 | Biography |  |
Harendra's research interests remain in the area of synthetic organic chemistry and non-viral gene therapy using conventional antisense therapy to deliver DNA and oligonucleotides. He has also been investigating the role of dendrimers in the more potent 'RNAi' approach to gene therapy, to treat a wide range of genetic diseases from cervical cancer to obesity. BSc, 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 Prof. Toth's medicinal chemistry group. He continues to be a member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of GB and registered with the Queensland Pharmacy Board in 2005.
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 as Lecturer within the School of Pharmacy.
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