IN-Ingredients donation provides students with hands-on clinical research opportunities

When Sachin A. Shah, PharmD, FACC, FAHA, professor of pharmacy practice and regional coordinator for the Travis Air Force Base, and his student teams collaborate, they research cutting-edge issues in clinical trials that can have far-reaching, positive implications for human health.

A recent $40,000 gift from IN-Ingredients, a worldwide supplier of scientifically researched, branded ingredients, equips students with the raw materials necessary to continue their innovative research into dietary supplements and their effects on common health conditions.

The gift provides resources to Dr. Shah’s Innovative Clinical and Outcomes Research (iCOR) team, an on-campus hub of clinical research that provides opportunities for students to collaborate with peers, faculty, fellows and industry pharmacists on high-impact research projects. The team is supported by companies such as IN-Ingredients and an impressive network of alumni who are themselves industry leaders.

Dr. Shah is the director of the iCOR lab, which specializes in conducting novel dietary supplement and device trials while serving as a training program for students pursuing careers in the pharmaceutical industry.

IN-Ingredients’ latest gift is made possible because of the company founders’ philanthropic roots. President Gus Romero and his brother, IN-Ingredients co-founder Tim Romero, share a mutual commitment with the School of Pharmacy in preparing students to succeed in the ever-evolving pharmaceutical industry.

“Gus is a gem of a human being who is truly committed to improving human health,” Dr. Shah says, “and he is always happy to see the outcomes our students are attaining.”

“We share a dedication to the value of student research and the new opportunities that well-prepared pharmacy students have for work as professionals in the new, novel pharmaceutical market.”

After participating in a previous pilot study, Romero says, his IN-Ingredients team now aim to expand that research with a larger study to compile clinical data into the benefits of dietary supplements to help treat the effects of conditions such as diabetes.

“Our vision is to help students be better equipped to do things that improve the world,” Romero says. “We want to prepare students to change the world.”

On a practical level, that means exposing students to hands-on biotech experience that develops their research skills while empowering them to make new discoveries in the laboratory.

“It’s been great to hear about the students, their research, and how bright they are,” Romero adds. “We’re happy to have this opportunity to support and encourage their academic and experiential growth.”

In addition, he observes, “these students are the brightest minds, a resource to make future discoveries into the unknown, discoveries that are impactful and exciting.” He believes Pacific pharmacy students and faculty share his company’s goal of “creating ideas and making something that can change a consumer’s life for the better.”

“We feel comfortable and confident that our donation will benefit these students.”

Ken Nguyen ’23 notes that his recent iCOR experiences have strengthened his interest in the pharmaceutical industry, particularly drug development.

"Working with a clinical trial via iCOR helped me gain exposure to the many moving pieces that are involved in these studies,” Nguyen says. “From solving logistical issues to developing recruitment strategies, I have learned valuable tools that will prepare me for my future role as a clinical operations fellow at Gilead.”

“iCOR consistently motivates me to think critically and read into the little yet important details,” he adds. “The gift from IN-Ingredients supports my long-term career goals."

Dr. Shah believes the hands-on experience in clinical trials gives students the practical vs. theoretical knowledge they need to compete for new opportunities in today’s pharmaceutical marketplace.

“We want to give them as close to an industry experience as possible,” he explains, adding that because of their previous experiences with IN-Ingredients studies, several Pacific pharmacy alumni now occupy professional positions in leading pharmaceutical companies.

Dr. Shah notes that because natural ingredients are a significant market share in the consumer health landscape, students’ exposure to these studies is crucial to their education. “Quite a few of today’s drugs have their origin in plants,” he adds.

In fact, he points out that caffeine – perhaps the world’s most commonly consumed drug – is a naturally occurring substance commonly found in the fruit, leaves, and beans of coffee, cacao, and guarana plants. So it’s important to research caffeine’s safety and efficacy and that of similar products.

With the IN-Ingredients gift, Dr. Shah and his iCOR students are discovering both the positive impact of natural ingredients on human health and the possible negative consequences.

“We hope that future gifts will bolster our dietary supplement research,” Dr. Shah says. “Clinical trials are expensive – and this gift augments our ability to keep doing them.”