BMI 5331 Foundations of Pharmacogenomics

3 semester credit hours
Lecture contact hours: 2; Lab contact hours: 3
Web-based and classroom instruction
Prerequisite: BMI 5330
Lab Fee: $30

Course Description
Pharmacogenomics is the study of how human genetic variation impacts drug response. It is one of the major promises of the genome project: that individual genetic information can be used to tailor drugs to patients, maximizing efficacy and minimizing adverse reactions. An understanding of pharmacogenomics requires dual understanding of the basics of genetics and genomics and of pharmacology. This course will provide the background to understand the current state and literature in pharmacogenomics, including the methods used in research and the current issues in discovery and implementation of pharmacogenomics.

Learning Objectives
Upon successfully completing this course, students will:

• Explain the basic principles of pharmacology and genomics as they pertain to pharmacogenomics.
• Distinguish the different considerations applying to genes involved in pharmacokinetics versus pharmacodynamics, and how this impacts the way that these genes are studied.
• Understand the impact of emerging technologies, such as next generation sequencing, on discovery and implementation of pharmacogenomics.
• Understand several specific examples of important pharmacogenomics and their implementation in clinical practice.
• Apply the available information resources for gene-drug interactions in informatics projects.
• Understand the issues and challenges of implementing pharmacogenomics in the clinic.