hertz-lab

Hertz Lab - University of Michigan College of Pharmacy

Hertz Lab

University of Michigan College of Pharmacy

About the Lab

The objective of the Hertz lab is to develop personalized cancer treatment approaches and translate them into clinical practice to optimize therapeutic outcomes in patients with cancer. Our research spans the translational spectrum from discovery through implementation. We identify clinical, kinetic, genetic, and physiologic predictors of cancer treatment efficacy and/or toxicity in retrospective analyses. These discoveries are integrated into novel tools that can be tested in prospective clinical trials to demonstrate that personalized cancer treatment enhances efficacy and/or prevents unnecessary toxicity.

My lab is accepting PhD students.

Research Focus

DPYD Pharmacogenetics

We investigate genetic variations in the DPYD gene that encodes the dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) enzyme to predict and prevent severe fluoropyrimidine toxicity in cancer patients, enabling safer and more personalized chemotherapy dosing strategies.

Real-world analysis of clinical outcomes from DPYD-guided dosing (OPREC)

Advocacy to increase clinical adoption of DPYD testing

Biomarkers of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

Our laboratory identifies predictive biomarkers for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) to help oncologists personalize treatment and minimize this debilitating toxicity that affects quality of life in cancer survivors.

NCI R37 Grant: Discovery and validation of predictive biomarkers of CIPN using the SWOG S1714 cohort.

Our Team

Principal Investigator

Daniel L. Hertz, PharmD, PhD

Associate Professor of Clinical Pharmacy

PhD Students

Comfort Kanji

Yaping Liu

Nam Nguyen-Hoang

Yuchen Sun

Postdoctoral Fellows

Javier Granados II, PharmD

Florian Slimano, PharmD

Recent Publications

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For a complete list of publications, visit PubMed.

Recent PhD Student Publications

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Hertz Lab in the Headlines

  1. DPYD Testing Gains Ground: NCCN Guideline Update Reflects Decades of Work Toward Safer Chemotherapy
  2. Research and Advocacy Pays: FDA Action Will Save Lives
  3. Chemotherapy Drug 5-FU/Capecitabine Toxicity Test Death Prevention
  4. FDA Updates Safety Label for Fluorouracil Injection Products
  5. Monitoring Program Flags Cancer Patients at Risk for Highly Toxic Chemotherapy Side Effects
  6. Time for Wider Pretreatment DPYD Genotyping
  7. Vitamin D Supplementation Plays a Role in the Reduction of Chemotherapy Toxicity
  8. Can Vitamin D Help Prevent Paclitaxel-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy?
  9. Lack of Vitamin D May Increase Chemo-Induced Neuropathy Risk in Breast Cancer

Contact

Prospective Students

We welcome inquiries from motivated students interested in clinical-translational cancer research. Please review the UM CPTS PhD Program or contact Dr. Hertz directly for other opportunities in our laboratory.