“Pharmacokinetic studies are a critical component in evaluating the safety and efficacy of a drug from discovery through post-marketing clinical trials.” Sara Underwood spent 16 years in the biotechnology industry performing pharmacokinetic analysis in support of preclinical and clinical drug development of small molecules and biologics. Sara joined the Alturas team in 2014 bringing PK/TK expertise in-house as a strong complement to the bioanalytical services provided at Alturas.

Sara brings the knowledge as a scientist and a unique perspective from the biotech industry that has greatly contributed to the growth and success of Alturas Analytics. When not at work, Sara may be found galloping her horse over the Palouse, or hiking with her husband and son.

Meet with Sara in New Orleans next week at WRIB.

What inspired you to become a scientist?

Growing up I was always asking the question ‘Why’? My sophomore year in high school was when I decided I wanted to study biology so I could finally get answers to all of my questions.

What accomplishments are you most proud of?

Balancing multiple projects while not sacrificing quality.

What is the best – and the most challenging – about PK/TK analysis?

The best part is having a role in moving a project forward through the development process. The challenging part is only having a glimpse of that project.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

Working with a coherent team who genuinely care about the quality of work and helping to support one another in meeting the project goals together.