Pharmacogenomics and stratified healthcare

Previously: Pharmacogenetics and stratified healthcare. About the module name changes

About this module

Pharmacogenomics is playing a key role in our health care system. Pharmacogenomics and stratified health care ensure that healthcare professionals tailor the 'right treatment, for the right person, at the right time’ and is a fast developing area. This module provides a comprehensive overview of the analytical strategies and techniques used in pharmacogenomics and explore some of the challenges and limitations in this field (availability of patient material for studies of adverse drug reactions which tend to be rare, allelic heterogeneity between different ethnic groups, patient compliance etc.). Biomarkers are the predictive tools for optimising drug response and preventing adverse drug reactions thus this module will also provide an overview of the different type of genomic biomarkers currently in use or emerging. This module describes the complexity of pharmacogenomics and the effect of medication on individuals based on their genetic make-up i.e. tailoring drug treatment to improve patient response and techniques to stratify patients at risk of adverse drug reactions. The module uses examples of known validated pharmacogenomic tests relevant to the use of drug treatments and also use the expertise provided by the major clinical- and academic- industrial research cluster in biomedical science that is developing locally. The module provides a focus to develop interactions with industrial partners and academic groups developing research programs in stratified medicine across a broad range of diseases.

15 credits · Module Leads – Professor Richard Sandford (University of Cambridge), Dr James Whitworth (University of Cambridge) and Dr Emma Hodson (University of Cambridge)

Before the module

What you will study

• Genomic basis of: drug reaction, drug efficacy, ethnic differences in both these; and how these are applied in prescribing practice
• Use of genomic information, for targeted drug development
• Companion diagnostics and options for NHS service delivery models
• Different types and examples of genomic-targeted intervention (examples of genomically- targeted clinical, therapeutic or lifestyle choices)
• Genomic biomarkers: SNPs, variability of short sequence repeats, haplotypes, DNA modifications,
• e.g. methylation, deletions or insertions, copy number variants, RNA expression levels, RNA splicing, microRNA levels
• Use of biomarkers in treatments other than cancer.
• The role of academic-industrial partnerships in clinical drug development and clinical trials.

Learning objectives

By the end of this module you will be able to:

• Discuss and evaluate the mechanism of several examples of genome-determined differential drug response, and drug reaction
• Appraise the strategies and analytical approaches for stratifying patients for optimal drug response or adverse drug reactions including ethnic differences, and how these translate into ‘companion diagnostics’
• Identify and analyse the challenges and limitations of pharmacogenetic studies
• Identify and evaluate the different types of current and emerging biomarkers used in personalised medicine
• Discuss and critically evaluate how genomic information can enable development of drugs targeted for particular genotypes
• Identify the ethical, legal and social issues (ELSI) that could accompany patient stratification for healthcare advice or intervention and defend the use of patient stratification to improve the diagnosis and treatment of disease
• Explain the implication of pharmacogenomic results in current clinical practice considering relevant national guidance.

Teaching

1–5 March 2027

School of Clinical Medicine, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0QQ

Dates follow the 2026–27 handbook. Check your course communications for timetable updates.

Learning objectives follow the 2026–27 curriculum, including programme-team updates.