Pharmacogenomics and Drug Metabolism Research Group

Our research focuses on the study of genomic variation as predictive or prognostic markers in the context of drug therapies, and to the study of drug metabolism using combined genomics and metabolomics tools.  Our ultimate aim is to translate scientific knowledge into clinically useful predictive or prognostic markers for the identification of individuals at risk of adverse drug reactions or of therapeutic failure, and thus, to contribute to treatments tailored more closely to patients’ individual needs.

Drug response is highly variable in the population and genetic factors can play an important role in explaining this variability. Current drug prescription is predominantly based on average population-based estimates and on observation of signs and symptoms. Individual patients, however, do not always correspond to the population average. As a result of this variability, drugs are not effective in some patients and cause severe or life-threatening adverse drug reactions in others.

Collaborators:

  • Prof. Dr. Markus Jörger, Clinical Research Facility, Department of Medical Oncology & Hematology, Cantonal Hospital, St.Gallen, Switzerland
  • Prof. Stefan Aebi, Department of Medical Oncology, Cantonal Hospital Luzern, Luzern, Switzerland
  • Prof. Robert B. Diasio, Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Rochester, MN, USA
  • Prof. Steven M. Offer, Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Rochester, MN, USA
  • Dr. André B.P. van Kuilenburg, Academic Medical Center, Lab. Genetic Metabolic Diseases, Amsterdam, The Netherlands