Dr. Jelena Janjic is an Associate Professor of Pharmaceutics (with tenure) in the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Mylan School of Pharmacy at Duquesne University.  She is also the Founder and Co-Director of the Chronic Pain Research Consortium at Duquesne.  Dr. Janjic received her pharmacy degree from the Faculty of Pharmacy, Belgrade University, Belgrade, SR Yugoslavia.  She later received a PhD in Medicinal Chemistry/Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Pittsburgh, School of Pharmacy. She completed her post-doctoral training in imaging reagent development at Carnegie Mellon University and high-throughput assay development and drug discovery at Scripps Florida.

Dr. Janjic’s research interests include:

• -Design and synthesis of novel drug delivery formulations with focus on liquid and semisolid dosage forms and nanosystems;
• -Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of theranostic dosage forms (nanoemulsions, nanogels, gels, capsules, etc.) for imaging and treatment of inflammation in varied pathological states (cancer, neuronal injury, inflammatory bowel disease, muscle diseases);
• -Applying theranostics and nanotechnology to studying immune system and nervous system interplay in chronic pain;
• -Development of novel nanotechnology supported therapeutic interventions for chronic pain.

In 2015, Dr. Janjic received R21 grant from NIH (grant number: 1R21DA039621-01) to support her work on theranostic nanomedicine in pain, which sets the precedent in pain research and opens doors to expanding the application of nanotechnology in pain research and future treatment. More recently she also received an award from the US Airforce for development of new theranostic hydrogels for post-operative and neuropathic pain.

Dr. Janjic holds 2 patents.  She serves as journal reviewer for several publications, including but not limited to, Nanoscale, Nature Chemistry, Advanced Functional Materials, Nanomedicine, Small, The International Journal of Pharmaceutics, the Journal of Materials Chemistry, and The Journal of Pharmaceutical Innovation.  Dr. Janjic also is a member of numerous professional organizations and societies, namely the American Chemical Society (Fluorine Division), International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE), the Controlled Release Society, the International Association for Study of Pain, and the American Pain Society.

The Chronic Pain Research Consortium was founded on May 16, 2011, out of love and passion for patient care, multidisciplinary science, and a holistic view of life and medicine. Duquesne University scientists study all aspects of chronic pain, from molecular mechanisms to mind-body interaction and psychological impact of pain on relationships and quality of life. The team includes pharmacists, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, neurobiologists, neuropharmacologists, molecular biologists, medicinal chemists, and pharmaceutical scientists. The consortium was the first such group supported by the Provost of Duquesne University and currently includes 25 members across the Duquesne Campus.

Dr. Janjic’s teaching is highly multidisciplinary. She teaches courses in PharmD and PhD programs covering topics in: pharmaceutical manufacturing, drug discovery and development, drug delivery systems, pharmacology of pain medicines, medicinal chemistry, human physiology and pathophysiology. She has strong interest in contemplative approaches to higher education and is a member of the Association for the Contemplative Mind in Higher Education.

View a list of Dr. Janjic’s publications here.