• Clinical pharmacokinetics (drug disposition) and pharmacodynamics (drug action)
• Novel approaches to therapeutic drug monitoring
• Hormonal influences and drug action and disposition in women
• Pharmacogenetics
• Pharmaceutical outcomes evaluations

My long-term research focus has been in clinical pharmacokinetics (drug disposition) and pharmacodynamics (drug action), particularly as these disciplines relate to: women's health; effects of gender, age, and other pathophysiologic states on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics; and novel approaches to therapeutic drug monitoring. More recent interests include pharmacogenetics and pharmaceutical outcomes evaluations. Every day I use my clinical practice experiences to identify relevant pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic problems that are then studied through my laboratory-based research program. As an integrator who bridges the gap between the basic and clinical sciences, my goal for my research program is to address these clinical problems from a qualitative, quantitative, and mechanistic perspective and to make a difference in the health and well-being of patients (i.e. study results are directly and immediately incorporated into patient care).

Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) Prior to and During Pregnancy in Patients with Unexplained Secondary Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion (RSA). This is the first study ever to evaluate the pharmacokinetics (study of what the body does to a drug) and pharmacodynamics (study of what drugs do to a body) prior to and during pregnancy in patients of intravenous immunoglobulin with recurrent pregnancy loss.

Pharmacogenetics of Mycophenolate in Thoracic Transplant Recipients: Role of UDP-Glucuronosyltransferases. This study seeks to determine if the inter-patient variability observed in the mycophenolate pharmacokinetics of thoracic transplant recipients can be partially explained by genetic variability in the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) enzymes responsible for its metabolism.

Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacogenetics of Mycophenolate in Islet Cell Transplant Recipients. This project seeks to characterize the pharmacokinetics and pharmacogenetics of mycophenolic acid (MPA) and its glucuronidated metabolites and develop limited sampling strategies for this patient subpopulation.

Stability of Medications in Extemporaneously Prepared Oral Suspensions for Use in Pediatric Patients. Most oral medications come in capsule or tablet form, many of which are prescribed to children (and to some adults) who cannot swallow capsules or tablets. As such, alternative dosage forms, primarily oral suspensions, need to be compounded extemporaneously and undergo stability testing to ensure effective drug delivery to patients and to give the suspensions a reasonable expiration date. In my lab, we evaluate the stability of various extemporaneously-compounded suspensions and apply the results immediately to care of pediatric patients.

out of a total of ~440 publications (including 194 articles in national and international peer-reviewed journals, 212 research abstracts, 2 books/monographs, 12 book chapters, and >20 other works)

Greanya ED, Poulin E, Partovi N, Shapiro RJ, Al-Khatib M, Ensom MH. Pharmacokinetics of tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil in renal transplant recipients on a corticosteroid-free regimen. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2012 Jan 15;69(2):134-42. PMID: 22215359

Wilby KJ, Ensom MH. Pharmacokinetics of antimalarials in pregnancy: a systematic review. Clin Pharmacokinet. 2011 Nov 1;50(11):705-23. doi: 10.2165/11594550-000000000-00000. Erratum in: Clin Pharmacokinet. 2011 Nov 1;50(11):following 723. PMID: 21973268

Ensom MH, Stephenson MD. A two-center study on the pharmacokinetics of intravenous immunoglobulin before and during pregnancy in healthy women with poor obstetrical histories. Hum Reprod. 2011 Sep;26(9):2283-8. Epub 2011 Jul 18. PMID: 21771770

Ensom MH, Decarie D, Rudolph S. Stability of levetiracetam in extemporaneously compounded suspensions. Can J Hosp Pharm. 2011 May;64(3):207-11. PMID: 22479056

Poulin E, Greanya E, Partovi N, Shapiro RJ, Al-Khatib M, Ensom MHH: Development and Validation of Limited Sampling Strategies for Tacrolimus and Mycophenolate in Steroid-Free Renal Transplant Regimens. Ther Drug Monit. 2011;33:50-5. PMID: 21157401

Ting LSL, Benoit-Biancamano M, Bernard O, Riggs KW, Guillemette C, Ensom MHH: Pharmacogenetic Impact of UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase Metabolic and Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein 2 Transport Pathway on Mycophenolic Acid in Thoracic Transplant Recipients: An Exploratory Study. Pharmacotherapy. 2010;30:1097–108. PMID: 20973683

Al-Khatib M, Shapiro RJ, Partovi N, Ting LSL, Ensom MHH: Pharmacokinetics of Mycophenolate and its Glucuronidated Metabolites in Stable Islet Transplant Recipients. Ther Drug Monit. 2010;32:373-8. PMID: 20357699

Al-Khatib M, Shapiro RJ, Partovi N, Ting LSL, Levine M, Ensom MHH: Performance of Limited Sampling Strategies for Predicting Mycophenolate Area Under the Concentration-Time Curve in Islet Transplant Recipients. Ann Pharmacother. 2010;44:19-27. PMID: 19996322

Bruchet NK, Ensom MHH.: Limited Sampling Strategies for Mycophenolic Acid in Solid Organ Transplantation: A Systematic Review. Expert Opinion on Drug Metabolism and Toxicology. 2009;5:1079-97. PMID: 19689217

Lam S, Partovi N, Ting LS, Ensom MH.: Corticosteroid interactions with cyclosporine, tacrolimus, mycophenolate, and sirolimus: fact or fiction?. Ann Pharmacother. 2008 Jul;42(7):1037-47. PMID: 18594053

Ting LS, Partovi N, Levy RD, Riggs KW, Ensom MH.: Pharmacokinetics of mycophenolic acid and its phenolic-glucuronide and ACYl glucuronide metabolites in stable thoracic transplant recipients. Ther Drug Monit. 2008 Jun;30(3):282-91. PMID: 18520599

Ting LSL, Partovi N, Levy RD, Ignaszewski AP, Ensom MHH. Performance of Limited Sampling Strategies for Predicting Mycophenolate Area Under the Curve in Thoracic Transplant Recipients. Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation (JHLT). 2008;27:325-8. PMID: 18342756

Oremus M, Zeidler J, Ensom MHH, Matsuda-Abedini M, Balion C, Booker L, Archer C, Raina P. Utility of Monitoring Mycophenolic Acid in Solid Organ Transplant Patients. Evid Rep Technol Assess. 2008;164:1-131. PMID: 18457479

Ensom MHH, Decarie D, Sheppard I. Stability of Lansoprazole in Extemporaneously Compounded Suspensions for Nasogastric or Oral Administration. Can J Hosp Pharm. 2007;60:184-91.

Ting LSL, Partovi N, Levy RD, Riggs KW, Ensom MHH. Pharmacokinetics of Mycophenolic Acid and its Glucuronidated Metabolites in Stable Lung Transplant Recipients. Ann Pharmacother. 2006;40:1509-16. PMID: 16882870

Ting LSL, Villeneuve E, Ensom MHH. Beyond Cyclosporine: A Systematic Review of Limited Sampling Strategies for Other Immunosuppressants. Ther Drug Monit. 2006;28:419-30. PMID: 16778729

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Foundation 2012 Award for Sustained Contributions

Publication Award, B.C. Branch (Review Article Category) C.S.H.P. - 2011

Publication Award, B.C. Branch (Original Research Category) C.S.H.P. - 2011

American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) Education Award "for major contributions to advancing clinical pharmacy education" - 2011

Bristol-Myers Squibb Award for Excellence in Pharmaceutical Teaching, UBC - 2011

Specialties in Pharmacy Practice Award (Hospira Healthcare Corporation), C.S.H.P. - 2011

Specialties in Pharmacy Practice Award (Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada), C.S.H.P. - 2011

Publication Award, B.C. Branch C.S.H.P. - 2010

Best Paper Award Finalist/First Runner-Up (“The Great Eight”), American College of Clinical Pharmacy 2010 Annual Meeting

Rho Chi Lecturer, University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy - 2010

Best Paper Award Finalist/First Runner-Up (“The Great Eight”), American College of Clinical Pharmacy 2009 Annual Meeting

Class of 2009 Master Teacher Award, UBC - 2009

Specialties in Pharmacy Practice Award, C.S.H.P. -2009

Publication Award, B.C. Branch C.S.H.P. - 2008

UBC Killam Research Prize (in Science Category) - 2008

Publication Award, B.C. Branch C.S.H.P. - 2007

Fellow, Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, FCAHS -2007

Publication Award, B.C. Branch C.S.H.P. - 2006

American College of Clinical Pharmacy Russell R Miller Publication Award, “in recognition of sustained and outstanding contributions to the literature of clinical pharmacy, thereby advancing both clinical pharmacy practice and rational pharmacotherapy” - 2006

Publication Award, B.C. Branch C.S.H.P. - 2005

UBC Distinguished University Scholar – 2003

Best Poster Award (1st place), American College of Clinical Pharmacy 2003 Annual Meeting

Best Poster Award (1st place), Canadian College of Clinical Pharmacy 2003 Annual Meeting

Fellow, Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists, FCSHP – 2003

ACPA Service Award, American Chinese Pharmaceutical Association – 2002

Bristol-Myers Squibb Excellence in Teaching Award – 2001

UBC Killam Teaching Prize – 2000

Pfizer Pharmacy Practice Award, B.C. Branch C.S.H.P. – 2000