Author: Dezmond Garrett

The IGNITE Pharmacogenetics Working Group: An Opportunity for Building Evidence with Pharmacogenetic Implementation in a Real‐World Setting

Clinical Translational Science – One of the challenges hindering genomic implementation is the limited data on the outcomes and cost‐effectiveness of genotype‐guided drug therapy. The IGNITE network, consisting of institutions funded in the network and affiliate members, includes a number of institutions that have implemented pharmacogenetic testing to assist with prescribing decisions.

Cardiovascular Pharmacogenomics – Implications for Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Advances in Chronic Kidney Disease – Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Thus, patients with CKD often require treatment with cardiovascular drugs, such as antiplatelet, antihypertensive, anticoagulant, and lipid-lowering agents. There is significant inter-patient variability in response to cardiovascular therapies, which contributes to risk for treatment failure or adverse drug effects.

Effects of Using Personal Genotype Data on Student Learning and Attitudes in a Pharmacogenomics Course

American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education – Although clinical use of pharmacogenomic and genomic data to inform patient care decisions is increasing, it is not yet routine. Coverage of these concepts in health professions education, including pharmacy education, is lacking, and most practitioners feel inadequately prepared to apply these data in clinical practice.

The Spectrum of Clinical Utilities in Molecular Pathology Testing Procedures for Inherited Conditions and Cancer: A Report of the Association for Molecular Pathology

The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics – Debates surrounding levels and types of evidence needed to properly evaluate the clinical value of molecular diagnostics are increasingly important because the growing body of knowledge, stemming from the increase of genomic medicine, provides many new opportunities for molecular testing to improve health care. We address the challenges in defining the clinical utility of molecular diagnostics for inherited diseases or cancer and provide assessment recommendations.

Clopidogrel pharmacogenetics: from evidence to implementation

Future Cardiology – Clopidogrel is an ideal target for pharmacogenetic intervention for several reasons. First, there is a strong association between genotype, in this case CYP2C19 genotype, and clopidogrel effectiveness [1]. Second, the consequences of reduced clopidogrel effectiveness, namely adverse cardiovascular events, can be life threatening and costly. Because of these reasons, an increasing number of institutions have implemented CYP2C19 genotyping to predict clopidogrel response into clinical practice.

Family health history: An essential starting point for personalized risk assessment and disease prevention

Personalized Medicine – Family health history (FHH) information is well established as a basis for assessing a patient’s personal disease risk, but is underutilized for diagnosis and making medical recommendations. Epidemiological and genetic information have heightened the value of FHH to an individual’s health. This has motivated the development of new FHH collection tools and strategies for family members, but will require greater awareness and knowledge by both patients and practitioners.