17 hours ago
Glasgow drugs trial to use genetics to 'personalise' treatments
Eric Balish, from Pollokshields, has been enrolled into the PHOENIX Study, which aims to show how a simple genetic test could help doctors reduce harmful side effects and end a "trial and error approach" to treatments.
The 63-year-old, who recently retired from the banking industry, was asked to take part in the trial by consultants at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
Eric Balish (Image: University of Glasgow)
After his heart attack, Eric was immediately prescribed clopidogrel, one of the 60 drugs included in the study, but has since had his medication changed a number of times.
He said: 'I knew a bit about personalised medicine previously, so when I was asked to take part in the PHOENIX Study I was happy to do it.
'If you're asked to participate and support long-term research like this, then it's no great hardship to give something back and just do the right thing.
'I am hopeful my information can be of use to the trial and in the future.'
Eric Balish, right, with Professor Sandosh Padmanabhan and Dr Stefanie Lip. (Image: University of Glasgow)
The PHOENIX Study, one of the largest trials of its kind in the world, will recruit up to 4000 patients over the next two years in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area.
Researchers hope the trial will lead to wider implementation of genetic testing in prescribing across Scotland, making precision medicine a routine part of healthcare.
Led by Sandosh Padmanabhan, Pontecorvo Chair of Pharmacogenomics at the University of Glasgow, the PHOENIX Study will take place at the QEUH in partnership with the University of Glasgow's Living Laboratory, the NHSGGC-hosted West of Scotland Innovation Hub, and industry partners MyDNA and Agena Bioscience.
Recruitment for the trial began this spring and focuses on patients who are newly prescribed one or more of the 60 widely used medications in the NHS.
Participants undergo a simple genetic test to analyse their DNA and the results – returned within days – will help doctors determine whether each patient is receiving the most suitable drug and dosage based on their genetic makeup.
Around 15% of patients are expected to carry genetic variants that may reduce the effectiveness of a medication or increase the risk of side effects. Without prior genetic testing, these issues can go unnoticed, often leading to a trial-and-error approach to treatment.
Dr Katriona Brooksbank, Research and Innovation Lead for NHSGGC and the West of Scotland Innovation Hub, said: 'We are incredibly excited to be supporting this trial, which could have a major impact on the treatments patients are prescribed based on their own genetics.
'It will put precision medicine into action as researchers look to determine how a person's own genetic make-up can affect the drugs they are given as treatments.
'This could allow clinicians to reduce adverse reactions and side effects, ensuring the best possible outcomes for patients.'
Allan Sheffield, Co-Founder of MyDNA, said: "For MyDNA, the PHOENIX Study embodies the future of healthcare. This trial will demonstrate the profound impact of precision medicine, paving the way for a future where this approach routinely drives better patient outcomes."
