Niurys De Castro Suarez
San Francisco
Summary
Postdoctoral scholar at the University of California, San Francisco, with expertise in translational PK/PD modeling, biologic product modeling, and clinical pharmacology. Skilled in population pharmacokinetics, non-compartmental analysis, and pharmacometrics for biologic therapies. My current work focuses on optimizing TB drug regimens and forecasting early bactericidal activity using quantitative methods. Prior to this role, I contributed to monoclonal antibody and pharmacokinetics for oncology and non-oncology indications, supporting model-informed drug development. I am committed to advancing personalized treatment strategies and improving therapeutic outcomes through rigorous modeling and simulation.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Postdoctoral Researcher
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco
07.2023 - Current
- Developing translational pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) models to predict the efficacy of TB drug combinations using murine data.
- Estimating PK/PD parameters for anti-TB drug combinations in necrotic caseum lesions, using translational modeling approaches.
- Supporting the refinement of combination therapy optimization platforms to inform dose selection and regimen design in early-phase clinical studies.
- Contributing to clinical research efforts as part of collaborative study teams for TB clinical trials, including a Phase 2C trial for isoniazid-monoresistant TB (NIHR34AI179568) and a Phase 2, randomized, adaptive, dose-ranging, open-label trial of novel regimens for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis (RAD-TB, NCT06192160), with a specific contribution to the development of the Statistical Analysis Plan.
- Investigating the impact of malnutrition on drug exposure and TB treatment outcomes as part of the TB-RAMP program, which aims to optimize therapies for undernourished populations.
- First-author poster presented at the ASCPT 2025.
- First-author poster presented at the Postdoc, Specialist, and Researcher (PSR) Symposium 2025, University of California, San Francisco.
- I published a manuscript in top journals as a contributing author.
- Facilitator, Inquiry Session: Transporter-Mediated Drug-Drug Interactions (DDIs) in the Kidney, Doctor of Pharmacy – Transformation Curriculum, School of Pharmacy, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), USA.
Associate Researcher
University of Havana
La Habana
11.2021 - 06.2023
- Contributed to the EU-funded 'Adelante 2' consortium, expediting COVID-19 and other disease therapies.
- Developed and contributed to a series of pharmacometrics studies on small molecules and monoclonal antibodies, supporting both preclinical and clinical development phases.
- Mentored undergraduate pharmacy students at the University of Havana, guiding three research projects on pharmacometric techniques:
Pharmacokinetic assessments of IL-2 mutein variants in murine models, in collaboration with the Center of Molecular Immunology (CIM), Cuba.
Population pharmacokinetic analysis for 99mTc-labeled h14F7 in tumor-bearing mice, collaborating with the Center of Isotopes, Cuba.
Pharmacokinetic assessment of rituximab biosimilar (1B8) in collaboration with the Center of Molecular Immunology (CIM), Cuba. - Co-authored a published research manuscript, contributing to scientific literature and enhancing my academic and professional profile.
Assistant Professor
University of Havana
La Habana
10.2015 - 06.2023
- Conducted workshops on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic modeling using NONMEM® at the University of Costa Rica in 2022.
- Taught a clinical pharmacokinetics course at the University of Havana in 2016.
- Facilitated clinical pharmacokinetics course for master's program in Pharmacology at University of Havana in 2018 and 2016.
- Served as Assistant Professor of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics at the Institute of Pharmacy and Food from 2015 to 2023.
Assistant Researcher
University of Havana
La Habana
10.2016 - 09.2021
- Developed a semi-mechanistic pharmacokinetic model of nimotuzumab in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, including the anti-idiotypic response elicited by the mAb treatment.
- Mentored an undergraduate pharmacy student at the University of Havana, supervising and guiding one research project on pharmacometric techniques: Bioequivalence study of anti-HER2 biosimilar (5G4) vs.Herceptin® in Macaca fascicularis, in collaboration with the Center of Molecular Immunology (CIM), Cuba.
- Pharmacometric Research Mentor, Master of Science in Pharmacology Program, University of Havana Supervised and guided an MSc candidate in a research project focused on pharmacometric methods and applications: Population pharmacokinetics of nimotuzumab in metastatic colorectal cancer patients.
- Published four manuscripts (2 first-author, 2 contributing author).
- Presented research at seven national and international scientific conferences (3 oral presentations, 4 posters).
Aspirant Researcher
University of Havana
La Habana
09.2009 - 09.2016
- Key projects include:
- PK assessment of nimotuzumab in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease in collaboration with the Center of Molecular Immunology (CIM), Cuba.
- Analysis of anti-idiotypic responses to nimotuzumab in cervical cancer and glioma patients, in collaboration with the Center of Molecular Immunology (CIM), Cuba. - Other Projects: Early work in community-based environmental toxicology (2010).
- Published three manuscripts (1 first author, 2 contributing author).
Education
Ph.D. - Pharmaceutical Sciences
University of Havana
La Habana, Cuba11-2021
Master of Science - Pharmacology
University of Havana
La Habana, Cuba04-2012
Bachelor of Science - Pharmacy
University of Havana
La Habana, Cuba07-2008
Skills
- PK/PD Modeling
- Dose Simulation & Treatment Optimization
- Software Expertise: NONMEM, PsN, R, WinNonlin, 4 Parameter Logistic (4PL) model
- Clinical & Preclinical Data Analysis
- Scientific Presentation & Publication
- Critical Thinking
- Scientific Communication
- Adaptability & Continuous Learning
- Data interpretation
- Research collaboration
- Undergraduate mentorship
- Problem solving
- Critical thinking
- Laboratory techniques
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
- Teaching experience
- Research methodology
- Innovation and creativity
- Research questions
- Ethical considerations
- Interpersonal and written communication
- Interpersonal skills
- Teamwork and collaboration
Languages
Spanish
Native/ Bilingual
English
Professional
Chinese (Mandarin)
Elementary
Accomplishments
- Cuban Academy of Science Award 2022, La Habana, Cuba
- Cuban Academy of Science Award 2019, La Habana, Cuba
- University of Havana Award 2015 for the results of research in the category of Scientific Work, La Habana, Cuba, January 2016.
- Transcendence and Originality Award, BSc Scientific Event of the University of Havana. La Habana, Cuba, 2008.
Certification
- CERSI Immersion Course in Drug Discovery, Drug Development, and Regulation (University of California, San Francisco, USA, September 13 – November 22, 2024)
- Simcyp Intensive 4-day PBPK. Boot Camp for Academics (Certara UK Limited Simcyp Division, July 2024)
- MX100VR | Pharmacometrics Spring School 2024: Modeling and Simulations with MonolixSuiteTM (Simulation Plus, April 2024).
- Workshop “Role of Pharmacometrics on the development of drugs and in the clinical practice” by professor Helena Colom, PhD from University of Barcelona, Spain (La Habana, Cuba, November 2022)
- Workshop “Pharmacometrics” by professor Víctor Mangas Sanjuan, PhD from University of Valencia, Spain, organized by Fundación Universitaria de Innovación y Desarrollo de la Universidad de la Habana (Cuba, March 2022).
- Online Workshop “Introductory Course on Pharmacometrics: concepts, nomenclature & applications” organized by Iberoamerican Pharmacometrics Network (October 2020).
- Workshop “Recent Advances in Drug Delivery Systems” (University of Havana, Cuba, January 2020).
- Post-Congress Workshop “Concepts, implementation, evaluation and application of population PK/PD analysis”, by professors Manuel Ibarra, PhD (University of La República Uruguay), Violeta Balbas Martínez, PhD and Belén P. Solans, PhD (University of Navarra, Spain) (Cuba, November 2019).
- Pre-Congress Workshop “nlmixr: an open-source package for Pharmacometric modelling in R”, by professors Mirjam N. Trame, PhD (RedIF2019, Cuba, November 2019).
- Workshop “Population Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Analysis II” by professor Víctor Mangas Sanjuan, PhD from University of Valencia, Spain (La Habana, Cuba, October 2019).
- Workshop “Population Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Analysis” by professor Víctor Mangas Sanjuan, PhD from University of Valencia, Spain (La Habana, Cuba, November 2018).
- Uppsala Pharmacometric Summer School (UPSS 2018) organized by The Uppsala Pharmacometric Research Group (Uppsala, Sweden, August 2018).
- Workshop “Pharmacometrics and nlmixr Training” by professors Mirjam N. Trame, PhD and. Wenping Wang, PhD (La Habana, Cuba, July 2018).
- Workshop on BCS drug evaluation and bioequivalence organized by professors Miguel Ángel Cabrera, PhD (Martha Abreu University, Las Villas) and Marival Bermejo, PhD (Coordinator of the Alfa III Group) (La Habana, Cuba, September 2016).
- Pre-Workshop Course "Drug Delivery System" taught by Dr Dr Marcelo Calderón from Free University of Berlin - Germany (University of Havana, La Habana, Cuba July 2016).
- “NONMEM® and nlmixR Introduction Training” by professors Mirjam N. Trame, PhD from University of Florida and Wenping Wang, PhD (Executive Director of Novartis) (La Habana, Cuba, June 2017).
- II Biopharmaceutical and Bioequivalence Update Workshop: "Advanced Topics in Biopharmacy and Pharmacokinetics" organized by professors Miguel Ángel Cabrera, PhD (Martha Abreu University, Las Villas) and Marival Bermejo, PhD (Coordinator of the Alfa III Group) (La Habana, Cuba,September 2014).
- International online course "Beyond the didactic book: nanosciences, nanotechnology and nanotoxicology", promoted by the Institute of Biology of the Federal University of Rio Grande (FURG) and the National Institute of Science and Technology in Carbon Nanomaterials (CNPq), (Brazil, 2011)
- Advanced Course in Nanotechnology for Medicine by professor Sonia Trigueros, PhD from Oxford University (CNIC, La Habana, Cuba, June 2010).
Affiliations
- Language learning
- New technologies and their applications in science
- Machine learning and artificial intelligence in drug development
- Passionate about animal welfare and environmental sustainability
- Hiking and tennis as part of an active and balanced lifestyle
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Postdoctoral Researcher
University of California, San Francisco
07.2023 - Current
Associate Researcher
University of Havana
11.2021 - 06.2023
Assistant Researcher
University of Havana
10.2016 - 09.2021
Assistant Professor
University of Havana
10.2015 - 06.2023
Aspirant Researcher
University of Havana
09.2009 - 09.2016
Ph.D. - Pharmaceutical Sciences
University of Havana
Master of Science - Pharmacology
University of Havana
Bachelor of Science - Pharmacy
University of Havana
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