Area of Study / Keywords

Drug Metabolism Drug/Gene-Interactions Pharmacokinetics Pharmacogenomics Kinetic Modeling Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Pharmacotherapy Solid Organ Transplants Infectious Disease Neurology Toxicology Uremic Toxins

About

Dr. Tony Kiang is a residency-, PhD-, and postdoctoral fellowship-trained clinical pharmacy specialist / pharmacologist / toxicologist in a tenure-track appointment in the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Alberta. Dr. Kiang is in a unique position for being able to teach and research at high levels in both clinical and experimental areas. Dr. Kiang has extensive experience with pharmacokinetic modeling, drug analysis, and toxicological assessment in various disease states, as evident by his 41 peer-reviewed full papers (mostly as the primary or corresponding author), 2 books, and 6 book chapters in high impact publications. Although still considered a new investigator, he has already been cited 1560 times (h-index 17; i10-index 26; Google Scholar analytics: Kiang publications) and serves on the editorial boards of 3 well-regarded journals (please see below). Dr. Kiang is also sought-after internationally by the pharmaceutical industry for his consulting expertise in drug kinetic modeling and therapeutic drug monitoring. Dr. Kiang's laboratory is funded by multiple grants, including tri-council funding to support his unique role in facilitating the translation of research knowledge from the bench to the bedside. 

Education

Post-Doctoral Fellowship in clinical pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia (2010 - 2015)

Accredited Canadian Pharmacy Residency, Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, Vancouver, British Columbia (2009-2010) [awarded Resident of the Year]

Doctor of Philosophy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia (2009)

Bachelor of Science, Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia (2002) [obtained the best undergraduate record]

Examples of Distinctions and Awards:

2016 Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacist- BC branch publication award in original research (CJHP 2016;69:269-79) (October 2016)

2015 ACCP Global Conference on Clinical Pharmacy best poster award (second place runner-up) (October 2015)

2015 ACCP Global Conference on Clinical Pharmacy best poster finalist (September 2015)

UBC Pharmaceutical Sciences research day best poster award (PDF/RA category) (May 2015) 

UBC Faculty of Graduate Studies PDF travel award (October 2012) 

M Kelli Jordan travel award from ACCP PK/PD/PG PRN (October 2012) 

2012 ACCP virtual poster symposium poster finalist (June 2012)

2011 CFRI student research forum (post-doctoral category) best poster award (June 2011)

2010 VCH-PHC pharmacy residency program Resident of the Year (July 2010)

HC LePatourel scholarship in hospital pharmacy (2009 to 2010) 

CIHR Canada Graduate Scholarships doctoral award (2005 to 2008) – top tier national award 

MSFHR senior graduate studentship research award (2005 to 2008) – competitive provincial award 

Elsevier publication award [Kiang et al., Pharmacol Ther 2005, 106:97-102] (June 2005)

ASPET graduate student travel award (May 2005) 

UBC PhD tuition fee award (2004 to 2008) 

MSFHR junior graduate studentship research award (2003 to 2005) – competitive provincial award 

Rx&D Health Research Foundation graduate student scholarship in pharmacy (2003 to 2005, declined) 

Merck Frosst post graduate pharmacy fellowship (2003 to 2005, declined) 

Dean EL Woods memorial prize for best undergraduate record (June 2002) 

Dr. M. Pernarowski memorial scholarship (2001 to 2002) – outstanding record in pharmaceutical chemistry 

Medical Research Council summer research award (2001) 

London Drugs scholarship (2001 to 2002) 

Golden Key National Honour Society life membership (2000 to present)

UBC Undergraduate Scholar Program scholarship (1999 to 2002) 

Dean’s honour list (1999 to 2002)

George T & Myrtle W Cunningham scholarship (1999 to 2000) 

Service

International Committee, Curriculum Committee, Appeals Committee, Hiring Committee

Expert grant reviewer for Provincial (e.g. Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation Collaborative Innovation Development Grant) and International (e.g. National Science Center Poland, French National Research Agency) funding bodies

Media Interviews:

https://globalnews.ca/tag/dr-tony-kiang/

Research

Tri-Council Grants:

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada Discovery Grant and Supplements (principal investigator)

National Foundation Grants:

The Kidney Foundation of Canada Kidney Health Research Grant (principal investigator)

Institutional Grants:

Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) Innovation and Translational Research Award (principal investigator)

VCHRI Team Grant Award (principal investigator)

Mitacs Global Link (principal investigator)

Publications:

Please see Google Scholar link for full list of publications: Kiang publications

"Selected/recent" papers from the Kiang lab:

• Rong Y and Kiang TK. Characterization of human sulfotransferases catalyzing the formation of p-cresol sulfate and identification of mefenamic acid as a potent metabolism inhibitor and potential therapeutic agent for detoxification. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2021; doi: 10.1016/j.taap.2021.115553. [impact factor: 4.219]

• Zhu S, Rong Y, and Kiang TK. Effects of p-cresol on oxidative stress, glutathione depletion, and necrosis in HepaRG cells: comparisons to other uremic toxins and the role of p-cresol glucuronide formation. Pharmaceutics. 2021; 13:857. [impact factor: 6.321]

• Rong Y, Jun H, Kiang TK. Population pharmacokinetics of mycophenolic acid in paediatric patients. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2021; 87:1730-1757. [impact factor: 4.335]

• Rong Y and Kiang TK. Characterizations of Human UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase Enzymes in the Conjugation of p-Cresol. Toxicol Sci. 2020; 176:285-296. [impact factor: 4.849]

• Rong Y and Kiang TK. Mechanisms of Metabolism Interaction Between p-Cresol and Mycophenolic Acid. Toxicol Sci. 2020; 173:267-279. [impact factor: 4.849]

• Kiang TK and Ensom MH. Exposure-Toxicity Relationships of Mycophenolic Acid in Adult Kidney Transplant Patients. Clin Pharmacokinet. 2019; 58: 1533-1552. [impact factor: 6.447]

• Rong Y, Mayo P, Ensom MHH, and Kiang TK. Population Pharmacokinetics of Mycophenolic Acid Co-Administered with Tacrolimus in Corticosteroid-Free Adult Kidney Transplant Patients. Clin Pharmacokinet. 2019; 58:1483-1495. [impact factor: 6.447]

• Kiang TK, Partovi N, Shapiro RJ, Berman J, Collier A, Ensom MHH. Regression and Genomic Analyses on the Association Between Dose-Normalized Mycophenolic Acid Exposure and Absolute Neutrophil Count in Steroid-Free, De Novo Kidney Transplant Recipients. Clin Drug Investig. 2018; 38:1011-1022. [impact factor: 2.859]

• Kiang TK, Ranamukhaarachchi S, Ensom MH. Revolutionizing Therapeutic Drug Monitoring with the Use of Interstitial Fluid and Microneedles Technology. Pharmaceutics. 2017;9:43. [impact factor: 6.321]

Editorial Board Memberships:

Clinical Drug Investigation, Springer/Adis

Drugs in R&D, Springer/Adis

European Journal of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Springer/Adis

Teaching

Research Mentorships:

Dr. Kiang's research trainees have won various competitive training awards (e.g. Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Summer Internship; Mike Wolowky Graduate Scholarship; Dr. Fakhreddin Jamali Graduate Fellowship in Pharmaceutical Sciences; Mitacs Globalink Research Award).

Past and Current Trainees

PharmD: 15

MSc thesis: 2

Academic advisor: 7

PhD thesis: 2

Post-doctoral fellow: 2

PGY1/PGY2 pharmacy residents: 8

Research associate: 1

Courses:

PHARM446: Pharmacotherapy 9 (ID & Transplant) [co-coordinator]

PHARM310: Clinical Pharmacogenomics

PHARM346: Pharmacotherapy 5 (ID)

PHARM323: Patient Skills 4

PHARM303: Essentials of Pharmacokinetics [co-instructor]

PHARM630: Metabolism and Excretion of Drugs

PHARM615: Advanced Pharmacokinetics

PHARM496: Clinical Pharmacogenomics as a Basis for Precision Medicine

PHARM 489: Seminars in Therapeutics and Professional Practice [coordinator]

Oncol254: Principles of Oncology

IntD457: Global Health [co-coordinator]