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Research Interests

• Paediatric Pharmacology
• Perinatal Toxicology
• Renal Handling of Drugs

Research Activities

Pediatric pharmacology: The disposition and effects of drugs on the developing organism. Special interest in the very low birth weight infant and in pediatric cancer chemotherapy - involves both basic and clinical studies. This work aims at tailoring a rational drug schedule for the developing infant and child.

Renal handling of drugs: Application of various in vitro and in vivo methods to study the handling of drugs by the kidney on a molecular and physiological level - clearance studies; binding studies to the brush border and antiluminal membranes; the multiple indicator injection technique; and tissue culture studies. Currently I am studying the renal handling of digoxin by the tubular cell.

Perinatal toxicology: Adverse effects of drugs and chemicals in the perinatal period. Special interest on the teratogenic and developmental effects of drugs and chemicals. The "Motherisk" program for antenatal counseling of drug/chemical exposure is the first such program in North America and is a prospective project which assesses both exposed mothers and their offspring. Currently we are focusing on the developmental effect of intrauterine exposure to cocaine and carbon monoxide.

Publications

Lalkin A, Kapur BM, Koren G. Contamination of antibiotics resulting in severe pediatric methadone poisoning. Annals of Pharmacotherapy, 33: 314-317, 1999.

Atanackovic G, Koren G. Young women taking isotretinoin still conceive. Role of physicians in preventing disaster. Canadian Family Physician, 45: 289-292, 1999.

Mankuta D, Bar-Oz B, Koren G. Erythema infectiosum (Fifth disease) and pregnancy. Canadian Family Physician, 45: 603-605, 1999.

Ito S, Lieu M, Chan W, Koren G. Continuing drug therapy while breastfeeding. Part 1. Common misconceptions of patients. Canadian Family Physician, 45: 897-899, 1999.

Koren G, Moretti M, Ito S. Continuing drug therapy while breastfeeding. Part 2. Common misconceptions of physicians. Canadian Family Physician, 45: 1173-1175, 1999.

Koren G, Kennedy D. Safe use of valproic acid during pregnancy. Canadian Family Physician, 45: 1451-1453, 1999.

Nulman I, Rovet J, Greenbaum R, Loebstein M, Wolpin J, Pace-Asciak P, Koren G. The effects of intrauterine cocaine exposure on neurodevelopment of adopted children: The Toronto adoption study. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 65: 138, 1999.

Klein J, Koren G. Hair analysis--a biological marker for passive smoking in pregnancy and childhood. Human Experimental Toxicology, 18: 279-282, 1999.

Khattak S, K-Moghtader G, McMartin K, Barrera M, Kennedy D, Koren G. Pregnancy outcome following gestational exposure to organic solvents: a prospective controlled study. JAMA, 281: 1106-1109, 1999.

Loebstein R, Atanackovic G, Bishai R, Wolpin J, Khattak S, Hashemi G, Gobrial M, Baruchel S, Ito S, Koren G. Risk factors for long-term outcome of ifosfamide-induced nephrotoxicity in children. Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 39: 454-461, 1999.

Magee LA, Nulman I, Rovet JF, Koren G. Neurodevelopment after in utero amiodarone exposure. Neurotoxicology Teratology, 21: 261-265, 1999.

Schuler L, Pastuszak A, Sanseverino TV, Orioli IM, Brunoni D, Ashton-Prolla P, Silva da Costa F, Giugliani R, Couto AM, Brandao SB, Koren G. Pregnancy outcome after exposure to misoprostol in Brazil: a prospective, controlled study. Reproductive Toxicology, 13: 147-151, 1999.

Diav-Citrin O, Atanackovic G, Koren G. An investigation into variability in the therapeutic response to deferiprone in patients with thalassemia major. Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, 21: 74-81, 1999.

Berkovitch M, Eshel G, Lushkov G, Reznik S, Chen-Levy Z, Pinto O, Koren G. The effect of diazepam in the recovery of rabbits from acute acetaminophen intoxication. Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, 21: 267-273, 1999.