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  • November 8, 2024
  • Post by Julie Bick, Ph.D.

Pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing assesses how an individual’s genetic makeup affects their response to medications, and as such, is proving to be an important step towards personalized medicine [1]. By tailoring drug therapy to the patient’s genetic profile, PGx testing can enhance treatment efficacy, reduce adverse drug reactions, and improve overall patient outcomes. Despite its potential, the widespread adoption and insurance coverage of PGx testing currently remains limited. Many in the healthcare sector have expressed concerns about the lack of robust, high-quality evidence to demonstrate the clinical utility of PGx testing, and while numerous studies highlight the potential benefits, insurers and healthcare providers continue to request clear evidence for its cost-effectiveness as well as benefits to patients [2].

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  • October 10, 2024
  • Post by Julie Bick, Ph.D.

In recent years, the field of PGx has rapidly gained attention in the healthcare industry for its ability to enhance patient care by customizing medication protocols based individual genetic profiles. The potential of PGx testing is substantial, enabling healthcare providers to transform their approach to drug prescriptions, reduce side-effects and adverse drug reactions (ADRs), improve therapeutic efficacy, and to ultimately improve and save lives of patients. In this blog, we outline what PGx testing is, how it works, its benefits, challenges, and how it is actively contributing to patient safety today within our healthcare systems.

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  • September 26, 2024
  • Post by Julie Bick, Ph.D.

The advancements in describing mitochondrial dysfunction have come about through novel approaches in metabolic analysis that are showing these organelles in a whole new light. This research has identified two types of mitochondrial dysfunctions- inherited mitochondrial dysfunction where deficiencies in mtDNA maintenance and function result in primary mitochondrial diseases (examples include Leigh syndrome, mitochondrial myopathy and chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia) and then the more common pathologies such as cancer, heart failure and neurodegenerative diseases that are associated with secondary mitochondrial dysfunction.

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  • September 12, 2024
  • Post by Julie Bick, Ph.D.

Mitochondria are most often referred to as the “powerhouses of the cell,” and play a crucial role in generating the energy required for various cellular functions. However, their influence extends far beyond mere energy production, and research is linking mitochondrial health with our biological aging as well as our susceptibility to many common diseases. In this blog we review the multifaceted roles of mitochondria in cellular health and aging, exploring their functions and the mechanisms by which they contribute to the aging process, and their emerging roles in disease onset and progression.

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  • August 29, 2024
  • Post by Julie Bick, Ph.D.

When it comes to treating chronic conditions, the effectiveness of prescribed medications is central to symptom management. However, the reality is that not all medications work equally well for everyone. Ineffective medications can not only fail to treat the condition but can also exacerbate it, leading to a host of additional health complications.

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  • August 15, 2024
  • Post by Julie Bick, Ph.D.

For many of us there is a sense of panic and perhaps even fear at the potential challenges of removing it, coupled with the unknown diseases that it might be carrying.  So, what should you do if you find yourself in this situation? Within this blog, we’ll walk you through the steps to take if you’ve been bitten by a tick, as well as provide some simple but effective tips on how to avoid tick bites altogether.

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  • July 25, 2024
  • Post by Julie Bick, Ph.D.

As the global population ages, the number of geriatric patients—those aged 65 and older—is rapidly increasing in almost every country. This change in population demographic will result in significant challenges to healthcare systems worldwide, particularly regarding the management of chronic diseases and the safe use of medications. One tool helping address that is now gaining momentum is ‘pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing’. This field, which combines pharmacology and genomics to deliver personalized medicine by tailoring drug therapies based on an individual’s genetic makeup. For geriatric patients, PGx testing is proving to be particularly transformative, and is demonstrated to improve patient quality of life through more effective and safer medication regimens.

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  • July 11, 2024
  • Post by Julie Bick, Ph.D.

Although giving birth is often described as one of the most beautiful experiences a woman can have, for many mothers, the period following childbirth can be marked by overwhelming emotions, fatigue, and, in some cases, postpartum depression (PPD). Postpartum depression is a serious condition that affects around one in seven women in the US after giving birth, and is characterized by feelings of sadness, anxiety, and exhaustion. While the exact causes of PPD are multifaceted and not fully understood, emerging research suggests that genetics plays a significant role in predisposing some women to this condition. But genetics may also hold the key to optimizing the use of medications to address this debilitating condition, and as new treatment options are approved by the FDA, there finally seems to be progress in this somewhat neglected field of medicine.

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  • June 27, 2024
  • Post by Julie Bick, Ph.D.

One of the most promising areas of precision medicine is the field of pharmacogenomics (PGx), a discipline that explores the relationship between an individual’s genetic makeup and their response to medications. While PGx has traditionally been associated with adult populations, its application in pediatric patients is becoming increasingly recognized as a valuable tool for guiding treatment decisions.

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  • June 13, 2024
  • Post by Dean Ihemesie

Medications can be powerful tools for managing disease symptoms and progression and for improving our quality of life. However, it’s important to remember that even the most rigorously tested drugs come with the potential for adverse drug reactions (ADRs). ADRs are any harmful or unpleasant side effects that may occur when a medication is used as intended, misused, or used off-label. These reactions can range in severity from mild annoyances like an upset stomach, headache, or drowsiness to serious complications such as organ damage or allergic reactions.

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  • May 23, 2024
  • Post by Julie Bick, Ph.D.

The role that oxidative stress plays in the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases is well described and is now being translated into a source of novel therapeutic approaches. However, oxidative stress is also closely linked with the development and progression of many other chronic conditions, including one of the most prevalent, diabetes. The relationship between oxidative stress and diabetes involves complex interactions that contribute to insulin resistance, impaired glucose metabolism, inflammation, as well as many of the other complications associated with diabetes. In this blog, we review some of the most recent data describing the role of oxidative stress in diabetes and novel therapeutics that may help alleviate the burden of diabetes on our healthcare system.

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  • May 2, 2024
  • Post by Dean Ihemesie

Personalized medicine, also known as precision medicine, is a rapidly evolving approach to healthcare that can tailor treatment and prevention strategies to an individual’s specific genetic makeup, environment, and lifestyle. Unlike the traditional “one-size-fits-all” approach, it recognizes that we are all biologically unique, and what works for one person might not be optimal for another.

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  • April 18, 2024
  • Post by Julie Bick, Ph.D.

With modern medicine, we now understand how cellular health is foundational for overall health and well-being. Every organ, tissue, and system rely on the proper functioning of individual cells. One of the crucial factors that can disrupt this delicate balance is known as oxidative stress. This phenomenon, often considered a double-edged sword, plays a pivotal role in the body’s cellular health. Several processes such as cell signaling, immune system defenses including phagocytosis, apoptosis and drug metabolism all rely on the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), however, as we’ll see in this blog, ROS are potentially damaging and the oxidative stress that they can induce can be highly detrimental. This dual nature underscores the complexity of oxidative stress and its pivotal role in health and disease.

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  • April 4, 2024
  • Post by Julie Bick, Ph.D.

With the evolution in translational medicine and ‘omics’ profiling, precision medicine is finally becoming a reality; and the field of pharmacogenomics (PGx) is at the forefront of this revolution. As we examine the intricacies of tailoring drug treatments to individual genetic profiles, three pivotal entities stand out in leading this movement: the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium (CPIC), the Dutch Pharmacogenetics Working Group (DPWG), and the Pharmacogenomics Knowledge Base (PharmGKB). Together, these organizations are not only helping to resolve the complexities of pharmacogenomics but also reshaping clinical guidelines to optimize patient outcomes.

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  • March 21, 2024
  • Post by Julie Bick, Ph.D.

In the ever-changing landscape of drug development, the coupling of pharmacogenomics and pharmacokinetics is becoming a powerful tool in the advancement of personalized medicine. As researchers look deeper into individual genetic variations and their impact on drug response, the promise of tailoring treatments to an individual’s unique genetic makeup is at last becoming a reality. This blog explores the synergy between pharmacogenomics and pharmacokinetics and sheds light on how these two distinct profiles are together reshaping the process of drug development.

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