Dr. Duxin Sun Serves as Co-Investigator of Oncology Study
Researchers at the University of Michigan School of Nursing and Comprehensive Cancer Center have received a $2.3 million grant to study oncology nurses’ exposure to hazardous drugs, including identifying ways to reduce exposure.
Dr. Duxin Sun, Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Director of University of Michigan Pharmacokinetics Core, will serve as co-investigator in this multidisciplinary study. He will oversee the development, testing, and interpretation of the results obtained from participants’ plasma to detect hazardous drug levels.
The four-year study has two key components. First, nurses will provide information concerning chemotherapy spills in the clinic and provide blood samples to determine whether the agents are detectable. Second, nurses will receive an educational module on safe drug handling, with and without specific feedback about how to improve their practice. The goal is to increase the number of nurses who use protective equipment likes gowns and gloves on a consistent basis. Eleven of the nation’s leading cancer centers and over 300 nurses will participate.
