About

Hitendra Patel is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Medicine at UCSD. His research focuses on urology, with a particular emphasis on the cost-effectiveness and clinical performance of various diagnostic and treatment modalities for urological cancers and conditions. His work includes evaluating imaging techniques such as PET-CT and MRI-guided biopsies, as well as exploring novel therapies and management strategies for prostate, renal, and other urological cancers. Dr. Patel's contributions involve assessing the economic and clinical outcomes of different diagnostic procedures, developing predictive models for cancer recurrence, and advancing the understanding of targeted therapies and minimally invasive interventions in urology.

Research topics

• Computer Science
• Cell biology
• Biology
• Computational biology
• Biochemistry
• Genetics

Selected publications

• Novel drugs approved by the EMA, the FDA and the MHRA in 2025: A year in review

  British Journal of Pharmacology · 2026-03-02 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  Abstract In the 2025 novel drug mini‐review, one can take a full measure of the ingenuity that underlies current drug design and development, despite the year's smaller harvest (46 novel drugs) compared to 2024 (53) and 2023 (70). 54% of the novel drugs are first‐in‐class (FIC). The emphasis on proteins/antibodies is maintained (~25% novel drugs in 2025), an industry trend that does not seem to abate. Fewer than half of the novel medicines address major or common disorders. Among the FIC drugs, it is worth mentioning the Na v 1.8 channel inhibitor suzetrigine, the first non‐opioid approved to palliate acute pain; the first positive allosteric modulator of transient receptor potential melastatin 8 (TRPM8), acoltremon, that increases basal tear production in dry eye disease, a globally common disorder; lerodalcibep, a ‘third generation’ adnectin inhibitor of the protease Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin type 9 (PCSK9) to treat elevated LDL‐c; and zoliflodacin and gepotidacin, both innovatively targeting bacterial topoisomerases to treat uncomplicated urinary tract infections. Most of the approved medicines target unmet medical need areas and/or orphan indications (the latter alone accounting for 41% of the 2025 novel drugs) by applying imaginative approaches. These approaches include: the combination of two FIC drugs, the RAF/MEK clamp avutometinib paired with the FAK/Pyk2 inhibitor defactinib, to block more efficiently the RAS–RAF–MEK–ERK/FAK oncogenic pathway in low‐grade serous ovarian cancer; fitusiran, the first RNAi therapy for haemophilia, targeting for the first time the production of the natural anticoagulant anti‐thrombin in the liver; and brensocatib, which attenuates the activation of downstream neutrophil proteases by inhibiting the protease DPP1, thereby preventing lung tissue destruction in bronchiectasis. The landscape of novel drugs approved in 2025 reveals that pharmaceutical innovation continues to advance through FIC mechanisms, sophisticated therapeutic approaches, and a strong focus on unmet medical need.

  PublisherDOI

• Thymoquinone decreases cell proliferation and immune evasion of breast cancer cells by reducing CD55 and CD114 levels

  Medical Oncology · 2026-03-27

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Response to: Justifying and reporting the use of severe stress in experiments that use animals

  British Journal of Pharmacology · 2026-03-12

  article

  We thank Stanford et al. for their careful attention to an important matter (Stanford et al., 2026). As the substantive points in the letter relate to the validity of the procedure reported, the authors of the original article (Michael et al., 2025) have provided a detailed scientific response, published alongside the letter. As a few points in the letter relate to editorial procedure, it is helpful for the Journal to also respond. The typical peer review process for original research in the BJP is as follows: A submitted manuscript, after some initial checks, is assigned to a Senior Editor. The Senior Editor makes an assessment, and, if they are satisfied, the manuscript proceeds to peer review by being passed to an Editor. The Editor will then make a second editorial assessment, before inviting reviewers. After reviews have been received, the Editor will recommend a decision, which is sent back to the Senior Editor to confirm. At any point during this process, either the Editor or the Senior Editor may choose to ask for input from any Consulting Editor from different specialties (e.g. animal welfare, design and analysis, etc.) to inform their decision. Once accepted, a manuscript is sent to a Press Editor, who conducts a final check on adherence to guidelines, before the manuscript is finally sent for publication. We share the authors' commitment to rigorous scrutiny of all submissions to the Journal. The above outline demonstrates that this scrutiny in the BJP is considerable, while remaining as efficient as possible (Papapetropoulos et al., 2025). Equally important is the ongoing review of our author guidelines and acceptance criteria, widely recognised as a global benchmark for pharmacological research. These best practice guidelines must be continually assessed to ensure they are relevant, rigorous and realistic. In 2025, the Journal updated guidance on experimental design and analysis (Curtis et al., 2025). In 2026, we will update guidance on reporting animal research (Lilley et al., 2020) and studies involving natural products (Wang et al., 2024). We thank Stanford et al. for their suggestion of a systematic use of the Consulting Editor for ARRIVE Guidelines and Animal Welfare on all relevant submissions (Stanford et al., 2026). We will consider this change as part of the forthcoming broader review of our animal research guidelines. As part of this work of updating guidelines, the Journal conducts regular audits of its publications, most recently on the use of anaesthetic agents (Ingrande et al., 2023). A consistent finding is that full compliance with all requirements in all articles is rare: work in the BJP spans a diversity of forms and contexts, where authors, reviewers or Editors may reasonably judge that methods are appropriate and findings are sound. Some articles may not meet every detail of our guidelines, yet still represent robust methodology. Their publication without complete compliance does not indicate, in itself, their scientific invalidity, nor that the peer review process is not working. We welcome this correspondence as an opportunity to reflect publicly on our processes and reaffirm our commitment to achieving the highest expectations of the British Pharmacological Society's members and the wider international pharmacological community. Péter Ferdinandy: Writing—review and editing; conceptualization. Charles Whalley: Writing—original draft; writing—review and editing; conceptualization. David J. Adams: Conceptualization. Steve P. H. Alexander: Conceptualization. Xiuping Chen: Conceptualization. Miriam Cortese-Krott: Conceptualization. Zsuzsanna Helyes: Conceptualization. Kirill Martemyanov: Conceptualization. Claudio Mauro: Conceptualization. Andreas Papapetropoulos: Conceptualization. Hemal H. Patel: Conceptualization; conceptualization. Rainer Schulz: Conceptualization. Ana M. Sebastião: Conceptualization. Alastair G. Stewart: Conceptualization. Nathalie Vergnolle: Conceptualization. Xin Wang: Conceptualization. Stephen Ward: Conceptualization. Hiroshi Yamazaki: Conceptualization. Marie Engh: Conceptualization. Charles Whalley is employed by the British Pharmacological Society, owner of the British Journal of Pharmacology. The other authors report no conflicts of interest.

  PublisherDOI

• Exploring psychological safety through interprofessional simulation in emergency care teams

  Health Education in Practice Journal of Research for Professional Learning · 2026-04-20

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Purpose: This study examined whether interprofessional simulation can improve perceptions of psychological safety among emergency care teams, recognising its critical role in communication, decision making and patient outcomes in high-stakes environments. Methodology: A full-day interprofessional simulation was conducted with staff from NSW Ambulance, the Rural Fire Service, the Volunteer Rescue Association and the Central Coast Local Health District. Three mass-casualty scenarios incorporated pre-briefings, high-fidelity simulation and structured debriefings. Psychological safety was measured before the day commenced, then after each exercise, using a modified Edmondson Scale (the ‘Patel Scale’) administered via REDCap, with responses matched using anonymised participant IDs. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively and using Cronbach’s alpha to assess internal consistency. Findings: Seventy-one participants consented; 44 completed both baseline and final surveys. Baseline psychological safety scores were high (mean = 4.25), reflecting a ceiling effect. Improvements were observed across all items (post-simulation mean = 4.45), with the largest relative gains in understanding role expectations (+0.41), taking intelligent risks (+0.34) and raising concerns (+0.30). Cronbach’s alpha was 0.97, indicating excellent internal reliability. Research implications: Results support the use of longitudinal studies that include participant remuneration to assess whether simulation-related improvements in psychological safety persist over time and across broader cohorts. Practical implications: Organisations should embed interprofessional simulation as part of routine professional development to build trust, inclusivity and voice across emergency service hierarchies. Value: This is one of the first empirical studies to measure psychological safety in a multi-agency, interprofessional emergency care context using a validated and adapted scale. Limitations: Volunteer participation and immediate post-event surveys limit generalisability. To clarify sustained impact, future work should examine delayed follow-up, paid participation and repeated exposures. Keywords: interprofessional simulation, prehospital care, psychological safety, emergency care teams, mass-casualty training, multidisciplinary collaboration

  PublisherDOI

• Letter to the Editor

  Health Education in Practice Journal of Research for Professional Learning · 2026-04-24

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  I am writing as a clinician‑researcher who has been privileged to contribute to several papers in Health Education in Practice and to witness first-hand the transformative potential of interprofessional learning (IPL). Across the current issue, I see a shared narrative emerging: when we create spaces for students and practitioners from different professions to learn with, from and about one another, the results extend beyond improved knowledge transfer to a deeper cultural shift, one that embraces collaboration, respect and shared purpose.

  PublisherDOI

• Injectable antifibrotic drug-loaded hydrogels reduce fibrosis and restore myogenesis by enhancing mitochondrial metabolism and cell mechanics in an in vitro coculture model

  Materials Today Bio · 2026-03-16

  articleOpen access

  Aging significantly alters cellular mechanics and mitochondrial physiology, with chronic low-grade inflammation (inflammaging). However, its role in skeletal muscle atrophy and fibrosis is poorly understood. This study addressed the unresolved mechanism using a 2.5D coculture model of RAW264.7 macrophages and C2C12 myoblasts, exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS, a fibrosis inducer), with a focus on myogenesis, fibrogenesis, cellular stiffness, and mitochondrial metabolism. Paracrine signals from LPS-stimulated macrophages decreased myogenic markers MyHC and MyoG, increased fibrosis markers, and elevated fibrotic cell stiffness. Mitochondrial metabolism was disrupted, indicated by lowered maximal respiration and increased proton leak, demonstrating impaired energy production. To explore the alleviation of muscle atrophy and promote regeneration, a biomaterial-based therapeutic approach involving the use of pirfenidone (PFD, pulmonary antifibrotic drug)-loaded hydrogels composed of silk fibroin and agarose was investigated. Treatment reduced fibrotic stiffness by ∼40%, increased myotube formation by 33%, improved mitochondrial function, and restored mitochondrial structure, with a 20% increase in maximal respiration and a 50% decrease in proton leak in the seahorse assay. Sustained release of PFD from tissue-mimicking hydrogels effectively suppressed the expression of fibrotic markers such as α-SMA and COL1 while simultaneously increasing the expression of myogenic genes. RNA transcriptomics further corroborated the upregulation of myogenic pathways and the downregulation of fibrogenic signaling. This study highlights the potential of PFD-loaded hydrogels as a novel therapeutic strategy to target inflammation-induced muscle fibrosis and promote skeletal muscle regeneration, demonstrating prevention of fibrotic progression in the established inflammation-induced reversal of established fibrosis in vitro, with promising translational potential for treating sarcopenia. • A macrophage-myoblast coculture model was developed to recapitulate inflammaging-driven fibrosis in skeletal muscle in vitro • Pro-inflammatory macrophages induced myoblast-to-myofibroblast phenotypic transition, a key step in fibrosis progression • Inflammaging disrupts cellular bioenergetics and alters the mechanical microenvironment • We investigated a natural polymer–based, tissue-mimicking hydrogel for sustained drug delivery that restores mitochondrial function and reduces fibrotic stiffness • Therapeutic intervention prevented progression in the established disease model and enhanced the myogenic differentiation pathway • This biomaterial strategy targets both bioenergetic and biophysical drivers of fibrosis, with translational potential for regenerative medicine

  PublisherDOI

• Abstract WP193: A Novel Vascular Neurology Fellow-Led Approach to Enhance Informed Consent and Boost Stroke Trial Recruitment

  Stroke · 2026-01-29

  article

  Introduction: Success of stroke clinical trials depends on efficient and sustained recruitment of trial eligible participants. Vascular Neurology Fellows, by virtue of their frontline clinical presence, play a pivotal role in presenting clinical trials to stroke patients. Patients are more likely to be willing to participate if a trained sub-specialist involved in their clinical care introduces a research study. However, there is a paucity of studies highlighting the role of fellows in clinical trial recruitment. Participation in clinical trials is considered a program specific requirement for Vascular Neurology Fellows at our institution. We assessed the impact of formal clinical trial training of Vascular Neurology Fellows (Fig. 1) supplemented with support from a novel Clinical Research Associate (CRA) program. Methods: We reviewed stroke trial enrollments in NIH and industry sponsored stroke trials from 2019 to mid-2024 at Northwell Health. Data was stratified based on the health care provider who obtained informed consent, as well as the month and year of consent. We then evaluated the proportion of consents obtained by fellows. Mann-Kendall test was used to assess the yearly trend of enrollments by fellows. We analyzed the impact of a novel initiative using a dedicated CRA to enhance fellow engagement and compared enrollment patterns before and after implementation using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: Fellows consistently enrolled >25% stroke trial patients (Fig.2), with the highest enrollment in the academic year 2022-2023 (47.82%). The Mann-Kendall test did not demonstrate a significant trend for increasing proportion of recruitment by fellows during the study period (p = 0.624), however there was a significant increase in the total number of patients consented by fellows over the years (p <0.001). Even though the introduction of the CRA program was for a short duration, it led to a significant increase in the monthly median number of patients consented by fellows (p < 0.001, Fig. 3). Conclusion: Formal training of Vascular Neurology fellows leads to sustained enrollment of patients into stroke clinical trials. Introduction of innovative models such as an on-site CRA enhances consistent fellow engagement in clinical trial training and recruitment.

  PublisherDOI

• Updated <i>BJP</i> guidelines for transparent and rigorous natural product research

  British Journal of Pharmacology · 2026-04-14

  article

  Reflecting the global expansion of research, the British Journal of Pharmacology (BJP) has observed a substantial increase in the number of studies focusing on natural products. However, disparities in publication requirements between studies of synthetic small molecules and natural products have led to variable acceptance rates. Building on the progress observed following the 2020 and 2024 BJP editorial on natural products, this updated editorial aims to harmonise expectations across different research domains and promote fair and unbiased assessment of natural product studies. By standardising these criteria, the BJP reaffirms its commitment to maintaining scientific rigour whilst ensuring that the guidelines are clear and practical, thereby contributing to high-quality research reporting that advances pharmacological science.

  PublisherDOI

• Protective effect of energized structured water on bioenergetic function and oxidative stress in H9c2 cells

  EXPLORE · 2025-08-05 · 3 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  • ESW pretreatment significantly increased maximal and spare respiratory capacity in H9c2 cells. • ESW treatment increased the glycolytic ATP production without affecting mitochondrial and total ATP production. • ESW-treated cells showed improved viability and reduced ROS levels under H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress. • ESW upregulated 717 genes and downregulated 422 genes in H9c2 cells. • Gene Ontology analysis revealed ESW treatment significantly impacts biological processes related to cellular stress adaptation and energy metabolism regulation. The energized structured water (ESW) concept supposes water can be imbued with energetic frequencies or vibrations, improving its quality and providing various health benefits. While some studies claim benefits, the mechanisms and effects of ESW are not well understood. This study investigates the impact of ESW on cellular bioenergetic function and oxidative stress in H9c2 cells. H9c2 cells were pretreated with ESW or control water (CW) at equivalent dilutions. Mitochondrial function was assessed using the Agilent Seahorse XF Pro Analyzer. Cell viability and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were evaluated under H 2 O 2 -induced oxidative stress conditions. Differential gene expression analysis and Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment were conducted to identify significantly affected genes and biological processes in ESW-treated H9c2 cells. Results demonstrated that ESW pretreatment significantly increased maximal and spare respiratory capacity in H9c2 cells. In addition, ESW treatment increased the glycolytic ATP production without affecting mitochondrial and total ATP production. ESW treatment enhanced cell viability and reduced ROS production in cells exposed to H 2 O 2 -induced oxidative stress. Based on differential gene expression analysis, 717 genes including Myh1, Akr1b8, Hmox1, Kcng1, Ugt1a6, Clu, Gaa, Ftl1, Hspb7 , and Gba1 were up-regulated and 422 genes including Hist1h2an, Slfn4, Rpl22l1, Polr2k, Il1rl1, Ndufb1, Atp5mkl1 were down-regulated by ESW compared to the controls. GO analysis indicated that ESW treatment significantly affects biological processes related to cellular stress response pathways. These findings suggest that ESW treatment may enhance cellular bioenergetics and stress resistance in H9c2 cells, potentially through modulation of gene expression related to stress responses and energy metabolism.

  PublisherDOI

• Prevalence of Stress Level in Engineering Students Across Ahmedabad – A Cross-Sectional Study

  Galore International Journal of Applied Sciences and Humanities · 2025-07-26

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  BACKGROUND: Stress is a huge problem for many university students, especially those studying challenging fields like engineering. Engineering students often deal with intense pressure, which can take a toll on their health and make it harder for them to do well in their studies. Despite the growing recognition of this issue, limited research has been conducted on the prevalence of stress levels specifically within the context of engineering students in Ahmedabad. Understanding the prevalence of stress levels in this population is crucial for developing effective support systems. OBJECTIVES: To find the prevalence of stress levels among engineering students in Ahmedabad, using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). METHODOLOGY: Data was collected through Google Forms from 100 engineering students. The data was then analyzed using MS Excel 2010 to categorize stress levels into three categories: low stress, moderate stress, and high stress. RESULTS: The study found that 83% of the engineering students experienced moderate stress, 8% experienced high stress, and 9% experienced low stress levels. CONCLUSION: The majority of engineering students in Ahmedabad exhibited moderate levels of perceived stress. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions and support systems to address the mental health and well-being of this population. Keywords: Stress level, Engineering Students, Ahmedabad

  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• Caveolae as capacitors for oxygen

  NIH · $444k · 2017–2020

• Interdisciplinary Anesthesiology Research Training Program

  NIH · $134k · 2017–2022

• NIH Grant R01HL107200

  NIH · $2.1M · 2016

• Molecular Regulators of Mitochondria in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy

  NIH · 2022–2025

• Interdisciplinary Anesthesiology Research Training Program

  NIH · $1.2M · 2017–2028

Frequent coauthors

• David M. Roth

  University of California, San Diego

  433 shared

• Brian P. Head

  University of California, San Diego

  240 shared

• Jan M. Schilling

  199 shared

• Piyush M. Patel

  AISECT University

  186 shared

• Paul A. Insel

  University of California, San Diego

  140 shared

• Ingrid R. Niesman

  San Diego State University

  135 shared

• Alice E. Zemljic‐Harpf

  University of California, San Diego

  83 shared

• Yasuo Tsutsumi

  Hiroshima University Hospital

  69 shared

Education

• M.D.

  University of California, San Diego

• B.S.

  University of California, San Diego