Dr Elijah Behr, Principle Investigator of the Arrythmias & Cardiomyopathy research area at CVSRC is chair of the Phenotype Standardisation Project (PSP), which uses genomics to predict adverse drug reactions.
Genomic variants are increasingly recognised as useful predictors for individual drug response. Current predictive mechanisms focus on genes that are responsible for a drugs mechanism of action, metabolism or transport in the body. However, thanks to the completion of the Human Genome Project, in the near future whole-genome sequencing technologies will be able to identify genetic variants that may influence a drugs mode of action on an individual level.
Off-target adverse drug reactions (ADRs) occur in patients with metabolic or immunological variations which are difficult to predict. These ADRs can be serious and sometimes fatal.
The Phenotype Standardisation Project (PSP) – of which Principle Investigator Dr Elijah Behr is co-chair – was initiated by the International Serious Adverse Events Consortium (iSAEC) in order to develop standardised phenotypic definitions for three types of ADRs:
- Drug-induced liver injury (DILI);
- Drug-induced skin injury (DISI); and
- Drug-induced torsade de pointes (DITdP)
This project addresses the need for large patient cohorts required for the study of the genomic basis for ADRs, and it may shed light on potential new pathways that contribute towards safer drug development.
Further reading
Piromohamed M, Aithal GP, Behr E, Daly A, Roden D. The Phenotype Standardization Project: Improving Pharmacogenetic Studies of Serious Adverse Drug Reactions.
Nature 2011; 86(6): doi: 10.1038/clpt.2011.30