Topics and Expertise: pharmacogenomics

Giacomini to lead largest study of genetic, ethnic differences in effectiveness of leading diabetes drug

Thu Nov 5, 2015
illustration of patient with diabetes
Thao P. Do

(left to right) The Galega officinalis (aka French lilac) was used as a folk remedy for diabetes symptoms for centuries before analysis of its extracts revealed compounds that lowered blood sugar. Eventually, metformin (molecule and pill) was developed. It is a related molecule that is longer acting and less toxic than the plant extracts. Metformin acts on cells in the liver (center and cross-section right) to reduce glucose production and thus blood sugar.

In people with type 2 diabetes, the body is less able to use the hormone insulin to regulate blood sugar. The disease affects 350 million patients globally—including 29 million in the United States, where it is the leading cause of blindness, kidney failure, and non-accident-related amputations.

Kroetz leads new study of genetics of cancer drugs’ dose-limiting side effects

Mon Jul 27, 2015
Kroetz
© majedphoto.com

Deanna Kroetz, PhD

Taxanes are a class of drugs widely used to treat a variety of cancers, including breast, ovarian, lung, gastric, and head and neck. But dosages are often limited by toxic side effects—most commonly damage to the body’s peripheral nerves, causing numbness, pain, and/or hyper-sensitivity—that can...

Study discovers why leading gout medication is ineffective for many

Tue Jul 14, 2015
crystals
Bobjgalindo
, CC BY-SA 3.0
, GFDL

Spiked rods of uric acid crystals from synovial fluid photographed under a microscope with polarized light. In patients with gout, such crystals can accumulate in the joints, causing pain and inflammation.

Allopurinol, the first-choice medication for treating gout—an excruciatingly painful condition that is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis, afflicts more than eight million Americans, and is on the rise worldwide—is not fully effective in more than half of patients.

Major Mexican genetic study uncovers basis for health differences among Latinos

Thu Jun 12, 2014
Burchard
© majedphoto.com

Esteban Burchard, MD, MPH

The most comprehensive genetic study of the Mexican population to date has revealed as much genetic differentiation as the variation between some Europeans and Asians.

Brian Alldredge, PharmD

Wed Mar 6, 2013
Alldredge
Susan Merrell
Vice Provost-Academic Affairs

My clinical practice and research focus on the drug treatment of epilepsy and the genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors that influence drug response.

Deanna Kroetz, PhD

Wed Mar 6, 2013
Kroetz.
Professor Emeritus

Our lab seeks to understand the molecular basis of interindividual variation in drug response and toxicity. We investigate genetic differences in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and other cancer drug phenotypes and search for new therapeutic approaches targeting ABC transporters.

Kathy Giacomini, PhD, BSPharm

Wed Mar 6, 2013
Giacomini
Dean-School of Phrmcy/AssocVC

As dean of the UCSF School of Pharmacy, I set the School’s strategic agenda and ensure it has the resources and organizational structure required to succeed in its mission. I bring my scientific expertise and background in pharmacy in support of our groundbreaking research, individualized patient...

Leslie Benet, PhD

Fri Dec 14, 2012
Professor

Child’s illness fuels lab team’s search for early-life epilepsy diagnostics

Mon Jul 23, 2012
Birnbaum and daughter Ruth

Postdoctoral fellow Ramon Birnbaum, PhD, and daughter Ruth.

The lab of UCSF School of Pharmacy faculty member Nadav Ahituv, PhD, studies how abnormalities in DNA segments that control the activity of genes could lead to diseases.

Reflection: 30 years of top NIH funding for UCSF School of Pharmacy

Wed Dec 22, 2010
people discuss research results

Kathy Giacomini, PhD (center), co-chair of the Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, discusses research results in the lab with postdocs Sook Wah Yee (left), and Amber Dahlin (right).

Table of contents


Introduction
Budget significance
Reasons for past success
A decade of funding for bioinformatics
New drug discovery directions attract support

Pages