David Worthen

Assistant Professor
Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences
(401) 874-5016
dworthen@ds.uri.edu

Drawing upon research and management experience with large industry, start-up enterprises, academia, contract research, and government, Dr. Worthen takes an interdisciplinary approach to pharmaceutical education, scientific research and product development. Dr. Worthen collaborates with colleagues at national and international institutions in a variety of disciplines, including toxicology, analytical chemistry, chemical engineering, and materials science, with a therapeutic emphasis on central nervous system disorders, cancer, infectious disease, inflammation and nutrition.

Current research areas include:

• pharmaceutical formulation and drug delivery
  
• rationally-designed and naturally occurring pharmaceuticals and excipients
  
• veterinary products
  
• nutraceuticals and functional foods
  
• biologics and natural products purification
  
• biocompatible polymers and medical devices
  
• intellectual property and regulatory affairs
  

Selected works in the area of neuroscience and CNS therapeutics include:

Jyothi Matharu, Jun Oki, David R. Worthen, Quentin R. Smith, and Peter A. Crooks. Regiospecific and conformationally restrained analogs of melphalan and dl-2-NAM-7 and their affinities for the large neutral amino acid transporter (system LAT1) of the blood-brain barrier. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters 20:3688-3691, 2010.

Peter A. Crooks, Aimee K. Bence and David R. Worthen. Agmatine and agmatine analogs in the treatment of epilepsy, seizure and electroconvulsive disorders. US Patent 7,816,407, 2010.

David R. Worthen, Aimee K. Bence, James P. Stables and Peter A. Crooks. "In vivo evaluation of diaminodiphenyls: anticonvulsant agents with minimal acute neurotoxicity." Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters 19:5012-5015, 2009.

David R. Worthen, Simon Bristow and Philip Cocks. "Process of making aripiprazole particles." US Patent 7,507,823, 2009.

Peter A. Crooks, Aimee K. Bence and David R. Worthen. "Compounds of use in the treatment of epilepsy, seizure, and electroconvulsive disorders." US Patent 7,226,949, 2007.