The University of Pittsburgh and Thermo Fisher Scientific have established a new Pharmacogenomics Center of Excellence in the School of Pharmacy that aims to discover and validate medication response predictors in patients, overcome implementation barriers, and demonstrate the value of genetic testing to guide medication prescribing in routine clinical practice. Pharmacogenomics is the study of how genetic variation impacts medication responses.

The Center extends highly successful pharmacogenomics (PGx) clinical implementation, research, and education programs including PreCISE-Rx and Test2Learn that are already implemented in Pittsburgh.  Through the collaboration, Thermo Fisher’s portfolio of state-of-the-art pharmacogenomics testing solutions will be used to study preemptive panel-based PGx testing and return results in at least 150,000 patients in western and central Pennsylvania.  The project will also immediately leverage Pitt+Me Discovery, the new institutional bio-repository developed by the Clinical and Translational Science (CTSI).  Collaborations with UPMC, UPMC Healthplan, and UPMC Enterprises will contribute data and technology innovations.

Assistant Professor Philip Empey, PharmD, PhD, associate director for pharmacogenomics in the Institute for Precision Medicine and the Clinical and Translational Institute will lead the Center. PittPGx team members James Coons, PharmD, BCPS (AQ CV), James M. Stevenson, PharmD, MS, BCPP, Solomon Adams, PharmD, PhD, Lucas A. Berenbrok, PharmD, MS,  Inmaculada Hernandez, PharmD, PhD,  Karryn Crisamore, PharmD, Linda Prebehalla, BSN, RN,  Lin Huang, PhD and Carlo Iasella, PharmD, BCPS  will advance precision medicine implementation science, analytics, bioinformatics, economics, and education with partners in CTSI and Thermo Fisher through the initiative.

Photo above seated: Philip Empey, Karryn Crisamore, Inmaculada Hernandez. Standing: Lin Huang, James Stevenson, Carlo Iasella, Linda Prebehalla and James Coons. Missing from photo Lucas Berenbrok and Solomon Adams

See press releases:

http://www.news.pitt.edu/news/pitt-and-thermo-fisher-scientific-establish-pharmacogenomics-center-excellence

http://thermofisher.mediaroom.com/2018-04-05-University-of-Pittsburgh-and-Thermo-Fisher-Scientific-Establish-Pharmacogenomics-Center-of-Excellence

 

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