COM4S_M.TTF

Research Focus

Dr. Bhavnani’s scientific interests include antimicrobial resistance and anti-infective translational science. Utilizing national and international antimicrobial surveillance and drug usage databases, and through the application of tree-based modeling and censored regression techniques, Dr. Bhavnani has recently identified institutional- and patient-specific factors predictive of infection with resistant isolates and the magnitude of such resistance (Clin Infect Dis, 2003). Identification of such factors aids in the clinical study of antimicrobial agents for resistant pathogens. Dr. Bhavnani’s interest in anti-infective translational science involves the integration of pre-clinical pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic data and early clinical pharmacokinetic data to identify dosage regimens that optimize the probability of positive clinical outcomes and minimize the potential of drug toxicities. Her analyses have been presented to regulatory bodies to justify dose selection for clinical trials.

Dr. Bhavnani holds many professional society memberships, including the Infectious Disease Society of America and the Society of Infectious Disease Pharmacists, in which she has held the Chair for the Annual Report Committee (2001-2002) and served on the Publications Committee (1998-1999). Dr. Bhavnani is the author or co-author of approximately 80 peer-reviewed scientific publications, abstracts, and book chapters. She was honored with the 1999 Researcher of the Year Award by the American College of Clinical Pharmacists, New York Chapter.

Dr. Bhavnani received her B.Sc. in Pharmacy (1991) from the University of Toronto, Canada, her Pharm.D. (1994) from the Albany College of Pharmacy, New York, completed a two-year post doctorial fellowship in infectious diseases and pharmacokinetics (1996) at Millard Fillmore Hospital in Buffalo, New York, and her M.S. in biometry (2003) from the University at Buffalo, New York.

Selected Publications

• Ambrose PG, Bhavnani SM, Cirincione BB, Piedmonte M, Grasela TH. Gatifloxacin and the elderly: Rationale for a potential age-related dose reduction. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 2003;52:435-440.
• Bhavnani SM, Hammel JP, Forrest A, Jones RN, Ambrose PG. Relationships between patient- and institutional-specific variables and decreased antimicrobial susceptibility of gram-negative pathogens. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 2003;37:344-350.
• Bhavnani SM, Hammel JP, Jones RN, Ambrose PG. Relationship between increased levofloxacin use and decreased susceptibility of Streptococcus pneumoniae in the United States . Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease 2005; 51: 31-37.
• Bhavnani SM, Hammel JP, Cirincione BB, Wikler MA, Ambrose PG. Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic target attainment analysis as decision support of Phase 2/3 dosing strategies for the clinical development of doripenem. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 2005 in press.