Pursuing research at ETSU Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy has paid off for alumna
Yaa Yamoah Anane ('20), PharmD, MBA, MSc, who currently serves as the Oncology Brand Marketing Manager with Astrazeneca as
part of their Commercial Leadership Development Program.
Learn more about her story and research pursuits:
What did you research at Gatton?
•Examination of Asymmetric Dimethylarginine Levels in the Presence and Absence of
Type 2 Diabetes with Exploratory Genetic Association Analysis
•Type 2 Diabetes: An Exploratory Genetic Association Analysis and Effects on Cardiovascular
and Renal Biomarkers
•Evaluation of Orally Administered Poly(lactic-coglycolic) Acid Nanoparticles on Rat
Brain
Why was that research important to you?
I believe in research and the important role it plays in discovering new treatments
and shaping the delivery of healthcare; thus, shifting from the one-size-fits-all
approach to the new paradigm of precision medicine. The research was important to
me because it provided me the unique opportunity to not only gain hands-on experience,
but to more importantly, contribute to the knowledge and collective database in the
Pharmacogenomics space. I gained an in-depth understanding of biomarkers and the potential
of them being used as drug targets for the treatment of diseases. I have always had
a passion for research and I had a strong conviction that capitalizing on this passion
could lead to great career opportunities – and it did.
Who was the primary faculty member you worked with?
Sam Harirforoosh, PharmD, PhD, Professor in Pharm Sci.
How was your research experience impactful on your current career?
My research experience has had a great impact on my career. I have had the opportunity
to explore non-traditional pharmacy career paths that I otherwise could not have without
research experience. In 2019, my research received two national awards from the American
College of Clinical Pharmacology (ACCP) for being both one of the top eight student
researches and the top student research in the field of pharmacogenomics (The Elliot
S. Vessel Award). These humbling recognitions on a national stage set off my professional
career by creating an opportunity for me to do my post-doc fellowship with the Food
and Drug Administration (FDA). Through my fellowship program, I gained experience
in drug development process and was involved in several projects that focused on Clinical
Pharmacology and data extrapolation.
In addition to my PharmD and research, I also received my Master of Business Administration
(MBA) during my time at BGCOP. The combination of pharmacy training, research and
regulatory experiences coupled with my MBA placed me in a particularly unique and
versatile position with a plethora of career paths from which to choose. I am currently
an Oncology Brand Marketing Manager with Astrazeneca as part of their Commercial Leadership
Development Program. This role presents diverse avenues to apply the skills and knowledge
I received through my pharmacy, MBA and research trainings as well as my regulatory
experience from the FDA.
Have you had any publications since graduation?
•Yaa Y. Anane, Russell W. Fankhouser, Derek E. Murrell, Kojo Abakah, Hoa H. Quach,
Amber N. Seay, Angela V. Hanley, Kenny W. Bullins, David L. Hurley, and Sam Harirforoosh.
Examination of Asymmetric Dimethylarginine Levels in the Presence and Absence of Type
2 Diabetes with Exploratory Genetic Association Analysis (abstract). In: Clinical
Pharmacology in Drug Development, vol. 8, no. S1, pp. 81-82. Abstract no. 113.
•Russell W. Fankhouser, Derek E. Murrell, Yaa Y. Anane, David L. Hurley, Hadii M.
Mamuda, and Sam Harirforoosh. Type 2 Diabetes: An Exploratory Genetic Association
Analysis and Effects on Cardiovascular and Renal Biomarkers. Accepted for publication
by Drug Metabolism and Personalized Therapy (DMPT).
Anything else you’d like to mention?
The opportunities and flexibility BGCOP offers students to build careers in the various
disciplines within the practice of pharmacy, be it traditional or non-traditional,
are invaluable. I am thankful to have been able to receive training and support from
such a nurturing institution whose priority is the success of its students.