Philip Cox, PhD

Associate Professor, Department of Biology and Chemistry

Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 6518
Photo of Philip Cox, PhD

Biography

Phil Cox, PhD, joined APU following completion of his doctorate in Pharmacology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His research interests include drug metabolism and drug-metabolizing enzyme biochemistry. Drug metabolism is the process that the body uses to alter the structure of ingested drugs in order to facilitate their excretion, helping rid the body of foreign chemical substances. This process is facilitated by many drug-metabolizing enzymes, including a large family of enzymes called the cytochromes P450. During his doctoral work, Cox made strides towards elucidating the chemical moieties of the widely used anti-HIV drug efavirenz that render it a substrate for the human drug-metabolizing enzyme cytochrome P450 2B6. At APU, his research continues to focus on characterizing the interaction of cytochrome P450 2B6 and efavirenz using biochemical, analytical, and molecular approaches.

Education

  • PhD, Pharmacology, 2016, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
  • BS, Biology-Chemistry, 2010, Southern Nazarene University, Bethany, OK

Academic Area

  • College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
    • Department of Biology and Chemistry

Expertise

  • Drug Metabolism
  • Pharmacology

Courses Taught

  • BIOC 360 Principles of Biochemistry
  • BIOC 360L Principles of Biochemistry Lab
  • CHEM 123 General, Organic and Biological Chemistry for Health Sciences
  • CHEM 151 General Chemistry I
  • CHEM 151L General Chemistry I Lab
  • CHEM 152L General Chemistry II Lab