Dr. VanWert returned to Wilkes in the fall of 2008 after receiving his Ph.D. from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC).  His doctoral research was in the area of drug transport in the kidney.  His didactic training was broad, with a focus on toxicology.  His current research involves investigation of the interactions between antibiotics and kidney transporter proteins (e.g., OAT3).  Techniques used include HPLC, Western blotting, and cell culture.  He works with students in the lab during both the school year and summer; the latter being supported by a Wilkes Mentoring Grant.  He was introduced to research at Wilkes while working with Dr. James Culhane from 2000-2003.  He was offered jobs in both the FDA and biotech sectors, but chose to return to Wilkes because of his passion for teaching, his positive experience with the faculty, and the family-like environment on campus.

characterizing drug transporters in the body, organic anion transporter 3 (Oat3) in the disposition of a variety of drugs and structure-activity relationship.