Genes, Drugs & Practical Application in Medicine (GDP AM)

NOT AVAILABLE FOR AY2026-2027

Department of Health Sciences Education

  • Course Information

    Course Number: RHSE664

    Prerequisites: Completion of all Phase 2 clerkships

    Length of Time: 4 weeks

    Phase Availability: Phase 3

    Credit Type: Open

    Call: No

  • Contact Information

    Program Directors: Linda Chang, PharmD, MPH, BCPS; Radhika Sreedhar, MD, MS, FACP

    Coordinators/Scheduling: Allison King (aking75@uic.edu); Susan Ping (pings@uic.edu)

    Location: Online

Narrative Description: Prepare healthcare students to have adequate foundational knowledge about pharmacogenomics and its application to individualized patient care. Precision medicine is an innovative approach to disease treatment and prevention that takes into account individual variability in genes, environment, and lifestyle. A critical component of this approach is pharmacogenomics, the study of how genetic differences influence a person’s response to drugs. Pharmacogenomics, an additional drug principle along with pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, serves as an additional tool to tailor medical treatments to a patient’s genetic profile, optimizing therapeutic outcomes while minimizing adverse effects. To bridge the gap between genomic advancements and clinical application, genomic medicine education is increasingly recognized as an essential skill for non-geneticists. Ensuring future healthcare providers are competent in interpreting genetic information and applying it to clinical decision-making is a priority. The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), in collaboration with 30 professional organizations, has developed genomic Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) encompassing areas such as diagnostic testing and therapeutic interventions. This course is designed to provide healthcare students with foundational knowledge and practical skills in pharmacogenomics. By the end of this course, students will be equipped to contribute effectively to the future of precision medicine, translating genetic insights into impactful clinical practice. This is an online course with a virtual face-to-face meeting once a week. Students will be expected to commit to four to five hours of work time per day to cover the following topics. There will be weekly quizzes, patient cases assignment, and small group activities. Students are expected to join and participate in the Zoom classroom once a week.

Learning Objectives:
After taking this course the student will be able to:

  • Evaluate and integrate genomic data into pharmacologic therapy
  • Assess how genomic variations influence drug efficacy and
  • Apply precision medicine principles to optimize patient care in a fair and ethical

Learning Activities:
This is an online course with a virtual face-to-face meeting once a week. Students will be expected to commit to four to five hours of work time per day to cover the following topics. There will be weekly quizzes, patient cases, and face-to-face sessions regarding pharmacogenomics and medical care. An optional clinical experience (1-2 half days) working with clinicians who implemented pharmacogenomic service.

Student responsibility: quizzes, virtual class participation (mandatory session once a week), clinical workflow design proposal, patient cases, and student reflection papers (challenges to the clinical integration of pharmacogenomics medicine).

Reading Assignments:
This course will use the textbook/web resources listed below. They are available electronically through the UIC Library. Additional readings or resources will also be provided in the weekly assignment Blackboard tab. The UIC Library is an excellent source for outside research.

Weekly Specific Learning Objectives:

Weekly Assessment

  • Knowledge Assessment
  • Practical Application
  • Face-to-face group discussion

Week 1: Pharmacogenomics Introduction – Nuts and Bolts

Learning Objectives:

  • Define precision medicine and pharmacogenomics
  • Explain how nucleotide changes and chromosomal abnormalities can lead to altered drug metabolism
  • Apply your knowledge of how genetic variants affect drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs
  • Navigate evidenced-based pharmacogenomics databases containing information on human genetic variation and evidenced pharmacogenomics intervention.
  • Practice patient communication and counseling skills with a focus on:
    • Explaining the test results in simple
    • Discussing potential changes to the patient’s medication regimen.
    • Addressing patient concerns (e.g., cost, privacy).

Week 2: Clinical Utility of Pharmacogenomics in Neuropharmacology and Cancer Care

Learning Objectives:

  • Design a treatment regimen taking into account the impact of different genetically mediated liver enzyme phenotypes on codeine and morphine PK (pharmacokinetics), analgesic efficacy, and toxicity.
  • Analyze the impact of CYP2C9*2 and CYP2C9*3 alleles on the metabolism, PK, and dosage requirements of phenytoin and other anticonvulsants.
  • Choose between two antidepressants based on the impact of genetic polymorphisms on treatment outcomes and risk of adverse outcomes.
  • Interpret pharmacogenomic test results and apply this knowledge to make informed decisions about drug therapy in oncology.

Week 3: Clinical Utility of Pharmacogenomics in Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy and Drug Hypersensitivity Reactions.

Learning Objectives:

  • Develop a therapeutic plan (antiplatelet, lipid management, hypertension) for a given patient based on genetic profile and currently available evidence.
  • Analyze the impact of CYP2C9 and vitamin K epoxide reductase in warfarin response in various patient ethnic
  • Apply your knowledge of gene-drug pairs that are associated with hypersensitivity reactions in patient case
  • Design a treatment plan that can minimize drug hypersensitivity reactions while maximizing efficacy.

Week 4: Pharmacogenomics: Bridging Science, Ethics, and Society

Study Design – How to Assess the Evidence

Learning Objectives:

  • Describe common study designs used in assessing pharmacogenomic therapy.
  • Explain the limitations of conventional P <0.05 value in a genome wide approach study.
  • Identify challenges associated with conducting prospective pharmacogenomics-based randomized controlled trials.
  • Explain how pharmacogenomics may influence social and legal aspect of patient care
  • Identify potential challenges in maintaining patient confidentiality when using genetic data.
  • Assess the implications of pharmacogenomic results for family members and the ethical dilemmas in disclosing hereditary risks.
  • Explore ethical considerations in balancing access to pharmacogenomic testing with cost and healthcare resource allocation.

Method of Assessment: Overall Pass/Fail. Minimum pass of 80% required for quizzes and patient cases.

Required Reading:

  • Textbook: Pharmacogenomics – Applications to Patient ACCP. 3rd Edition- will provide chapter readings. No need to purchase a textbook.
  • PGX databases:
  • Primary literature readings for each week’s

Additional Resources: None

Miscellaneous Information: None