Dr Suong Ngo

Biography/ Background

Welcome to my Adelaide Uni homepage. I am a Senior Lecturer in Pharmacology in the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, with teaching and research interests in the Molecular Pharmacology & Toxicology, Pharmaceutical Science, Pharmacogenomics/Pharmacogenetics, and Quality Use of Medicines areas. My research focuses on: 1) Xenobiotic disposition in Australian Marsupials 2) Molecular mechanism of drug-interactions involving complementary medicines, with a focus on cytochrome P450 CYP enzymes and P-glycoproteins 3) Appropriate and safe use of OTC medicines 4) Generic substitution - assessing in vitro bioequivalence of multiple generic NTI medicines. Recently I have developed teaching and research interests in genetic polymorphisms and their association to variable response/toxicity to anticancer drugs used in advanced breast and colorectal cancer patients.

Qualifications

Bachelor of Pharmacy (UniSA) 1999

 

Bachelor of Pharmacy Honours (UniSA) 2000

 

Ph.D. (UniSA) 2004

Awards & Achievements

2008-2012, ASCEPT ASM Editor 

 

2008, Lecturer of the year, Faculty of Education, Health & Science, CDU

Teaching Interests

Pharmacology & Toxicology

Research Interests

Current projects:  

          
1. Molecular insights into xenobiotic disposition in Australian marsupials: While most animals tend to select food low in potentially toxic chemicals, several Australian marsupials rely on eucalyptus leaves as a major or only food source. In order to ingest and absorb such large quantities of toxic plant secondary metabolites in these leaves, specialist eucalyptus feeders such as the koala must have evolved highly specialised detoxification mechanism involved several liver enzyme systems. The project will examine the dietary effect of eucalyptus terpenes on the induction of CYP4A, peroxisomal Acyl CoA Oxidases and other CYPs in Australian marsupials. The transcriptional regulatory role of the nuclear receptor PPAR-alpha will also be investigated. The project will contribute to the knowledge of the metabolic capacity of Australian marsupials, especially at the molecular level that is limited at present.

 

2. Appropriate and safe use of OTC medicines: The aim of the project is to investigate whether patients are well informed about OTC they take, with a focus on non-prescription analgesics, utilizing a cross-sectional study involving multiple item self-administered anonymous questionnaires and stratified samples of patients from community pharmacies. The project aims to identify various pathways that may be used for conveying of safe and accurate information to the patients.  

                  
3. Mechanism of herb-drug interaction - The effects of St John's Wort (SJW) on membrane transport proteins and drug metabolising enzymes. The project examines the molecular mechanism by which SJW changes the way the body handles conventional medicines, particularly examining the factors responsible for drug up-take and handling along different regions of the intestines, the liver and kidneys. The project involves extraction and quantification of active constituents of SJW, animal studies, and analyses of CYP3A protein and mRNA expression utilising molecular biology techniques.

  

4. Generic substitution - assessing in vitro bioequivalence of multiple generic medicines: The project aims to assess in vitro bioequivalence of multiple generic medicines by dissolution test, with a focus on narrow therapeutic index drugs in which a relatively small change in systemic absorption can result in marked changes in therapeutic effects and toxicity.                   

Publications

Milic NL, Ngo SNT, Marchant CL, Height TA, McKinnon RA. Pulmonary cytochrome P450 enzymes belonging to the CYP4B subfamily from an Australian marsupial, the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii). Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology C Toxicology & Pharmacology 153: 60-66; 2011.

 

El-Merhibi A, Ngo SNT, Crittenden TA, Marchant CL, Stupans I, McKinnon RA. Cytochrome P450 CYP3A in marsupials: Cloning and characterisation of the second identified CYP3A subfamily member, isoform 3A78 from koala (Phascolarctos cinereus). Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology C Toxicology & Pharmacology 154(4): 367-376; 2011.

 

Ngo SNT and McKinnon RA. PPAR-alpha cloning, expression, and characterisation. Methods in Molecular Biology - Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (PPARs): Methods and Protocols (eds MZ Badr and JA Youssef). Humana Press, New York, USA; 2011 (In press).

 

Ngo SNT, Williams DB, Cobiac L, Head RJ. Rosemary and cancer prevention - Preclinical perspectives. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 51(10): 946-954; 2011.

 

Ngo SNT, McKinnon RA, Stupans I. Correlation between peroxisome proliferation and up-regulation of cytochrome P450 CYP4A and peroxisomal beta-oxidation fatty acyl CoA oxidases (AOX) in the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus). Gene Expression to Genetical Genomics 3: 1-6; 2010. 

 

Ngo SNT, Stupans I, Leong WS, Osman M. Appropriate use of non-prescription ibuprofen: a survey of patients’ perceptions and understanding. International Journal of Pharmacy Practice 18(1): 63-65; 2010.

 

Ngo SNT, Barnes T. Is there variability in drug release and physical characteristics of amiodarone chloride from different commercially available tablets: Possible therapeutic implications? International Journal of Pharmacy Practice 18(4): 245-248; 2010.

 

Kong S, Ngo SNT, McKinnon RA, Stupans I. Cloning and expression of koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) liver Cytochrome P450 reductase. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology C Toxicology & Pharmacology 150: 1-9; 2009.  

 

Turkanovic J, Ngo SNT, Milne RW. Effect of St John's wort on the disposition of fexofenadine in the isolated perfused rat liver. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 61(8): 1037-1042; 2009.

 

Jones BJ, El-Merhibi A, Ngo SNT, Stupans I, McKinnon RA. Hepatic cytochrome P450 enzymes belonging to the CYP2C subfamily from an Australian marsupial, the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus). Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology C Toxicology & Pharmacology 148(3): 230-237; 2008.

 

El-Merhibi A, Ngo SNT, Jones BJ, McKinnon RA. Molecular insights into xenobiotic disposition in Australian marsupials. The Australasian Journal of Ecotoxicology 13(2): 53-64; 2008.

 

Ngo SNT, Mckinnon RA, Stupans I. Morphological examination and quantification of hepatic peroxisomes in the koala (Phascolarctos Cinereus) by electron microscopy. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A Molecular & Integrative Physiology 151(1): S50; 2008.

 

Ngo SNT, Mckinnon RA, Stupans I. Correlation between peroxisome proliferation and up-regulation of cytochrome P450 CYP4A and peroxisomal beta-oxidation fatty acyl CoA oxidases (AOX) in the koala (Phascolarctos Cinereus). Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A  Molecular & Integrative Physiology  151(1): S22-23; 2008.

 

Ngo SNT, Phan TT, Trec S, Heng SH, McKinnon RA. Molecular Mechanism of Drug Interactions involving St John’s Wort: Impact of Exposure Dose and Time on Up Regulation of CYP3A across Different Tissues. Proceedings of the 17th International Symposium on Microsomes and Drug Oxidations, Saratoga, NY, USA, July 2008, p83-86; 2008.

 

Phan TT, Heng SH, Abarno A, McKinnon RA, Ngo SNT. Induction of cytochrome P450 CYP3A by St John’s Wort in the rat liver and intestine, Integrative Medicine Insights 2: 73-81; 2007.

 

Ngo SNT, Williams DB, Cobiac L, Head RJ. Does garlic reduce risk of colorectal cancer? a systematic review. Journal of Nutrition 137(10): 2264-2269; 2007.

 

Ngo SNT, McKinnon RA, Stupans I. Hepatic nuclear receptor PPARalpha in the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus): cloning and molecular characterization. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology C Toxicology & Pharmacology 146: 375-382; 2007.

 

Ngo SNT. 'When do differences in dissolution profiles predict clinical problems?'. Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics 32: 111-112; 2007.

 

Ngo SNT, McKinnon RA, Stupans I. Cloning and characterisation of liver CYP4A15 from the koala (Phascolarctos Cinereus). Gene 376(1): 123-32; 2006.

 

Tong Y, Zhang R, Ngo SNT, Davey AK. Alteration of fexofenadine disposition in the isolated perfused rat liver following injection of bacterial lipopolycaccharide. Clinical Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology 33: 685-689; 2006.

 

Ngo SNT, McKinnon RA, and Stupans I. Identification and cloning of two forms of liver peroxisomal fatty Acyl CoA Oxidases from the koala (Phascolarctos Cinereus).  Gene 309: 91-99; 2003.

 

Ngo SNT, McKinnon RA, and Stupans I. The effects of Eucalyptus Terpenes on Microsomal Cytochrome P450 CYP4A, Peroxisomal Acyl CoA Oxidase (AOX) and Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor Alpha (PPAR-a) in the Common Brush tail Possum Liver, Trichosurus vulpecular. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology C Toxicology & Pharmacology 127: 327-334; 2003.

 

Ngo SNT, McKinnon RA, and Stupans I. Cytochrome P450 4A, peroxisomal enzymes nicotinamide cofactors in koala liver. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology C Toxicology & Pharmacology 136(2): 165-173; 2000.

 

Professional Associations

Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists (ASCEPT)

 

Australasian Pharmaceutical Science Association (APSA)

 

ASCEPT Pharmacogenomics SIG - Committee member 

 

ASCEPT Education SIG - Committee member

 

Adelaide Pharmacology Group (APG)

Community Engagement

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Entry last updated: Thursday, 20 Oct 2011