Kamal Dua, PhD (Pharm. Sci.), PhD (Immunol. and Microbiol.), MPharm, BPharm

Area of Study / Keywords

Drug Delivery Nanoparticles Lung Diseases Inflammation Immunology

About

Dr Kamal Dua is an award-winning pharmaceutics and drug delivery researcher who has deep roots in teaching, research and industry spanning three nations and two continents. He holds two doctoral degrees in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Immunology & Microbiology, and has also completed four professional diplomas in the areas of clinical research, product development, drug regulation, and documentation and intellectual property rights.

In his role as an Associate Professor in the Discipline of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Health at University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Australia, Dr Dua alongside teaching in the Pharmacy program, also leads a suite of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) courses where, as a Program Coordinator, his responsibilities include coordinating the academic and research activities for those courses.

Drawing on his experience with various pharmacy schools in Australia and overseas, Dr Dua has blended different modes of innovative teaching with traditional teaching modes to create a flexible, student-centred and engaging approach to pedagogy.

Dr Dua is also a Core member, Australian Research Consortium in Complementary and Integrative Medicine (ARCCIM), UTS; Adjunct Fellow, NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Australia; Adjunct Professor, Sunway University, Malaysia; Adjunct Senior Lecturer, International Medical University and Taylor's University, Malaysia; Adjunct Faculty, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, India and Research Associate at the Australia-China Relations Institute (UTS:ACRI). He also held a Conjoint Lecturer position with the School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Australia.

Dr Dua’s collaborations include working with Dr Michael John Rathbone, former Professor and Dean, School of Pharmacy, at the International Medical University in Malaysia, and founder of ULTI Pharmaceuticals, a veterinary pharmaceutical company based in New Zealand. Kamal is associated as a consultant on quality systems management and GMP for ULTI Pharmaceuticals.

Dr Dua’s academic research has contributed significantly to the field of managing chronic inflammatory diseases, especially airway diseases, using novel nano-carriers to deliver potential therapeutic molecules, including phytoconstituents. His research involves identifying potential key targets regulating the pathophysiology of the disease and formulating them into effective drug delivery systems that could be translated to clinical settings.

Dr Dua has been recognised and named as one of Australia’s Top 250 researchers in 2024 and 2025 by The Australian's Research Magazine. Dr Dua was ranked #1 in Pharmacology & Pharmacy in 2025 and in Toxicology in 2024 respectively, within the research discipline of Health and Medical Sciences, a testament to the excellence of the research undertaken. The award is based on the number of citations for papers published in the top 20 journals in each field over the past five years. Dr Dua has been prolific with his publications to date in top-ranking journals and has built a strong local and international collaboration network as part of that. 

To date, his research has resulted in more than 190 peer-reviewed publications in various recognised pharmacy and pharmacology journals, with citations exceeding 16,000. He has also presented his research at more than 100 national and international conferences, published more than 70 book chapters, and eleven books on issues ranging from drug delivery and pathophysiological mechanisms underlying respiratory diseases, to cancer.

Dr Dua’s work has been recognised by various awards and fellowships including the Faculty of Health Dean’s Academic Excellence Award for Faculty Engagement (2023, 2019), Excellence Award in Pharmacy (2018), Young Scientist Award (2011), International Association for Dental Research Southeast Asian Division (IADR SEA); Dentsply Student Clinician Program Award (2014); the Educational Workshop Fellowship/Travel award by the World Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases - WSPID (2011 and 2013); and the Sri. K. Sri Harsha Memorial Gold Medal and Rank Certificate (2004).

Research

Dr Dua has a multi-faceted research background with experience in drug delivery technology, biomedical sciences, immunology and microbiology. He is a pharmaceutical and formulation scientist who recognised that there was limited information linking knowledge acquired from various biological (cellular and molecular) approaches to drug delivery. This observation encouraged him to pursue research studies in the field of immunology and microbiology to enhance his ability to bridge the gap between formulation sciences and biological advances. Being a highly focussed and motivated researcher, Dr Dua’s career is dedicated to improving outcomes in healthcare through his initiatives in the formulation and biomedical research.

His expertise in Pharmaceutical Technology and Immunology & Microbiology enables him to confidently lead cross-disciplinary research in pharmaceutical drug delivery and biological sciences. Dr Dua's research involves identifying potential key targets regulating the pathophysiology of disease and formulating them into effective drug delivery systems that could be translated to clinical settings, thereby contributing to an impactful change. Dr Dua is a Leader of Drug Delivery Research at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Macquarie University, Australia and a Core member of the Australian Research Consortium in Complementary and Integrative Medicine (ARCCIM), Faculty of Health University of Technology Sydney.

Dr Dua has developed substantial expertise in the study of immune responses and respiratory diseases using unique mouse models, in vitro and human ex vivo studies. His studies to date with Professor Phil Hansbro have identified novel factors such as microRNAs and IL-13 that regulate the susceptibility of people with chronic lung diseases such as asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) to influenza infection. These findings possess the potential of translating into new and effective treatments for people with chronic airway diseases. However, the safe and efficient delivery of biological entities to target tissues remains a significant challenge. Thus, to harness the potential of modulating these entities, Dr Dua is actively involved in guiding the nanotechnology-assisted delivery of these potential signalling molecules. Development of the nano-formulations will allow sequestering of these biological entities, improving tissue permeability and bioavailability.

His research has influenced the field of drug delivery by sparking recognition of encapsulating potential therapeutic moieties and biomolecules into vesicular drug delivery systems to target inflammatory conditions, with a special emphasis on respiratory diseases [Cell Biochem Biophys (2025); Science of the Total Environment (2025); J Immunol (2024); Life Sci (2023); J Drug Deliv Sci Technol (2023); Nutrients (2023); Pharmaceutics (2022); Environ Sci Pollut Res Int (2022); Int J Pharm (2022); Drug Discov Today (2022); Life Sci (2021); Assay Drug Dev Technol (2021); Cancers (2020); Expert Opin. Drug Deliv. (2020); Mater. Sci. Eng. C (2020); J. Microencapsul (2020); Toxicol in vitro (2020); Int. J. Biol. Macromol. (2019); J. Photochem. Photobiol. B (2019); Drug Deliv. Transl. Res. (2018); Pharm. Nanotechnol (2018)].

Dr. Dua's overall skills and expertise in formulation development combined with his in-depth knowledge of immunology enables him to further advance his research with herbal moieties and to explore new avenues and opportunities to expand this area of his pharmaceutical research. As a result, Dr Dua and his team, is actively pursuing their research interests in encapsulating various phytoconstituents in vesicular drug delivery systems to target inflammation in many disease states including airway diseases [Agarwood (Cell Biochem Biophys, 2025); 18-β-Glycyrrhetinic acid (J. Drug Deliv Technol, 2024; Pathol Res Pract 2024); Agarwood (Nutrients, 2023); Berberine (Pathol Res Pract, 2024; Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol, 2023; Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2022; Antioxidants, 2022; Pharmaceutics, 2022), Zerumbone (Naunyn-Schmiedeb. Arch. Pharmacol., 2024, 2023), Curcumin (Curr Pharm Design, 2020; Nanomedicine, 2020; Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces, 2018), Rutin (Toxicol in vitro, 2020; Future Med Chem, 2021; Life Sci, 2021), Celastrol (Int. J. Polym. Mater, 2020; Biomed Pharmacother, 2019), Naringenin (J Food Biochem., 2021; Eur J Pharmacol, 2020), Boswellic acid (Future Med Chem, 2020); Tragia involucrata (Antiinflamm Antiallergy Agents Med Chem, 2021); Lens Culinaris Medik. (Curr Pharm Design, 2021).

Dr Dua's other research interests include:
• Solubility enhancement of poorly water-soluble drugs using solid dispersions, molecular inclusion complexes, co-precipitates, and salt-forming techniques.
• Topical, ocular and advanced (nanotechnology, liposomes and proniosomes) drug delivery systems (in dosage forms such as ointments, gels and creams).
• Transdermal drug delivery
• Periodontal drug delivery
• Use of natural/herbal compounds in oral and topical dosage forms using novel approaches and their pharmacological investigations

Dr Dua is an active researcher and has established both national and international collaborations with various Universities. Some of these collaborations include The University of Tasmania, Hobart TAS; University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia; The Queen’s University of Belfast, UK; Ulster University, UK; University Free State, South Africa; Hacettepe University, Turkey; University Sao Paulo, Brazil; University of Alberta, Canada; Queensland University of Technology, Australia; Western Sydney University, Australia; The University of Newcastle, Australia; Perdana University, Malaysia; Pontifical Catholic University, Chile; Kumamoto University, Japan; The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad & Tobago; National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), India and Amity University, India

IMPACT SUMMARY

Research Impact Overview

My research contributions have been nationally and internationally recognised, reflecting both academic excellence and real-world translational outcomes. In 2024 and 2025, I was honoured as one of Australia’s Top 250 Researchers by The Australian’s Research Magazine. I achieved a #1 national ranking in Pharmacology & Pharmacy (2025) and #1 in Toxicology (2024) within the Health and Medical Sciences discipline. These accolades underscore the sustained quality, innovation, and impact of my research within the biomedical sciences. Moreover, in 2025, I was honoured to be selected as a finalist for the New South Wales (NSW) Premier’s Prizes for Science & Engineering in the category of Excellence in Medical Biological Sciences (cell and molecular biology, medical, veterinary, and genetics). This prestigious recognition reflects the significant impact and translational potential of my research in advancing biomedical science within both academic and applied settings. 

Global Adoption of Research Findings

My research has influenced over 100 researchers globally, who have applied my findings to elucidate the pathophysiology of infections in chronic diseases and to formulate novel therapeutic interventions. Notable citations and applications include: Imataka, J Clin Med, 2023 (Japan), Guo-Parke, Medicina, 2022 (UK), Reid, Front Immunol, 2021 (UK), Le Roux, Biomedicines, 2021 (France), Witteveldt, eLife, 2019 (UK), Singanayagam, Nat Commun, 2018 (UK), Gui, J Clin Lab Anal, 2019 (China), NM Collinson, Masters’ Thesis, 2018 (Australia), EU Patent: WO2021214451(A1).In the past year alone, my research has been cited in over 10 international patents filed with major patent offices, including WIPO, EPO, JPO, UKIPO, and USPTO. These filings span both industry (e.g., Regenall Ltd, Innoture IP Ltd – UK) and academic institutions (e.g., NTU – Singapore), reflecting a broad spectrum of translational impact. 

Industry Collaboration and Pharmaceutical Innovation

My research in nanosystems and targeted drug delivery has generated significant interest from pharmaceutical companies and the media. Since 2020, I have led a partnership with De’Aurora (Victoria, Australia) to explore the therapeutic potential of agarwood oil nanoemulsions for: Lung cancer [PCT: WO/2024/229503], Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) [PMID: 36839377], Lung inflammation and oxidative stress [PMID: 37879146; 37662712]. These findings were recently endorsed by Hon. Curtis Pitt MP, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland, in support of academic-industry collaboration with Central Queensland University (CQU). De’Aurora has committed further funding to advance this work into the next phase of preclinical testing. Additionally, Pharmako Biotechnologies (NSW) has funded my laboratory to investigate their marketed Curcumin nutraceutical in: Lung cancer [PMID: 38657558] and COPD [PMID: 38909404; 39165583] 

Public Engagement and Global Media Reach

My studies on berberine nanoparticles gained significant media attention globally [17 news outlets, with Medical News today having >1.1 M viewers, 1 blog, 26 Twitter (X) and 4 Redditors].  Furthermore, the research was featured on the official health portal of German Pharmacists; apotheker.de - Berberine in Lung Cancer. These media engagements have stimulated industry interest from companies such as: Vitex Pharmaceuticals (NSW), Complementary Medicine Group (CMG, NSW) and Gnosis by Lesaffre (France). These partners are now supporting expanded investigations into bioactive compound delivery systems. 

Translational Impact: From Lab to Community and Capacity Building and STEM Education

My impact extends beyond the laboratory-based research and setting, bridging science, industry, and community. Through collaborative research and engagement, I have advanced the quality, trust, and accessibility of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). By integrating Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) into CAM and co-designing science-based training with practitioners, I help ensure natural therapies meet the highest standards. My work has also significantly influenced STEM education and scientific literacy, particularly through securing $800,000 in NSW Government funding under the New Education and Training Model (NETM). This enabled my team to develop and deliver four free microcredential courses to over 250 learners, including industry professionals, healthcare workers and high school students, thereby building capacity in the pharmaceutical sector and empowering the broader community with an evidence-based understanding of good manufacturing practices in the pharmaceutical and allied industries. 

Overall, my research portfolio reflects a combination of scientific excellence, industry relevance, and community impact. Through collaborative innovation, strategic partnerships, and public engagement, I continue to contribute meaningfully to global health outcomes, pharmaceutical advancement, and the integration of natural therapies into mainstream healthcare practice.

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