DISCUSSION 4:

Consider the cost/benefit analysis of genetic tests of important pharmacogenetic variants prior to placing a patient on a new medication. Those placed in charge of patient treatment as clinicians (who are primarily tasked with patient health) or as health care system administrators (who are tasked with keeping the system financially solvent) often have competing mandates. How would you try to craft a general policy for pharmacogenetic testing?

DRUG: LISINOPRIL

Assignment 8 – Semester-Long Research Project: second draft. You’ll submit your second draft of your semester-long research project. Your draft should reflect an understanding of the material covered in weeks 5-10 and how it all relates to your drug of interest. At a minimum, your draft should include new information on the each of these topics:

1. • ADME properties of your drug
     1. Formulations & routes of administration
     2. Distribution patterns in the body
     3. General PK parameters (Vd, t1/2, Clearance rate, etc.)
     4. Metabolism & excretion of drugs, including key interactions with CYPs/transporters/etc.
     5. Important drug-drug PK interactions?
   • Likely & confirmed biological targets of the medication and the mechanism(s) of action
     1. Efficacy? Potency? Selectivity?
     2. Important drug-drug PD interactions?

Your drafts will be peer reviewed by two classmates (both reviews are due a week after the draft submission deadline). See the assignment rubric on Canvas for grading criteria. This rubric is also what your peer reviewers will use.

Assignment 9 – Peer evaluations of research project drafts. You will be assigned to read and provide useful feedback to two other students’ research project second drafts. The peer review process is designed to provide constructive feedback, and should be given and taken with honesty, charity, and grace. Ideally, when preparing your peer reviews, you will recognize things you could improve in the next update of your own draft! Giving useful feedback to others will also be a part of your course grade, so be thoughtful and generous. See the assignment rubric on Canvas for grading criteria.

Assignment 10 – Research project: pharmacogenetic/pharmacogenomics sources. Find pharmacogenetic/pharmacogenomics information for your target medication to add to your draft report. For this assignment you will merely need to submit a list of properly cited sources that provide key information on these topics, including genetic interactions that may be critical to the risks and benefits of using the drug in certain populations. This will help you prepare for the submission of your final paper in Week 15. See the assignment rubric on Canvas for grading criteria.