PMUWO Profile

Personalized Medicine at UWO

Abstract

Goals

Our group is focused on the application of pharmacogenomic information to the emerging field of personalized medicine. We recognize that individualization of patient therapies will need to take into consideration both environmental, genetic, and disease associated factors to more fully predict drug dose and expected response. Our group is specifically focused on CYP enzymes and drug uptake and efflux transporters expressed in organs such the liver, intestine and kidney as key determinants of variation in drug responsiveness.

Progress

We have significantly contributed to the understanding of genetic variation in certain CYP enzymes and various drug transporters including members of the OATP family of drug uptake transporters which are now widely recognized as key mediators of hepatic and intestinal drug uptake. We have utilized heterologous gene expression strategies to define functionally relevant drug transporter variants. Moreover, we have been involved in clinical studies trying to assess the in vivo relevance of CYP enzyme and drug transporter polymorphisms.

Experimental Plan

Our goals are to further our studies into the role and relevance of CYP enzyme and drug transporter genetic variations in the setting of disease states. Specifically we want to better understand the variation in drug levels in relation to in vivo gene expression and types of therapeutic agents utilized. We plan to more fully integrate our Clinical Investigation Unit for the study of drug responsiveness in the patient population.

PMUWO Team