Professional Profile

Ana M. Castejon, Ph.D.

Photo Associate Dean, Graduate Programs
Associate Professor
Dept: Barry and Judy Silverman College of Pharmacy
Phone: 954-262-1674
Email: castejon@nova.edu
Campus: Fort Lauderdale

Biosketch:
Dr. Ana Maria Castejon is currently the Principal Investigator (PI) of an ongoing multidisciplinary research study about the role of glutathione in autism. This multidisciplinary study involves different NSU academic centers and is the first Investigator-Initiated clinical trial at NSU. As the PI of this project, Dr. Castejon, is in charge of designing and implementing a study investigating a nutritional supplement and its role in behavioral changes in children with autism. In addition, she was responsible for creating a protocol and method to quantify glutathione in children with autism spectrum disorders. Dr. Castejon is also serving as Co-principal Investigator for the Diabetes Literacy and Self-efficacy Screening and Training Project (Project DLASST) funded by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This project strives to reach the underserved Hispanic diabetic population by providing free screenings and educational services spearheaded by pharmacists. Other research projects Dr. Castejon has been part of in recent years include, Statins Modulation of Oncolytic Vesicular Stomatitis Virus, and Vascular Dysregulation During and After Statins Withdrawal: Role of Small GTPases, & Withdrawal of Statins and Vascular Dysfunction. Over the past five years, Dr. Castejon has served as a reviewer for several textbooks, research grant applications, and scientific peer-reviewed articles, including reputable publications such as Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology and primary pharmacology textbooks such as Principles of Pharmacology by Golan and Pharmacology by Lippincott. Dr. Castejon has also authored and published several scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals and has presented her results in over fifty national and international scientific meetings. Dr. Castejon strongly believes in empowering students’ learning through research. Her strong interests are demonstrated extensively in her role as adviser for undergraduate and pharmacy students in several projects, and as creator of a Research Elective Rotation for pharmacy students. During the past five years, Dr. Castejon has mentored over thirty student’s research projects allowing them to perform the more scientific aspect of their professional careers. As a professor in the College of Pharmacy, she has taught core courses such as Pharmacodynamics I, II, and III, Prescription Practice, Pharmaceutics II and Clinical Pharmacology. She has also coordinated the elective course “Drugs of Abuse” and developed a new elective course for the pharmacy program: “Cardiovascular Risk Factors.” Dr. castejon holds professional affiliations and leadership positions in numerous organizations, and has received prestigious awards and recognition for her many contributions to the College of Pharmacy.
 
Research Interests:
Autism: Oxidative stress, dietary manipulations to increase antioxidant capacity, oxytocin regulation of neural growth, apoptosis and oxidative stress, biomarkers Cardiovascular disease: Salt sensitivity, diabetes, statins Cardiovascular Disease
Research Interests keywords:
cardiovascular, heart disease, hypertension, autism

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