHAR 140 - Pharmaceutics I
• PHAR 141- Pharmaceutics II
• PHAR 106 - Pharmaceutical Compounding

Selected Publications

Lynn Kassel, Caroline Jones and Abebe Mengesha (2019). Epinephrine drug degradation in auto-injector products. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract 7(7): 2491 – 2493. (DOI:10.1016/j.jaip.2019.04.028)

Lynn Kassel, Caroline Jones and Abebe Mengesha (2019). Evaluation of epinephrine’s expiration date: A US Food and Drug Administration’s perspective. Correspondence and Reply. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract 7(8): 2948 – 2949. (DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2019.08.015)

Hannah D. Stonewall, Haley M. Kessinger, and Abebe E. Mengesha(2017). Effect of moisture on the thermoresponsive properties of binary mixtures of monoglycerides for triggerable drug delivery systems. AAPS PharmSciTech 18(7): 2598 – 2609 (DOI: 10.1208/s12249-017-0724-2)

Dillon Krotz, and Abebe E. Mengesha (2017) Development and validation of a reversed-phase HPLC method for simultaneous determination of doxazosin mesylate and finasteride. Acta Chromatographica, 29(3): 309 – 324 (DOI: 10.1556/1326.2017.29.3.01).

Tough, M. and Mengesha, A.E., (2015) Photostability of nifedipine in monolaurin solid matrix and micellar solution. J. App. Pharm. Sci. 5(2): 066 – 073 (doi:10.7324/JAPS.2015.50210).

Mengesha, A.E., Ezoulin, M.J., Zhang, T., Gaudenz, K., Seidel, C., Khabashesku, V., Murowchick, J. and Youan, B.B. (2014) Characterization of functionalized nanodiamonds and their effects on cell viability and gene expression in human lung epithelial cells. Current Topics in Toxicology, 10:49 – 62.

Mengesha, A.E., Wydra, R., Hilt, J.Z, and Bummer, P.M. (2013) Binary blend of glyceryl monooleate and glyceryl monostearate for magnetically induced thermo-responsive

Abebe E. Mengesha and Bi-Botti C. Youan (2013), Nanodiamonds as Novel Template for Drug Delivery and Targeting (DOI: 10.1533/9780857093516.2.185) in: Diamond based materials for biomedical applications (Roger J. Narayan, Ed.) Woodhead Publishing Series in Biomaterials No. 55, pp: 186 – 205. ISBN 0 85709 340 1; ISBN-13: 978 0 85709 340 0

Mengesha, A.E. and Bummer, P.M. (2010), Simple chromatographic method for simultaneous analyses of phosphatidylcholine, lysophosphatidylcholine and free fatty acids. AAPS PharmSciTech 11(3): 1084- 1091 (DOI: 10.1208/s12249-010-9470-4).

Ganti, V., Mengesha, A.E., Jacob, M. and Youan, B.B. (2010), Statistical analysis of low molecular weight heparin nanoencapsulation. Acta Pharm 60, 281-293.

Mengesha, A.E. and Youan, B.B. (2010), Anticancer activity and nutritional value of extracts of the seed of Glinus lotoides. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol 56, 311-318.

Paulos, G., Endale, A., Bultosa, G. and Gebre-Mariam, T (2009), Isolation and physicochemical characterization of Cassava starches obtained from different regions of Ethiopia. Ethiop Pharm J 27, 42-54.

Endale, A., Gebre-Mariam, T and Schmidt, P. C. (2008), Granulation by Roller compaction and enteric coated tablet formulation of the extract of the seeds of Glinus lotoides loaded on Aeroperl 300 Pharma. AAPS PharmSciTech 9(1): 31-38.

Feleke, F., Endale, A., Gebre-Mariam, T. (2007), Oral floating extended release stavudine hydrophilic matrix tablets: formulation design and in vitro investigations.  Ethiop. Pharm. J. 25: 51-62.

Akalu, N., Endale, A. and Asres, K. (2007), Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Myrtus communis L. and its formulation into gum paint. Ethiop. Pharm. J. 25: 72-76.

Endale, A., Kammerer, B., Gebre-Mariam, T and Schmidt, P. C. (2005), Quantitative determination of the group of flavonoids and saponins from the extracts of the seeds of Glinus lotoides and tablet formulation thereof by high-performance liquid chromatography. J. Chromatogr. A, 1083: 32-41.

Endale, A., Wary, V., Murillo, R., Schmidt, P. C. and Merfort, I. (2005), Hopane-type saponins from the seeds of Glinus lotoides. J. Nat. Prod. 68: 443-446.

Gebre-Mariam T, Asres K., Getie M., Endale A., Neubert R., Schmidt P. C. (2005), In vitro availability of kaempferol glycosides from cream formulations of methanolic extract of the leaves of Melilotus elegans. Eur J Pharm Biopharm. 60: 31- 38.

Endale, A., Schmidt, P. C. and Gebre-Mariam, T. (2004), Standardization and physicochemical characterization of the extracts of the seeds of Glinus lotoides, Pharmazie, 59: 34-38.