Tony Kiang, BScPharm, ACPR, RPh, PhD
Contact
Associate Professor (with Tenure), Faculty of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
- tkiang@ualberta.ca
- Phone
- (780) 492-1685
- Address
-
3-142D (Office); 3081 (Lab) Katz Group Centre For Research
11315 - 87 Ave NWEdmonton ABT6G 2H5
Overview
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 Tenured Associate Professor 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 sciences. Dr. Kiang has extensive experience with pharmacokinetic modeling, drug analysis, and toxicological assessment in various disease states, as evident by his 51 peer-reviewed full papers (mostly as the primary or the corresponding author), 2 books, and 7 book chapters in high impact publications. Although still considered a new investigator, he has already been cited >2140 times (h-index 22; i10-index 32; Google Scholar analytics: Kiang publications) and serves on the editorial boards of a number of well-regarded journals. 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 the Resident of the Year]
Doctor of Philosophy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia (2009) [awarded the CIHR Canada Graduate Scholarships Doctoral Award]
Bachelor of Science, Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia (2002) [obtained the best undergraduate record]
Examples of Distinctions and Awards:
2021 COVID-19 Remote Teaching Award nominee by the Office of the Provost and Vice President, University of Alberta
2020 Wiley a top downloaded paper / most read in Biomedical Chromatography (2018-2019) (Biomed Chromatogr 2019, 33:e4549)
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)
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Canada Graduate Scholarships doctoral award (2005 to 2008) – top tier national award
Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (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
Expert grant reviewer for Provincial (e.g. Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation Collaborative Innovation Development Grant), National (e.g., Kidney Foundation of Canada, Kidney Health Research Grant; New Frontiers in Research Fund; Canadian Institutes of Health Research), and International (e.g. National Science Center Poland, French National Research Agency) funding bodies
Media Interviews:
https://globalnews.ca/tag/dr-tony-kiang/
https://www.ualberta.ca/pharmacy/news/2023/07-july/personal-best.html
https://www.ualberta.ca/folio/2023/06/could-prescribing-music-make-medications-work-better.html
https://globalnews.ca/news/9793892/pharmacology-music-drugs-metabolize-alberta/
https://www.kmfa.org/programs/18-staccato/episodes/7987-music-might-be-best-with-your-medication
Research
Tri-Council Grants:
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada Discovery Grant and Supplements (principal investigator): https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/index_eng.asp
New Frontiers in Research Fund - Exploration (Tri-Council) (principal investigator): https://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/nfrf-fnfr/exploration/2022/award_recipients-titulaires_subvention-eng.aspx
National Foundation Grants:
The Kidney Foundation of Canada Allied Health Kidney Research Grant (principal investigator): https://kidney.ca/Research/Supported-Research/ABNT/Effects-of-prednisone-avoidance-or-tapering-on-myc
The Kidney Foundation of Canada Kidney Health Research Grant (principal investigator): https://kidney.ca/Research/Supported-Research/ABS/p-Cresol-and-mycophenolate-interaction-in-adult-ki
Institutional Grants:
Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) Innovation and Translational Research Award (principal investigator): https://www.vchri.ca/announcement/2017/05/14/innovation-and-translational-research-awards-2017-recipients
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:
- Al-Dajani A, Hou QK, Kiang TK. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analytical methods for the quantitation of p-cresol sulfate and indoxyl sulfate in human matrices: biological applications and diagnostic potentials. Pharmaceutics. In Press (https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/16/6/743)
- Rong Y, Wichart J, Hamiwka L, Kiang TK. Significant effects of renal function on mycophenolic acid total clearance in pediatric kidney transplant recipients with population pharmacokinetic modeling. Clin Pharmacokinet. 2023; 62:1289-1303.
- Rong Y and Kiang TK. Clinical evidence on the purported pharmacokinetic interactions between corticosteroids and mycophenolic acid. Clin Pharmacokinet. 2023; 62: 157-207.
- Rong Y, Colbourne P, Gourishankar S, Kiang TK. Significant correlations between p-cresol and mycophenolic acid plasma concentrations in adult kidney transplant recipients. Clin Drug Investig. 2022; doi: 10.1007/s40261-022-01121-1.
- Rong Y, Patel V, Kiang TK. Recent lessons learned from population pharmacokinetic studies of mycophenolic acid: physiological, genomic, and drug interactions leading to the prediction of drug effects. Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol. 2022; doi: 10.1080/17425255.2021.2027906.
- 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.
- 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.
- Rong Y, Jun H, Kiang TK. Population pharmacokinetics of mycophenolic acid in paediatric patients. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2021; 87:1730-1757.
- Jun H..., Kiang TK. Comparisons of four protein-binding models characterizing the pharmacokinetics of unbound phenytoin in adult patients using non-linear mixed-effects modeling. Drugs R&D. 2020; 20:343-358.
- Rong Y and Kiang TK. Characterizations of human UDP-glucuronosyltransferase enzymes in the conjugation of p-cresol. Toxicol Sci. 2020; 176:285-296.
- Rong Y and Kiang TK. Mechanisms of metabolism interaction between p-cresol and mycophenolic acid. Toxicol Sci. 2020; 173:267-279.
- Kiang TK and Ensom MH. Exposure-toxicity relationships of mycophenolic acid in adult kidney transplant patients. Clin Pharmacokinet. 2019; 58: 1533-1552.
- 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.
- 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.
- Kiang TK, Ranamukhaarachchi S, Ensom MH. Revolutionizing therapeutic drug monitoring with the use of interstitial fluid and microneedles technology. Pharmaceutics. 2017;9:43.
Editorial Board Memberships:
British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, Wiley (Executive Editorial Board)
Clinical Pharmacokinetics, Springer/Nature
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; Dr. Leonard Wiebe Graduate Award in Pharmaceutical Sciences; Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship).
Courses:
PHARM415: Advanced Clinical Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacogenomics [coordinator; New Course; Winter 2025]
EXPH2555: CCPP Advanced Pharmacotherapy III [coordinator]
PHARM446: Pharmacotherapy 9 (ID & Transplant) [coordinator]
PHARM401: Toxicology
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]
Announcements
Recent trainee announcements:
April 2021: congratulations to Ms. Sang Zhu on successfully defending her MSc thesis!
December 2021: congratulations to Ms. Yan Rong (PhD candidate) on receiving the Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship!
March 2022: congratulations to Yan Rong on successfully defending her PhD thesis!
September 2022: congratulations to Yashita Singh on successfully defending her MSc thesis!
March 2023: congratulations to Mostafa Moharram (PharmD candidate) for obtaining the APSA student research award!
March 2023: congratulations to Angel Nong (PharmD candidate) for obtaining the 2023 CSPS National Undergraduate Student Research Program Award!
April 2023: congratulations to Shiying Yang (PharmD candidate) for obtaining the FoPPS Summer Research Scholarship Award
May 2023: congratulations to Jinal Adhiya (MSc trainee) for obtaining the FoPPS Entrance Scholarship
May 2023: congratulations to Al'aA Al Dajani (PhD trainee) for being named the 2023 American College of Clinical Pharmacology Student Abstract Award Winner (with travel stipend, podium presentation invitation, and honorarium)
June 2023: congratulations to Dr. Yan Rong (fellow) for receiving the American College of Clinical Pharmacology (ACCP) Clinical Pharmacometrics SIG Trainee Award
July 2023: congratulations to Jinal Adhiya and Ali Shalaby (MSc trainees) for obtaining the University of Alberta Graduate Recruitment Scholarships
November 2023: congratulations to Heba Aref (PhD candidate) on receiving the Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship!
March 2024: congratulations to Heba Aref (PhD candidate) on receiving the Graduate Student Research Assistant Award (2024) from Graduate Students' Association
April 2024: congratulations to Jinal Adhiya (PhD student) on receiving a top abstract honour and being invited to deliver an oral podium presentation on "Development of an in vitro renal cellular model for characterizing the transporter and metabolism interactions involving mycophenolate" at the Alberta Transplant Institute Annual Research Day
May 2024: congratulations to Jinal Adhiya on receiving a Student Choice poster award honour for the 2024 Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Day.
May 2024: congratulations to Heba Aref on receiving a Poster Award honour for the 2024 Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Day.
Other announcements:
Courses
EXPH 2555 - Pharmacotherapy III
Learners will expand their knowledge and skills in order to provide care to various patient populations. Learners will engage in active learning and focus on using evidence, applying the biopsychosocial model, making decisions, monitoring outcomes, and adjusting drug therapy for complex patients. Prerequisite EXPH 2554