Benito Valdepenas
Clinical Assistant Professor, Pharmacy Practice
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Surgery
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About
Teaching and Supervision
Spec Project in Pharm Pract (PMPR 12994), 1/12/2026 – 5/1/2026
Adv Transplant Therapeutics (PMPR 37002), 1/12/2026 – 5/1/2026
Pre-Transplant (PMPR 390), 8/25/2025 – 12/5/2025
Adv Transplant Therapeutics (PMPR 347), 1/13/2025 – 5/2/2025
Spec Project in Pharm Pract (PMPR 390), 8/26/2024 – 12/6/2024
Spec Project in Pharm Pract (PMPR 390), 1/8/2024 – 4/26/2024
Spec Project in Pharm Pract (PMPR 390), 1/8/2024 – 4/26/2024
Adv Transplant Therapeutics (PMPR 347), 1/8/2024 – 4/26/2024
Spec Project in Pharm Pract (PMPR 390), 8/21/2023 – 12/1/2023
Selected Grants
CTA: FREXERA: A seamless Phase 2/3 randomized, open-label study to investigate the efficacy and safety of frexalimab versus tacrolimus in adult kidney transplant recipients, Sanofi US Services Inc.., 7/27/2026 - 6/30/2035, Obligated Amount: $5501884; Anticipated Amount: $5501884
CTA: Dose-Ranging Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy Study of AZD2373 in Participants with APOL1-Mediated Kidney Disease (APPRECIATE), AstraZeneca., 3/12/2026 - 11/30/2027, Obligated Amount: $185625; Anticipated Amount: $185625
CTA: A Phase I/IIa, Single site, Open-Label, Ascending Dose Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of OPF-310 [Encapsulated Porcine Islet Cells for Xenotransplantation] in Subjects wType1Diabetes, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory, Inc.., 3/8/2025 - 3/8/2027, Obligated Amount: $3247065; Anticipated Amount: $3247065
CTA: A Phase 2, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo- Controlled Study to Assess the Safety, Efficacy, and Tolerability of ARGX-117 in Improving Allograft Function in Recipients..., argenx BV., 10/25/2024 - 9/1/2026, Obligated Amount: $443666; Anticipated Amount: $443666
Development of a CMV Outcomes Non-Interventional Research Platform (CMV OMNI-PLATFORM), OM1., 5/30/2024 - 7/31/2025, Obligated Amount: $102905; Anticipated Amount: $102905
Retrospective Evaluation of Dosing Weight of Tacrolimus Extended Release (Envarsus XR) in Obese Kidney Transplant Recipients in the De Novo Setting, Veloxis Pharmaceuticals., 1/18/2023 - 12/31/2026, Obligated Amount: $49776; Anticipated Amount: $49776
Selected Publications
Dabbas, Walaa, Pavez Berrios, Josefina Sofia, Naik, Ruchi, Valdepenas, Benito, Mital, Deepak, Di Cocco, Pierpaolo, Tang, Ignatius. (2026). Renal Subcapsular Hematoma: A Rare Potentially Reversible Cause of Acute Graft Dysfunction With Immediate Intervention. Annals of Internal Medicine Clinical Cases, 5, (3). doi:10.7326/aimcc.2025.1049.
Spaggiari, Mario, Alaniz, Maria Jimena, Kortan, Elif, Valdepenas, Benito, Benken, Jamie, Gaitonde, Sujata, Kim, Hojung, Chalisa, Amaan, Atia, Luke G, Benedetti, Enrico, Tzvetanov, Ivo. (2026). Increasing the liver donation pool: Eculizumab desensitization for ABO-incompatible living donor liver transplantation – A case series. Human Immunology, 87, (2), 111637. doi:10.1016/j.humimm.2025.111637.
Russo, A, Pierce, D, Christensen, R, Heinrich, L, Valdepenas, B, Gallon, L, Benedetti, E, Tzvetanov, I, Muran, C. (2025). Efficacy and Safety Comparison of Letermovir versus Valganciclovir for Use in Cytomegalovirus Prophylaxis in Adult Kidney Transplant Recipients. American Journal of Transplantation, 25, (8), s597. doi:10.1016/j.ajt.2025.07.1395.
Zghayer, A, Sanoufa, M, Al Zoubi, S, Ahmed, AK, Dabbas, W, Ansari, S, Patel, TN, Valdepenas, B, Setty, S, Abuzeineh, M, Hajjiri, Z, Tang, I, Gallon, L, Naik, R. (2025). BK Virus Nephropathy (BKVN) and Antibody-Mediated Rejection (AMR): Impact on 1-Year Graft and Patient Survival in Kidney Transplant Recipients. American Journal of Transplantation, 25, (8), s688-s689. doi:10.1016/j.ajt.2025.07.1618.
Pierce, D, Yu, C, Alaniz, J, Kortan, E, Valdepenas, B, Campara, M, Naik, R, Hajjiri, Z, Gallon, L, Benedetti, E, Tzvetanov, I. (2025). Comparison of Immunosuppression Regimens on Outcomes of High KDPI Allograft Recipients. American Journal of Transplantation, 25, (8), s650. doi:10.1016/j.ajt.2025.07.1518.
Naik, R, Dabbas, W, Abuzeineh, M, Ansari, S, Tang, I, Berrios, J Pavez, Claeys, J, Shah, A, Pierce, D, Valdepenas, B, Alvarez, J Almario, Benedetti, E, Tzvetanov, I, Kortan, E, Alaniz, J, Gallon, L, Hajjiri, Z. (2025). Metabolic Outcomes of Obese Recipients of Simultaneous Pancreas and Kidney (SPK) Transplant- A Single Center Experience. American Journal of Transplantation, 25, (8), s1015-s1016. doi:10.1016/j.ajt.2025.07.2416.
Abuzeineh, M, Ansari, S, Dabbas, W, Naik, R, Valdepenas, B, Alaniz, J, Atia, L, Chalisa, A, Baez, N, Kortan, E, Tang, I, Hajjiri, Z, Gallon, L, Spaggiari, M. (2025). Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists Use in Obese Simultaneous Pancreas-Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Single Center Experience. American Journal of Transplantation, 25, (8), s1015. doi:10.1016/j.ajt.2025.07.2415.
Pueringer, J, Zhang, R, Carlson, A, Mishra, A, Valdepenas, B, Ludi, D, Spaggiari, M, Ardati, A, Wang, J. (2025). Factors Associated with Adverse Cardiovascular Event Following Liver Transplantation: A Single Center Experience. American Journal of Transplantation, 25, (8), s478. doi:10.1016/j.ajt.2025.07.1097.
Alaniz, J, Kortan, E, Zhang, L, Baez, N Perez, Laos, E Manueli, Valdepenas, B, Shah, A, Berrios, J Pavez, Claeys, J, Mariano, L, Di Cocco, P, Tzvetanov, I, Benedetti, E, Jennette, K. (2025). Exploring the Impact of Sociodemographic Factors on Intestinal Transplant Outcomes. American Journal of Transplantation, 25, (8), s844-s845. doi:10.1016/j.ajt.2025.07.2003.
Professional Leadership
Board of Pharmacy Specialties, 1/1/2022 - Present
National Alliance for Caregiving, 1/1/2022 - Present
American Society of Transplantation, 1/6/2021 - Present
American Society of Transplantation, Public Policy Work Group, 1/6/2019 - Present
American Society of Transplantation, Pediatrics Medication Access Subgroup, 1/6/2019 - Present
Education
Degrees:
MS, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States
PharmD, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States, 2018
ADN, Oakton Community College, United States, 2011
Postgraduate Training:
PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States, 2019
PGY2 Specialty Residency in Solid Ogan Transplantation, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States
Licensures and Certifications
Board Certified Transplant Pharmacist, Board of Pharmacy Specialties, Date Not Set - Present