Jashvant Unadkat

Jashvant Unadkat, Ph.D. is a Professor of Pharmaceutics at the University of Washington School of Pharmacy. He holds appointments in the Department of Pharmaceutics and is actively involved with the UWPKDAP (Program on Pharmacokinetics of Drugs of Abuse during Pregnancy). His research spans drug transport, metabolism, and pharmacokinetics with special emphasis on pregnancy and fetal pharmacology.

Dr. Unadkat received his B.Pharm. from the University of London (1977), his Ph.D. from the University of Manchester (1982), and completed postdoctoral training at the University of California at San Francisco (1982-85). His educational background laid the foundation for his extensive career in pharmaceutical sciences.

His research interests focus on mechanisms of drug transport and metabolism, particularly during pregnancy. Dr. Unadkat has made significant contributions to understanding placental drug transporters, blood-brain barrier function, and quantitative approaches to pharmacokinetics-pharmacodynamics. His work bridges computational modeling with experimental approaches to address complex questions in drug disposition.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trend toward understanding drug interactions during pregnancy, cannabinoid pharmacology, and the application of physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling to predict drug behavior in special populations. His research spans pharmacology, computational biology, obstetrics, and toxicology with particular emphasis on drug transporters and their regulation.

• Fellow of AAAS
• Fellow of AAPS
• Fellow of JSSX
• AAPS Research Achievement Award (2012)
• ISSX Research Achievement Award (2023)
• Founding co-chair (1999-2001) of AAPS focus group on Drug Transport and Uptake

Dr. Unadkat has led significant research initiatives including the UW Research Affiliates Program on Transporters (UWRAPT) for 10 years, the NIDA-funded UWPKDAP program on drug disposition during pregnancy, and co-leads the NICHD-funded UW Transporter Elucidation Center. His work has generated over 250 peer-reviewed publications and has significantly influenced regulatory science and drug development practices.

He is actively involved in research teams focusing on placental transport, hepatic drug metabolism, and quantitative pharmacology. His current work with the UW Transporter Elucidation Center aims to identify and characterize novel transporters in the placenta and developing intestine, with implications for drug safety during pregnancy and pediatric pharmacotherapy.