DKICP Research Featured on an International Stage

Shugeng Cao, professor of pharmaceutical sciences, served as a keynote speaker at a symposium organized by Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, alongside other internationally renowned researchers. “It is an honor to be able to present the research we conducted at the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy on a global stage,” said Cao.

Cao is known for his expertise in natural products research, with a focus on the chemicals that are derived from plants and other organic sources such as fungi and marine organisms. His research is well funded by the National Institutes of Health, Hawaii Community Foundation, and industry partners, and has led to the identification of a number of potential new agents that are currently being investigated for use in humans.

Cao’s presentation in China focused on extracts from several Hawaiian plants that were able to support neuroprotection and regeneration in cell models relevant to brain health. Additional projects in the Cao lab identified extracts from natural sources endemic to Hawaii with potential anti-cancer activity.

“Dr. Cao is one of the most productive researchers at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, and he is a valued colleague in the department,” said Julie Adrian, chair of the department of pharmaceutical sciences. “It is exciting and noteworthy to see the hard work from his lab be recognized.”