Prof Benedetta Sallustio
School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Science
College of Health
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.
Professor Betty Sallustio Position: Principal Medical ScientistGroup: Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health ResearchDepartment: Clinical Pharmacology Professor Sallustio is Principal Medical Scientist in the Department of Clinical Pharmacology at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where she manages the Therapeutic Drug Monitoring service. She is also Affiliate Professor in the Discipline of Pharmacology at Adelaide University, and has research interests in pharmacogenomics of renal transplantation, the clinical pharmacology of myocardial metabolic agents, and the role of UGTs in bioactivation of drugs.Professor Sallustio is a long-standing member of the Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists, and currently serves as co-chair of its Therapeutic Drug Monitoring working group. She is a Fellow of the Faculty of Science of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australia and is also the secretary of the Special Drugs Working Party of the Australasian Association of Clinical Biochemists.
Our Research Group
Professor Sallustio leads the Clinical Pharmacology Unit based at the Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research. The Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research is part of The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and researchers work closely with the hospital’s clinical divisions, and have a focus on translational health research, an innovative ‘bench to bedside’ approach in which scientific discoveries can be quickly translated into improved patient care and treatment. The institute offers a range of postgraduate and honours training opportunities each year for PhD, Masters and Honours students.
The Clinical Pharmacology Unit is affiliated with the Discipline of Pharmacology of the University of Adelaide. It provides a clinical therapeutic drug monitoring service coupled with an active research program in the areas of heart disease, kidney transplantation and cancer.
Research Focus
Professor Sallustio’s research interests include drug biotransformation and transport, particularly understanding how inter-individual differences in these processes, either genetic or environmental, impact on drug toxicity and clinical efficacy. She has pursued three main arms of research: i) the role of biotransformation in enhancing drug toxicity, particularly intracellular protein and genetic damage; ii) applying an understanding of variability in the biotransformation and cellular transport of immunosuppressants to improving clinical outcomes in renal transplant recipients; and iii) understanding the role of energetics in heart disease and cancer. This work has been supported by major competitive funding from the National Heart Foundation, the Anti Cancer Foundation, the National Health and Medical Research Council, Cancer Council SA, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Current Projects
Individualising Transplantation Therapy
The success of kidney transplantation depends largely on preventing rejection of the new organ, using a combination of immunosuppressant drugs. These drugs have narrow safety margins and can cause renal, gastrointestinal or haematological toxicity. Due to significant variability in their elimination from the body, doses are currently individualised by maintaining their concentrations in blood within narrow therapeutic ranges. Despite this, rejection and toxicity still occur. Our research focuses on minimising the risk of rejection and damage to the transplanted organ by: understanding immunosuppressant distribution within blood and hence lymphocytes (the mediators of rejection); and developing novel analytical methods to improve monitoring immunosuppressant concentrations in transplant recipients.
1. Honours Project
Tacrolimus is a drug that is used for immunosuppression following renal transplantation. However, due to its complex pharmacology, concentrations need to be monitored to individualise dosing and minimise both the risk of kidney rejection and tacrolimus-induced toxicity. Immediately following transplantation, whole blood tacrolimus concentrations are monitored daily, with the frequency slowly decreased to every 1-2 months by the third month post-transplant. This intensive schedule can be quite onerous, particularly for patients from regional and remote communities, who often have limited access to clinical facilities. Microsampling of dried blood spots may provide a novel and more convenient means of monitoring tacrolimus concentrations as it can be performed by the patient using a fingerprick device to spot capillary blood onto a paper disc which can be sent by mail for analysis. However, the use of these dried blood spots for tacrolimus concentrations has not yet been validated for clinical application. This project will investigate the feasibility of adapting the current analytical assay for measuring tacrolimus concentrations in venous blood samples to using dried blood spots.
2. PhD Project
Whilst monitoring immunosuppressant concentrations in blood has significantly contributed to decreased risk of rejection and toxicity, measuring their concentrations in blood may not be optimum and may be contributing to the residual risks of rejection and toxicity. This is because measuring immunosuppressants in blood includes a large proportion of drug that is bound within red blood cells, which act as a pharmacologically inactive reservoir. Tacrolimus is the most widely used immunosuppressant in renal transplantation, and it is known that decreasing haematocrit can cause decreased blood tacrolimus concentrations without affecting the pharmacologically active concentrations of tacrolimus. In the first months following renal transplantation there are significant changes in haematocrit and in the concentrations of many plasma proteins that can bind tacrolimus. All of these changes can complicate the interpretation of blood tacrolimus concentrations and lead to incorrect dosage adjustments that increase the risks of rejection or toxicity. This project will seek to understand how altered tacrolimus distribution within blood contributes to the large between-patient variability in dosage requirements and to develop strategies to correct for these confounding effects.
| Date | Position | Institution name |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 - ongoing | Affiliate Associate Professor | University of Adelaide |
| 1998 - ongoing | Principal Medical Scientist | Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Adelaide |
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Flinders University | Australia | Ph. D. |
| 1982 | University of Adelaide | Australia | B. Sc. |
| Date | Title | Institution name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Fellow, Faculty of Science | Royal College of Pathologists of Australia | - |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Roscioli, E., Kos, V., Kok, C., Sallustio, B., Kopp, B., & Blencowe, A. (2022). Overcoming off-target block of autophagy by azithromycin in epithelial cells. In RESPIROLOGY Vol. 27 (pp. 74). WILEY. |
| 2017 | Chong, C. -R., Imam, H., Sallustio, B., Chirkov, Y. Y., & Horowitz, J. D. (2017). Perhexiline enhances cGMP- and cAMP-signaling in diabetics independent of insulin sensitization and ACE inhibition. In EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL Vol. 38 (pp. 1143). OXFORD UNIV PRESS. |
| 2016 | Hu, R. (2016). CYP3A5*3 and ABCB1 haplotype 61A-1199G-1236T-2677T/A-3435T are associated with dose-adjusted trough blood tacrolimus concentration in kidney transplant recipients. In ASCEPT-MPGPCR 2016. Melbourne, Australia. |
| 2011 | Sallustio, B. C., Noll, B., Coller, J., Somogyi, A., van Gelder, T., Hesselink, D., & Morris, R. G. (2011). LC-MS/MS quantification of tacrolimus concentrations in small samples of kidney and liver tissue. In THERAPEUTIC DRUG MONITORING Vol. 33 (pp. 540). Stuttgart, GERMANY: LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. |
| 2009 | Sallustio, B. C., Westley, I. S., Coller, J. K., Ward, M. B., Russ, G. R., & Morris, R. G. (2009). Frequency of Genetic Polymorphisms in the Promoter (C-24T), Exon 10 (G1249A) and Exon 28 (C3972T) Regions of <i>ABCC2</i> in Australian Renal Transplant Recipients and Donors. In THERAPEUTIC DRUG MONITORING Vol. 31 (pp. 656-657). Montreal, CANADA: LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. |
| 2009 | Licari, J., Somogyi, A. A., Pierides, J., & Sallustio, B. C. (2009). Comparison of sprague dawley and dark agouti rats as animal models of perhexiline-induced hepatotoxicity. In DRUG METABOLISM REVIEWS Vol. 41 (pp. 128). Baltimore, MD: TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC. |
| 2009 | Sallustio, B. C., & Morris, R. G. (2009). Total bilirubin concentrations in plasma of renal transplant patients may reflect differences in MRP2 inhibition by cyclosporine and tacrolimus. In DRUG METABOLISM REVIEWS Vol. 41 (pp. 77-78). Baltimore, MD: TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC. |
| 2007 | Sallustio, B. C., Southwood, H. T., DeGraaf, Y. C., Mackenzie, P. I., Miners, J. O., & Burcham, P. C. (2007). GLUCURONIDATION-DEPENDENT DNA NICKING BY CARBOXYLIC ACID DRUGS IN HEK293 CELLS EXPRESSING HUMAN UDP-GLUCURONOSYLTRANSFERASES. In DRUG METABOLISM REVIEWS Vol. 39 (pp. 144-145). Sendai, JAPAN: TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC. |
| 2007 | Westley, I., Morris, R., Evans, A., & Sallustio, B. (2007). Glucuronidation of mycophenolic acid by Wistar and mrp2 deficient TR<SUP>-</SUP> rat liver microsomes:: Effect of mycophenolate acyl glucuronide, cyclosporin and metabolites AM1, AM1c and AM9. In THERAPEUTIC DRUG MONITORING Vol. 29 (pp. 473-474). Nice, FRANCE: LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. |
| 2007 | Sallustio, B. C., Davies, B. J., Herbert, M. K., Coller, J. K., Somogyi, A. A., & Milne, R. W. (2007). Steady-state pharmacokinetics of the enantiomers of perhexiline in CYP2D6 extensive and poor metabolisers. In THERAPEUTIC DRUG MONITORING Vol. 29 (pp. 478). Nice, FRANCE: LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. |
| 2006 | Westley, I. S., Morris, R. G., Evans, A. M., & Sallustio, B. C. (2006). Mycophenolic acid metabolism in Wistar and Mrp2 transporter deficient TR-rat microsomes.. In ACTA PHARMACOLOGICA SINICA Vol. 27 (pp. 221). BLACKWELL PUBLISHING. |
| 2005 | Sallustio, B. C., Westley, I. S., Brogen, L. R., Morris, R. G., & Evans, A. M. (2005). Effect of cyclosporin on the hepatic disposition of mycophenolic acid. In THERAPEUTIC DRUG MONITORING Vol. 27 (pp. 251). Louisville, KY: LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. DOI |
| 2004 | Westley, I. S., Sallustio, B. C., Morris, R. G., Evans, A. M., & Brogan, L. R. (2004). Cyclosporin-mycophenolate drug interaction: Role of Mrp2. In DRUG METABOLISM REVIEWS Vol. 36 (pp. 61). Vancouver, CANADA: TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC. |
| 2004 | Sallustio, B. C., DeGraaf, Y. C., & Burcham, P. C. (2004). Detection of UGT-dependent DNA damage in mammalian cells. In DRUG METABOLISM REVIEWS Vol. 36 (pp. 236). Vancouver, CANADA: TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC. |
| 2001 | Sallustio, B. C., Weekley, J. S., & Burcham, P. C. (2001). Clofibric acid glucuronide-induced DNA strand nicking: role of hydroxyl radical formation. In TOXICOLOGY Vol. 164 (pp. 103). ELSEVIER SCI IRELAND LTD. |
| 1983 | SALLUSTIO, B. C., MEFFIN, P. J., BROOKS, P. M., & WING, L. M. H. (1983). PREDNISOLONE DISPOSITION AS A FUNCTION OF DOSE AND ORAL-CONTRACEPTIVE USE. In CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PHARMACOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY Vol. 10 (pp. 667). BLACKWELL SCIENCE. |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Dom, Z. I. M., Westley, I. S., Coller, J. K., Somogyi, A. A., & Sallustio, B. C. (2015). Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein 2 (MRP2/ABCC2) haplotypes significantly affect the pharmacokinetics of mycophenolic acid in renal transplant recipients. Poster session presented at the meeting of Abstracts of the 2015 Golden Helix Symposium - Next Generation Pharmacogenomics, as published in Public Health Genomics. Karger. DOI WoS1 |
| 2015 | Dom, Z. M., Coller, J., Carroll, R., Somogyi, A., & Sallustio, B. (2015). Intra-Lymphocyte Concentrations of Mycophenolic Acid Correlate With the Incidence of Early Graft Rejection in Renal Transplant Recipients. Poster session presented at the meeting of AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION. Philadelphia, PA: WILEY-BLACKWELL. |
| 2014 | Westley, I. S., Licari, G., Watts, R. W., & Sallustio, B. C. (2014). IDENTIFICATION OF ALTERED PROTEIN BINDING OF DEXAMETHASONE IN THE PRESENCE OF SUGAMMADEX. Poster session presented at the meeting of DRUG METABOLISM REVIEWS. Toronto, CANADA: INFORMA HEALTHCARE. |
| 2013 | Sallustio, B., Noll, B., Coller, J., & Somogyi, A. (2013). Association Between Intra-Renal P-gp Expression and Cyclosporine Concentrations in Renal Transplantation. Poster session presented at the meeting of THERAPEUTIC DRUG MONITORING. Salt Lake City, UT: LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. |
| 2013 | Dom, M. Z., Coller, J. K., Somogyi, A. A., & Sallustio, B. C. (2013). Impact of Recipient and Donor Multidrug Resistance Protein 2 Genetic Variability on Mycophenolic Acid Pharmacokinetics Following Kidney Transplantation. Poster session presented at the meeting of THERAPEUTIC DRUG MONITORING. Salt Lake City, UT: LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. |
| 2012 | Westley, I., Bezak, E., Sjostedt, S., Sallustio, B., & Licari, G. (2012). Investigation of the Role of Acid Sphingomyelinase in the Bystander Effects of Breast Cancer Cell Irradiation. Poster session presented at the meeting of EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CANCER. Barcelona, SPAIN: ELSEVIER SCI LTD. DOI |
Research Funding (last 5 years)
| Year | Amount | Funding Body, Chief Investigators, Project Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 - 2013 | $130,000 | National Heart Foundation - Grant-in-aid: BC Sallustio, JD Horowitz, JA Kennedy, MP Frenneaux, “Utility of (+)- and (-)-perhexiline as model compounds for the development of new myocardial metabolic agents”. |
| 2014 - 2015 | $150,000 | Adelaide Research and Innovation, Commercial funding from Heat Metabolics Ltd. BC Sallustio. |
| 2016 | $75,000 | Cancer SA – Beat Cancer Project: BC Sallustio, A Evdokiou, JD Horowitz, “Prevention of heart damage during anthracycline cancer chemotherapy”. |
| 2017 | $302,000 | University of Adelaide Equipment Round 2016. AA Somogyi, BC Sallustio, JK Coller, M Hutchinson, D Barratt. |
| 2018-2020 | $327,214 | NHMRC – Project Grant (APP1145776), BC Sallustio, A Evdokiou, JD Horowitz, “Prevention of heart damage during anthracycline cancer chemotherapy”. |
As an affiliate of the Discipline of Pharmacology Professor Sallustio contributes to both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching. She teaches aspects of drug metabolism and personalised medicine in PHARM 3011 - Drug Development and Therapeutics, and supervises both Honours and PhD students enrolled in the discipline.
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Program | Degree Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Co-Supervisor | Biological Studies in Coronary Vasomotor Disorders | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Alex Minopoulos |
| 2021 | Co-Supervisor | Biological Studies in Coronary Vasomotor Disorders | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Alex Minopoulos |
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Program | Degree Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 - 2025 | Principal Supervisor | Using Pharmacokinetic Principles to Improve the Safety of Tacrolimus in Kidney Transplant Recipients | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Part Time | Miss Mirabel Alonge |
| 2015 - 2019 | Co-Supervisor | Genetics of Tacrolimus Pharmacokinetics and Kidney Transplant Outcomes | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Ms Rong Hu |
| 2012 - 2017 | Principal Supervisor | A Pharmacological Approach Towards Myocardial Protection: New Perspectives in Acute and Chronic Cardiac Disease | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Dr Cher-Rin Chong |
| 2011 - 2017 | Principal Supervisor | Mycophenolic Acid Pharmacokinetics and Clinical Outcomes in Renal Transplantation: Effect of ABCC2 Haplotype Analysis and Distribution into Lymphocytes and Kidney | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Zaipul Izwan Md Dom |
| 2007 - 2013 | Principal Supervisor | The Stereoselective Pharmacodynamics of the Enantiomers of Perherhexiline | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Part Time | Dr Johnny Licari |
| 2003 - 2008 | Principal Supervisor | The Stereoselective Pharmacokinetics of the Enantiomers of Perhexiline in Poor and Extensive Metabolisers of the Cytochrome P450 2D6 | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Benjamin Davies |
| Date | Role | Committee | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 - ongoing | Member | Organising Committee, ANZ Therapeutic Drug Monitoring | - | Australia |
| 2012 - ongoing | Co-Chair | ASCEPT-APSA TDM Satellite Meeting, Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Fundamentals and Emerging Trends – Focus on Antimicrobials, School of Pharmacy | University of Sydney | Australia |
| 2011 - ongoing | Secretary | Australasian Association of Clinical Biochemists - Special Drugs Working Party | - | Australia |
| 2011 - ongoing | Co-Chair | Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists - Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Group | - | Australia |
| 2009 - 2013 | Council | International Association of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring and Clinical Toxicology | - | Australia |
| 2009 - ongoing | Chair | Adelaide Pharmacology Group | - | Australia |
| 2005 - ongoing | Member | Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists - Pharmacogenetics Special Interest Group | - | Australia |
| 2002 - ongoing | Board Member | Adelaide Pharmacology Group | - | Australia |
| 1994 - ongoing | Member | Ethics of Human Research Committee – Scientific Review | The Queen Elizabeth Hospital | Australia |
| Date | Role | Membership | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 - ongoing | Member | International Association for Therapeutic Drug Monitoring and Clinical Toxicology (IATDMCT). | Australia |
| 1990 - 2011 | Member | International Society for the Study of Xenobiotics (ISSX) | Australia |
| 1989 - ongoing | Member | South Australian Medical Scientists Association | Australia |
| 1982 - ongoing | Member | Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists (ASCEPT). | Australia |
