Pharmacogenetics, or precision medicine, is still new to many pediatric providers despite its documented benefits, according to an article the Sanford Children’s Genomic Medicine Consortium published recently in The Pharmacogenomics Journal.
Pharmacogenetics uses a person’s DNA to help providers choose the best medicine and dosage of medicine. And there are plenty of opportunities to use genetic traits in pediatrics, the group wrote.
There’s evidence that pharmacogenetics benefit pediatric oncology, pain management, organ transplantation, and immunosuppression, according to the journal article. Additionally, advances in technology have made it easier to study complete genomes, and providers can use that information to improve health care for children.
Ten hospitals have signed on to the consortium to rapidly integrate genetics and genomics into primary and specialty pediatric care.
Above all, the mission of the consortium is to efficiently manage resources in genetics and genomics, perform cutting-edge research and education and bring genomic medicine into pediatric practice. This will help set the standard for precision medicine in children’s health care.
The 10 member hospitals are:
- Sanford Children’s, Sioux Falls, South Dakota and and Fargo, North Dakota
- American Family Children’s Hospital, UW Health, Madison, Wisconsin
- Banner Children’s at Diamond Children’s Medical Center, Tucson
- Children’s Minnesota, Minneapolis and St. Paul
- Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora
- Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
- Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, Palo Alto, California
- Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Miami
- Rady Children’s Institute for Genomic Medicine and Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego
- Seattle Children’s Hospital
A previous innovation project funded by the consortium was a study of the outcomes of rapid whole genomic sequencing in critically ill newborn infants. Another previous study evaluated the routine use of an extensive, pediatric-focused, next generation sequencing panel in the diagnosis of childhood cancers.
Learn more
- Children’s hospitals using genetics to change pediatric care
- Ethics of genetics: podcast
- Genetics presents a more personalized care plan
- How genes, genetic knowledge are revolutionizing health care
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Posted In Children's, Company News, Genetics
