Jennifer Tovar, PharmD & Husna Rahim, PharmD
Pharmacogenomics and Global Health Inequities: Bridging the Gap. How can pharmacogenomics (PGx) contribute to health equity on a global scale? Investing in PGx research in underrepresented populations can lead to tailored therapies and reduce global health disparities. Initiatives to study genetic profiles of indigenous populations in Africa, Thailand, and Brazil illustrate how PGx services can be deployed worldwide to improve health equity while promoting collaboration (Chenoweth, et al. 2020).
476 million indigenous people worldwide. Indigenous peoples’ are populations defined as people native to a particular territory and who have been subject to marginalization under a dominating cultural model, resulting in a minority status. They make up more than 476 million individuals across 90 countries (Claw, et al. 2024). That’s equivalent to the population of the United States and Mexico combined. These communities are underserved by healthcare systems and suffer from dramatically higher rates of disease, providing the pathway to improve the quality of life and save lives through precise PGx drug therapy adjustments possible.
Initiatives already underway in Thailand, Brazil, and Africa. In Africa, the Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (GA4GH) and the Human Heredity and Health (H3Africa) project have made significant progress in promoting the collection and sharing of genetic data from diverse populations (Ramsay 2022). These collaborations aim to build a comprehensive understanding of genetic variability and its implications for medication response. In Thailand and in Brazil, healthcare authorities have begun implementing PGx testing in public health programs. Thailand’s Pharmacogenomics for Every Nation Initiative (PGENI) aims to use genetic information to guide the use of medications that are part of the national drug formulary (Mitropoulos, et al. 2011). Similarly, Brazil has integrated PGx into its national health system to improve the treatment of diseases like cancer and cardiovascular conditions. (Roederer, et al. 2011). Other noteworthy pioneers in these efforts include the Northwest-Alaska Pharmacogenomics Research Network, Silent Genomes Project, and Native BioData Consortium amongst others (Claw, et al. 2024).
Inclusivity and collaboration key to overcoming barriers. The integration of PGx into global health, particularly for Indigenous populations, requires a commitment to inclusivity and collaboration. By making genomic medicine personal and accessible, PGx has the potential to transform the way we deliver healthcare worldwide.
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