Felix Amissah, PhD, M.Phil, B.Pharm

Associate Professor of Pharmacology
Chair, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Pharmaceutical Science
Phone: (231) 591-3790
Email: [email protected]

Education

PhD, Florida A&M University, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacology
M.Phil, University of Science & Technology, Pharmacology
B. Pharm, University of Science & Technology, Pharmacy

Graduate/Post-Graduate Training

POST-DOCTORAL, RESEARCH ASSOCIATE, FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY, TALLAHASSEE, FL, United States

Biography

Dr. Felix Amissah received his Bachelor of Pharmacy and Master of Philosophy (Pharmacology) degrees at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana. He obtained his Ph.D. degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Tallahassee, FL prior to joining Ferris State University. His research interests include pharmacological investigations of small molecules, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in cells, and small animal models of lung cancer. He also studies the molecular targeting of lung cancers expressing mutant Ras and Rho GTPases.

Publications and Intellectual Contributions

Conference Proceeding
Rogers, B., Rohde, N., Mikitaroff, J., Matson, J., Satawa, S., Amissah, F., Kurup, S. (2023). "4-Amino-N-phenylbenzamides as dual-targeted mEGFR and AURK inhibitors and anticancer agents." Cancer Research. 83 (7_Suppl). p. 5339. Philadelphia (PA): In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR.
Journal Article
Bierlein, M., Charles, J., Polisuk-Balfour, T., Bretscher, H., Rice, M., Zvonar, J., Pohl, D., Winslow, L., Wasie, B., Deurloo, S., Van Wert, J., Williams, B. M., Ankney, G., Harmon, Z., Dann, E., Azuz, A., Guzman-Vargas, A., Kuhns, E., Neufeld, T. P., O'Connor, M. B., Amissah, F., Zhu, C. (2023). "Autophagy impairment and lifespan reduction caused by Atg1 RNAi or Atg18 RNAi expression in adult fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster)." Genetics. 225 (2). pp. 1-17. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. https://academic.oup.com/genetics/article-abstract/225/2/iyad154/7245786?redirectedFrom=fulltext
Journal Article
Poku, R. A., Amissah, F., Alan, J. K. (2023). "PI3K functions downstream of CDC-42 to drive cancer phenotypes in melanoma cell lines," Small GTPase. Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.1080/21541248.2023.2202612
Journal Article
Bayles, C. E., Hale, D. E., Konieczny, A. M., Anderson, V. D., Richardson, C. R., Brown, K. V., Nguyen, J. T., Hecht, J., Schwartz, N., Kharel, M. K., Amissah, F., Dowling, T. C., Nybo, E. (2022). "Upcycling the anthracyclines: new mechanisms of action, toxicology, and pharmacology," Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. Frisco, Colorado: Elsevier. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0041008X22005075
Journal Article
Asong, G., Voshavar, C., Amissah, F., Bricker, B., Lamango, N., Ablordeppey, S. (2022). "An evaluation of the anticancer properties of SYA014, a Homopiperazine-Oxime analog of haloperidol in Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells," Cancers. 14 (24). Basel: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute.
Book Chapter
Feild, C., Amissah, F., Poku, R. (2022). "Chapter 5 Cholinergic Antagonists," Lippincott Illustrated Reviews: Pharmacology 8th edition. Wolters Kluwer.
Book Chapter
Poku, R., Amissah, F. (2022). "Chapter 4 Cholinergic Agonists," Lippincott Illustrated Reviews: Pharmacology 8th edition. Wolters Kluwer.
Journal Article
Vilme, H., Duke, N. N., Dokurugu, Y., Akin-Odanye, E. O., Paul, C., Kaninjing, E., Lopez, I. A., Matsouaka, R., Brown Speights, J. S., De Leon, J., Sauls, D. L., Ndip, R. N., Amissah, F., Bosworth, H., Warren, C. L., Muiruri, C. (2022). "Food insecurity among university students in the United States amidst the COVID-19 pandemic," The Journal of American College Health. Taylor & Francis.
Journal Article
Vilme, H., Duke, N. N., Dokurugu, Y., Akin-Odanye, E. O., Paul, C., Kaninjing, E., Lopez, I. A., Matsouaka, R., Brown Speights, J. S., De Leon, J., Sauls, D. L., Ndip, R. N., Amissah, F., Bosworth, H., Warren, C. L., Muiruri, C. (2022). "A Social-Ecological Exploration of College and University Students’ COVID-19 Infection Preventive Behaviors," American Journal of Health Education. Taylor & Francis Group.
Conference Proceeding
Van Baren, M., Matson, J., Poku, R., Alan, J., Amissah, F. (2021). "Suppressing Lung Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion through Disruption of Rho GTPase Function by Diclofenac and Docosahexaenoic Acid," The FASEB Journal. 35 (S1). Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) https://faseb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1096/fasebj.2021.35.S1.04404

Presentations

Poster
Perry, L. E. (Author), Armstrong, K. E., York, H. (Author), Poku, R. A. (Author), Alan, J. P. (Author), Amissah, F. (Author & Presenter), 2023 Student Research Symposium, "PUFAs and R-ketorolac inhibit lung cancer metastatic process through Rho GTPase signaling," Ferris State University, Big Rapids, MI, (September 15, 2023).
Poster
Zalupski, B. (Author & Presenter), Korhorn, E. (Author), Brekke, G. (Author), Jordan, E. (Author), Brown, K. (Author), Birely, P. (Author), York, H. (Author), Armstrong, K. (Author), Amissah, F. (Author), Ward, T. D. (Author), Mid-SURE 2023, "Promising PPAR (Peroxisome Proliferator Advanced Receptor) Molecules as Treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease and Decreased Neuroinflammation," Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, (July 26, 2023).
Poster
Perry, L. (Author), York, H. (Author), Poku, R. A. (Author), Alan, J. P. (Author), Amissah, F. (Author & Presenter), AACP Pharmacy Education 2023 meeting, "PUFAs and NSAIDs inhibit lung cancer metastatic process through Rho GTPase signaling," American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, 1400 Crystal Drive, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22202, (July 24, 2023).
Oral Presentation
Birdsall, K. (Author & Presenter), Brako, A. B. (Author), Nybo, E. (Author), Amissah, F. (Author), West Michigan Regional Undergraduate and Graduate Science Symposium (WMRUGS), "Inhibitory Effect of Tetracenomycins on the Growth of Mammalian Cancer Cells," VARI, Grand Rapids, Michigan, (November 11, 2022).
Poster
Birdsall, K. (Author & Presenter), Brako, A. B. (Author), Nybo, E. (Author), Amissah, F. (Author), 2022 Celebration of Student Research & Creative Activities, "Inhibitory Effect of Tetracenomycins on the Growth of Mammalian Cancer Cells," Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Michigan, (September 16, 2022).
Oral Presentation
York, H. (Author & Presenter), Amissah, F. (Author), 2022 Celebration of Student Research & Creative Activities, "Targeting Lung Cancer Metastasis using Ketorolac Analogs and Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids," Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Michigan, (September 16, 2022).
Oral Presentation
Amissah, F. (Author & Presenter), Research and Practice Round Table, "Suppressing Lung Cancer Cell Motility Through Disruption of Rho GTPase Signaling Using COX Inhibitors and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids ," College of Pharmacy - Ferris State University, College of Pharmacy - Virtual presentation, (July 1, 2021).
Oral Presentation
Amissah, F. (Author & Presenter), HatchEd 2021, "Suppressing Tumor Growth to Prevent Lung Cancer Metastasis," Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Michigan, (February 18, 2021).
Oral Presentation
Amissah, F. (Author & Presenter), Central Michigan University - Mitochondria Research Group, "Targeting oncogenic GTPase signaling in cancer using COX inhibitors and PUFAs," College of Medicine - CMU, Central Michigan University, (October 26, 2020).
Oral Presentation
Amissah, F. (Author & Presenter), Michigan State University - PharmTox Seminar, "Modulating oncogenic GTPase signaling in cancer using COX inhibitors and PUFAs," Pharmacology and Toxicology Department - College of Human Medicine, MSU, Virtual - https://msu.zoom.us/j/99644597462, (November 4, 2020).

Felix Amissah, PhD, M.Phil, B.Pharm