Translating Pharmacogenomic Research to Therapeutic Potentials (Bench to Bedside)

Standard prescribing practice follows an empirical model, trial-and-error, and uses subpopulation data to predict efficacy and potential side effects. This traditional practice is now changed by new genetic knowledge. Pharmacogenomics, the study of individual genetic variation affecting drug pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, has the potential to improve prescribing practice by personalizing drug selection. The rapid and clinically significant advances in basic and clinical pharmacogenomics research have created a knowledge gap between bench and bedside. This knowledge is new, complex and growing fast, and its implementation is critical in current clinical practice with a growing number of drug therapies. There are many challenges and opportunities to the universal bedside implementation of pharmacogenomics. However, rapid progress is happening and in some clinical practices pharmacogenomics is now routine practice. This chapter attempts to provide the necessary basic knowledge to understand different aspects of clinical pharmacogenomics, be able to interact with ordering and test results, understand the implications for specific drug selection and be able to apply those results for patient care.