What happens in a dry lab?

By Danica Hidalgo Cherewyk

Dry labs are different from what people typically picture when they hear the word “lab”. Most think of a wet lab, where scientists work with test tubes, microscopes and biological specimens.

By contrast, researchers in dry labs study data rather than conduct hands-on experiments.

Third-year doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) students Peace Shotunde and Natalia Morcilla learned about dry-lab research through summer research positions at the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences' College of Pharmacy. PharmD students can pursue research opportunities in both dry and wet labs.

“Through summer research, PharmD students gain firsthand exposure to what it’s like to do research,” said Dr. Ted Lakowski, associate dean (research) and professor at the college. “Students contribute new knowledge across a wide range of areas led by faculty researchers at the college.”

This summer, seven PharmD and four B.Sc. science students participated in the program. With funding from the University of Manitoba Undergraduate Research Awards (URA) and the College of Pharmacy URA programs, students receive compensation for their work.   

Supporting pharmacists' expanding role

When Shotunde began her PharmD program in 2024, she had never heard of a dry lab. This summer, she not only learned what it’s like to work in one, but also joined Dr. Sherif Eltonsy's research team and worked on her first study. Eltonsy's team uses electronic health data to evaluate drug safety, with a focus on maternal and infant health.  

“One thing I really liked about pharmacy is how diverse my options are,” she said. “I wanted to explore every avenue. I thought the summer research program was a great opportunity to get into research and see what it’s about.”

Shotunde's research explores whether expanded pharmacist-led care could help reduce HIV transmission in Manitoba. As part of the project, she is developing an educational tool on HIV testing and PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis, a medication taken to help prevent HIV infection) initiation for health-care providers. 

“I've been researching HIV transmission trends in Manitoba and other provinces, and examining how pharmacist-led care has supported health systems,” she said.  

“I'm exploring ways pharmacists in Manitoba could contribute to reducing HIV transmission through an expanded scope of practice, including prescribing PrEP and performing rapid HIV testing in pharmacies.”

After spending the summer on Eltonsy's research team, Shotunde said she would be interested in pursuing research in the future.  

Helping health-care providers discuss pharmacogenetic testing

Now in her second year as a summer research student in Dr. Abdullah Maruf’s lab, Morcilla is studying pharmacogenetics (PGx), which examines how a person’s genes influence their response to medications. Using real-world clinical and population-based data, the lab generates evidence to support precision prescribing and improve patient care.

Morcilla developed a communication tool to help health-care practitioners explain PGx testing and results to children, adolescents and their families. PGx testing can help predict whether someone is likely to benefit from a medication or experience side effects. 

She said her interest in the field is also informed by her own experiences with mental health challenges when she was younger.

“Many people, including myself, have struggled with finding the right medications. Responses can vary greatly from person to person,” she said.  

“When you're younger, that trial-and-error process can be difficult. Discovering what works for you, while managing the risk of side effects during such an important period of development, can be really challenging. If we can cut down that time, even by a little, it can make a significant difference.”

There is currently limited guidance available on how to communicate PGx test results to children and youth in a standardized way, Morcilla said. While some resources offer general communication tips, there is no formal tool for these conversations.

“The goal is to help families make informed decisions about PGx testing and understand how the results may be used in their child’s care,” she said.

The tool, which is now complete, has been reviewed by pharmacists and a genetic counsellor. Morcilla is preparing a manuscript for publication, and the next step is to test the tool with health-care providers. 

Morcilla has presented her work at conferences, including the Canadian Pharmacy Education and Research Conference  in Edmonton. She recently won first place in the dry-lab category at the College of Pharmacy’s Research Day poster competition.

She hopes to one day work in a hybrid role as both a hospital pharmacist and researcher.  

“I want to stay up to date with research that's happening and the new ideas coming out of the university,” she said. “I think it's important to stay curious.”

For current and future PharmD students, Morcilla encourages taking advantage of summer research opportunities.

“You might not know what research looks like or how it could fit into your schedule, but it's a really awesome way to learn more, stay curious and discover what you're capable of.”