AI&DHI Researcher Spotlight: Amy Pasternak, PharmD, BCPS
This edition of our AI&DHI Researcher Spotlight focuses on Dr. Amy Pasternak, Clinical Assistant Professor in Pharmacy. Dr. Pasternak’s research focuses on the discovery and validation of pharmacogenetic associations and evaluating the clinical impact of translating pharmacogenetics into patient care. Her current work is focused on increasing the understanding of tacrolimus pharmacogenetic interactions in multiple transplant populations and among routes of administration.
Dr. Pasternak’s current projects are focused on evaluating pharmacogenetic relationships. Although she doesn't have one specific clinical area of focus, most projects have been in transplant or oncology. In transplant, her team was able to use the Michigan Genomics Initiative (MGI) to develop a genotype-guided dosing strategy for tacrolimus in their kidney transplant patients. This personalized dosing strategy was implemented into clinical practice, and her team is in the process of evaluating how the genotype information impacted medication outcomes, such as time to reach the target exposure. She is also part of a team that is working toward returning pharmacogenetic results to interested MGI participants that could be used by clinicians at Michigan Medicine.
“AI&DHI has been a critical team member for this research. They have been incredibly supportive in helping me obtain the data I need and providing support for the interpretation of the genetic results. The team is also so helpful as discussing possible new research ideas to help determine feasibility and provide support for IRB applications.”
Pasternak says, “The most exciting part of these projects for me is their translational nature. Because of MGI we can establish the best interventions for our own populations and then evaluate the impact that they have on improving medication outcomes and patient care. We’ve also learned that MGI participants are very interested in learning their results, so I am also excited for the opportunity to be involved in the process of establishing a process to return these results.”
The big picture goal of these projects? To discover and implement personalized medication recommendations that improve patient outcomes. In the transplant project, they hope to demonstrate genotype-guided tacrolimus dosing helps patients achieve and maintain therapeutic drug exposure more quickly. Ultimately this could help to reduce the number of times a patient has to be monitored, saving time and money for patients and providers. These projects can help identify patients at risk of poorer medication outcomes and with the translation into clinical care can help patients and clinicians identify personalized treatment opportunities, to work towards selecting the best medication for that individual and lowering the risk of side effect.
“AI&DHI has been a critical team member for this research”, says Pasternak. “They have been incredibly supportive in helping me obtain the data I need and providing support for the interpretation of the genetic results. The team is also so helpful as discussing possible new research ideas to help determine feasibility and provide support for IRB applications.”