Partnership offers pharmacogenomics training program
Manchester University, RxGenomix and the American Pharmacists Association have teamed up to offer online training in pharmacogenomics (PGx).
RxGenomix is working with the northeast Indiana university to help pharmacists and pharmacy students understand the fundamentals of PGx. The core of this initiative is a 16-hour training program, providing the tools needed to put this emerging science into clinical practice.
Pharmacogenomics is a significant component of what is known as precision or personalized medicine. It helps health care providers understand genetic-related factors, which along with other elements, influence a patient’s response to medications. Their patients’ DNA can be used to help the prescriber decide what medications, and at what dosage, are most likely to work best, while minimizing the risk of adverse drug reactions.
Through partnerships with Manchester and labs with Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) certification, Tennessee-based RxGenomix is providing what health care providers need to integrate pharmacogenomics into their practices.
Learn more: http://www.rxgenomix.com/pharmacogenomics-education/
PGx has several distinct benefits, including more effective treatment, limiting or avoiding adverse drug reactions, more efficient health care delivery and significant cost savings.
The self-paced training program is made possible through a grant from the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation, and colleges of pharmacy across the nation are being invited to offer the PGx course to their students through this program.
Manchester is a leader in PGx education. In May, it launched the nation’s first dedicated master’s degree program in pharmacogenomics. The success of this one-year intensive course at its Fort Wayne campus led the university to start offering the degree online starting in May of 2017.
The two-year online program is available in two tracks: The laboratory track is designed for individuals seeking to work in the pharmacogenomic testing or pharmaceutical industry or those pursuing a research position; and the clinical track is designed for health care providers such as physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, pharmacists and genetic counselors, who want to put PGx training to use in their own field.
Learn more: http://www.manchester.edu/PGx
About Manchester University:
Manchester University, with campuses in North Manchester and Fort Wayne, Ind., offers more than 60 areas of academic study to 1,600 students in undergraduate programs, a Master of Athletic Training, a Master of Pharmacogenomics and a four-year professional Doctor of Pharmacy. Learn more about the private, northern Indiana school at www.manchester.edu.
To the media:
To arrange an interview with Dave Kisor, Pharm.D., MU chair of pharmaceutical sciences and director of the PGx program at Manchester, contact Anne Gregory in media relations at aggregory@manchester.edu or 260-982-5285. Kisor played a key role in setting up this program.
December 2016