CHRISTINE A. HALLER, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine, Clinical Pharmacology

Dr. Haller is interested in the pharmacology and toxicology of herbal products, and is currently conducting clinical research studies on the pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of thermogenic dietary supplements that contain ephedra, caffeine, and related stimulant botanicals. She has recently completed a study that showed that a single dose of a weight loss herbal supplement can produce significant increases in blood pressure and resting heart rate in healthy young adults. Her current research is investigating potential PK and PD interactions of pure ephedrine and caffeine compared to each drug alone. Dr. Haller is also involved in the initiation of a new clinical research program to investigate the pharmacology of gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB) in humans. A number of studies involving GHB are planned including investigating GHB’s effects on cognitive performance, and potential interactions of GHB and ethanol, in an effort to model the recreational use of GHB as a club drug.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

1. Csajka C, Haller CA, Benowitz NL, Verotta D. Mechanistic pharmacokinetic modelling of ephedrine, norephedrine and caffeine in healthy subjects. Br J Clin Pharmacol, 59(3):335-345, 2005.
2. Cazalis CS, Haller CA, Sease-Cargo L, Chaikof EL. C-terminal site-specific PEGylation of a truncated thrombomodulin mutant with retention of full bioactivity. Bioconjug Chem, 15(5):1005-1009, 2004.
3. Brockmeier K, Hallscheidt P, Haller C. Closure of a patent arterial duct in a septuagenarian with atrial fibrillation. Cardiol Young, 14(3):328-329, 2004.