Implementation of a National Pharmacogenomics Education Program (PharmGenEd)

Pharmacogenomics aims to increase the response rate of drug therapy and decrease the events of adverse drug reactions. Pharmacogenomics may help us focus on safe and effective drug management to provide personalized medicine by delivering therapy with the right drug at the right dose to the right patient. Currently, however, pharmacogenomics education materials are not readily available to healthcare professionals. Furthermore, there appears to be a gap between healthcare providers' knowledge and the expectations of patients regarding pharmacogenomic testing. The proposed program, “Pharmacogenomics Education Program: Bridging the Gap between Science and Practice” (PharmGenEd), is an evidence-based pharmacogenomics education program designed for healthcare professionals and students. The objective of the PharmGenEd is to increase awareness about current knowledge of the validity and utility of pharmacogenomic tests and the potential implications of benefits and harms from use of the tests. Our target population exceeds 100,000 healthcare professionals and students. Program team works closely with CDC and incorporates evidence-based recommendations from the EGAPP Working Group, the Food and Drug Administration, and the published literature authored by pharmacogenomics experts. Specifically, PharmGenEd aims to: 1) Develop educational curriculum focusing on pharmacogenomics primer concepts and clinical applications in concentrated therapeutic areas; 2) Disseminate the educational curriculum to pharmacists, students, and other healthcare professionals using live and online methods, including web-based virtual communities with “pubcasts” (using technologies similar to YouTube and Facebook for scientists); and 3) Evaluate outcomes and processes of the education program in various audience groups and using different delivery methods.