Be sure to tune in to this episode of the Precision Health and PGX Podcast as Dr. Becky Winslow, and Dr. Angela Cassano, PharmFusion Founder and owner, discuss Dr. Cassano’s personal pharmacogenomics testing and how the results impacted her breast cancer treatment, the tamoxifen and CYP2D6 pharmacogenomics clinical utility research currently available, whether CYP2D6 testing for patients prior to tamoxifen is National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) recommended, and whether insurers in the United States reimburse the testing. This is a must listen for those interested in the clinical pharmacogenomics’ current landscape and a pharmacist-patient’s perspective about PGx testing.   

Be sure to tune in to this episode of the Precision Health and PGX Podcast as Dr. Becky Winslow, CEO of inGENEious RX Incorporated Pharmacogenomics Consulting, and Dr. Megan Landsverk, Scientific Director of MolDX® and Chief Science Officer of Palmetto GBA®, discuss how laboratories may overcome the challenges they face earning MolDX® coverage and reimbursement for their clinical pharmacogenomics tests. Specific to coverage determinations, the PGx veterans discuss test design, post-genotype translations, and technical assessments. Specific to reimbursement, the duo discusses evidence-based reporting and complete claim submissions. Also discussed is the importance of labs clearly defining intended use populations for tests and academic partnerships importance when labs develop and validate panels including drug-gene pairs the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium and the United States Food and Drug Administration does not recognize as clinically utile for managing medications. Dr. Megan Landsverk is a Science Officer for Palmetto GBA, a Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) and a Science Director for the Molecular Diagnostic Services (MolDX) program developed to identify and establish coverage and reimbursement for molecular diagnostic services on behalf of Medicare. Dr. Landsverk received her PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Baylor College of Medicine and postdoctoral training in Medical Genetics at the University of Washington. She is a board-certified Molecular Geneticist, completing her molecular genetics fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine. She has held multiple academic faculty positions and has numerous publications in the field of genetics. Prior to joining Palmetto, she served as a clinical laboratory director in academic, hospital, and commercial clinical laboratories and has experience in several genetic specialties including rare disease (pediatric and adult), cancer (somatic and inherited), and pharmacogenetics.

Equitable biomarker testing access, including pharmacogenomics testing, is critical for patients to experience optimal medication therapy outcomes. Be sure to tune in to this episode of the Precision Health and PGX Podcast as Dr. Becky Winslow, Dr. Behnaz Sarrami, and Hilary Goeckner, Director of State & Local Campaigns - Access to Care of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), educate listeners about ACS CAN’s mission, how it executes on its mission, accomplishments, and future goals.  This episode is a must listen for anyone who wants the latest update on the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s work influencing state legislatures to pass legislation to expand coverage of biomarker testing, states who have already passed legislation and those with pending legislation, and to learn how they too can advocate.  After listening to this episode, listeners will be able to describe biomarker testing’s importance in healthcare; describe how the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network is championing biomarker testing coverage legislation; name states that have passed biomarker testing legislation and those with pending legislation; know how one can contribute to the efforts to increase biomarker testing coverage.Hilary Gee Goeckner is director of state and local campaigns for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), the advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society. In this role she leads work with ACS CAN staff and coalition partners across the country to improve access to comprehensive biomarker testing, clinical trials, fertility preservation and other health care access issues. Prior to this role, Hilary served as the Kansas government relations director for ACS CAN. Before joining ACS CAN, Hilary served as director of health policy at Kansas Action for Children. She holds a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and global health from Williams College and a master’s degree in social work from Boston College. She lives in San Diego with her husband and two children.As the CEO of inGENEious RX Incorporated and pharmacogenomics subject matter expert, Dr. Becky Winslow has dedicated over a decade to providing innovative solutions for pharmacogenomics stakeholders. Her extensive experience also includes directing pharmacy operations and medication safety programs across diverse clinical settings, spanning retail, hospital, long-term care, and public health. Dr. Winslow is a passionate educator, training Doctors of Clinical Pharmacy to work with molecular testing stakeholders and serving as an advanced pharmacy practice preceptor for Manchester University’s Master of Science in Pharmacogenomics Program. She hosts an evidence-based educational podcast, The Precision Health and PGx Podcast, which Welp Magazine recognized as the ninth most listened to genetics podcast globally. Her involvement with prominent organizations like the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium and the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP) PGx Task Force speaks to her expertise and commitment. Dr. Winslow frequently presents at national conferences such as The Association for Molecular Pathology and holds degrees from Campbell University. Behnaz Sarrami, PharmD, MS, is a leading expert in pharmacogenomics and a dedicated Medical Science Liaison (MSL). She is named American Pharmacists Association’s (APhA) "50 Most Influential Leaders in Pharmacy" and Medika's "Top 30 Women Transforming Healthcare". Behnaz is passionate about advancing personalized medicine to optimize treatments and improve patient outcomes, especially in underserved populations. She supports healthcare professionals through scientific training and presentations. As the host of the "Precision Health and PGx" podcast, she mentors pharmacists transitioning into MSL roles and those launching pharmacogenomics consulting careers. She earned her Master’s in Biochemistry from Georgetown University a

Be sure to tune in to this episode of the Precision Health and PGX Podcast as Dr. Becky Winslow, Dr. Behnaz Sarrami, and Dr. Jeremy Stuart, Chief Scientific Officer and laboratory director for Precision Genetics, discuss pharmacists value as employees in clinical pharmacogenomics testing laboratories. Having employed pharmacists in his laboratories, Dr. Stuart will provide his first-hand examples to illustrate how pharmacists have benefited his laboratories. Dr. Winslow and Dr. Sarrami will also share their real-world experiences working for clinical pharmacogenomics laboratories to help the laboratory achieve its goals.This episode is a must listen for laboratories who are vested in their pharmacogenomics testing's financial success. After listening to this episode, the learner will be able to describe responsibilities and roles in pharmacogenomics pharmacists fulfill in clinical labs, name specific real-world examples that illustrate pharmacists’ contributions to pharmacogenomics in the clinical laboratory, and name education, training, and work experiences that prepare pharmacists to assume advanced practice roles in clinical laboratories. Dr. Jeremy Stuart has extensive experience in the life science industry. He specializes in commercial operations, technology development and transfer, manufacturing design, and validation of laboratory developed tests (LDTs). He currently serves as the Chief Scientific Officer for Precision Genetics and serves as their Laboratory Director.  Dr. Stuart was part of the senior management team that completed a management buyout of Lab21 Inc. to form Selah Genomics and the subsequent sale of Selah to EKF. Dr. Stuart led the development and validation of all of Selah’s molecular assays and oversaw their clinical studies. Dr. Stuart was also a member of the Agencourt Personal Genomics team, where he co-developed the SOLiD next-generation sequencing technology that was subsequently acquired by Applied Biosystems.   Before entering industry, Dr. Stuart completed his postdoctoral work at the the Harvard School of Public Health, earned his master’s degree in Toxicology from the University of Minnesota, and his doctorate in Genetics & Complex Diseases from Harvard University. As the CEO of inGENEious RX Incorporated and pharmacogenomics subject matter expert, Dr. Becky Winslow has dedicated over a decade to providing innovative solutions for pharmacogenomics stakeholders. Her extensive experience also includes directing pharmacy operations and medication safety programs across diverse clinical settings, spanning retail, hospital, long-term care, and public health. Dr. Winslow is a passionate educator, training Doctors of Clinical Pharmacy to work with molecular testing stakeholders and serving as an advanced pharmacy practice preceptor for Manchester University’s Master of Science in Pharmacogenomics Program. She hosts an evidence-based educational podcast, The Precision Health and PGx Podcast, which Welp Magazine recognized as the ninth most listened to genetics podcast globally. Her involvement with prominent organizations like the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium and the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP) PGx Task Force speaks to her expertise and commitment. Dr. Winslow frequently presents at national conferences such as The Association for Molecular Pathology and holds degrees from Campbell University. Behnaz Sarrami, PharmD, MS, is a leading expert in pharmacogenomics and a dedicated Medical Science Liaison (MSL). She is named American Pharmacists Association’s (APhA) "50 Most Influential Leaders in Pharmacy" and Medika's "Top 30 Women Transforming Healthcare". Behnaz is passionate about advancing personalized medicine to optimize treatments and improve patient outcomes, especially in underserved populations. She supports healthcare professionals through scientific training and presentations. As the host of the "Precision Health and PGx" p

In this episode, Dr. Mary Weissman, Dr. Lexi Wensel, and Dr. Becky Winslow discuss Medicaid’s coverage of pharmacogenomics testing and Medicaid’s reimbursement of a pharmacist’s time spent provisioning PGx testing and providing PGx inclusive medication therapy management for Medicaid beneficiaries. We teach the listener how to locate, navigate, and understand Medicaid-managed care organizations’ coverage and reimbursement policies for pharmacogenomics testing and the billing codes pharmacists can use to bill for their time in providing PGx testing. Lastly, we analyze pharmacists' time investment versus Medicaid reimbursement of the pharmacists' time to project the financial return on investment of this business model for pharmacists.     After listening to this episode, the listener will understand what Medicaid and Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) are and their role in pharmacogenomics utilization; understand how to navigate managed care organizations' policies to determine coverage for pharmacogenomic testing and eligibility criteria; recognize the current Medicaid coverage landscape for pharmacogenomic testing, including eligibility criteria, coverage limitations, and variations across different states; and understand pharmacists' roles in the provision of pharmacogenomics testing and Medicaid’s reimbursement of a pharmacists’ time. 

David Hellerstein, MD, is professor of clinical psychiatry and an award-winning writer of nonfiction and fiction. Books such as Heal Your Brain: How the New Neuropsychiatry Can Help You Go from Better to Well (2011); A Family of Doctors (1994), a memoir of 5 generations of doctors in his family; Battles of Life and Death, an essay collection; and two novels, Loving Touches and Stone Babies. And recently The Couch, the Clinic, and the Scanner. A must read!A top psychiatric researcher, he has done cutting-edge studies on new treatment for depression, using MRI imaging to discover brain circuits related to illness and the effects of treatment. For the past five years, his research has focused on new psychedelic treatments of depression and other disorders, using psilocybin and other long-banned drugs.   

Episode Summary:In recognition of National DNA Day, April 25, 2024, Dr. Mary Weissman, Miss Courtney Harmon, and Dr. Becky Winslow discuss clinical pharmacogenomics resources, what pharmacogenomics information they provide, and how to navigate and utilize the pharmacogenomics information to answer a prescriber’s clinical question about pharmacogenomics' relationship to an adverse drug event.  Listeners interested in learning a step-wise approach to using the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) Table of Pharmacogenetics Associations and the FDA Table of Pharmacogenomic Biomarkers in Drug Labeling, the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium's (CPIC's) database, and the Pharmacogenomics Knowledgebase (PharmGKB) to demystify pharmacogenomics' role in adverse drug events will not want to miss this Precision Health and PGx Podcast episode. Biographies:Before founding inGENEious RX Incorporated, a boutique pharmacogenomics consulting firm, Dr. Winslow directed pharmacy business operations and clinical pharmacy programs in retail, hospital, long-term care, and public health pharmacies for Walmart Stores, Community Health Systems, Neil Medical Group, and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Since founding inGENEious RX over ten years ago, Dr. Winslow has worked with numerous distinguished vendors in the pharmacogenomics industry to reduce barriers holding pharmacogenomics back from becoming a standard of care including Translational Software, Admera Health, Genemarkers, National Association of Chain Drug Stores, Acutis Diagnostics, Kentucky Teachers’ Retirement System, and GenXys. A sought-after pharmacogenomics subject matter expert, Dr. Winslow, is an authority in pharmacogenomics access and reimbursement and specializes in business strategy consulting for pharmacogenomics stakeholders.  Dr. Mary Weissman is a pharmacogenomics science, clinical utility and reimbursement expert and inGENEious RX Incorporated team member.  After earning her PharmD from the Arnold and Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy, Dr. Weissman completed a two-year pharmacogenomics fellowship with a clinical diagnostic lab. Upon completing her academic training in pharmacology and pharmacogenomics, Dr. Weissman embarked on a journey to apply her expertise in clinical diagnostic laboratories and has held several key scientific and clinical roles in pharmacogenomics laboratories. Through informative presentations, training sessions, papers, and webinars, she has helped clarify pharmacogenomics' complexities and highlight its potential to revolutionize medication management strategies for pharmacogenomics' stakeholders.Miss Courtney Harmon is graduating from Manchester University's Pharmacy and Pharmacogenomics programs in 2024.  She serves as a P4 liaison for Manchester University's chapter of Industry Pharmacists Organization (IPhO) and she is interested in pursuing a career in industry pharmacy. She has worked for Walgreens pharmacy for the last eight years. References:1. Table of pharmacogenomic biomarkers in drug labeling. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Published August 10, 2023. Accessed February 1, 2024. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/science-and-research-drugs/table-pharmacogenomic-biomarkers-drug-labeling 2. Table of pharmacogenetic associations. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Published October 26, 2022. Accessed February 1, 2024. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/precision-medicine/table-pharmacogenetic-associations 3. CPIC. Cpicpgx.org. Accessed February 1, 2024. https://cpicpgx.org 4. PharmGKB. PharmGKB. Accessed February 1, 2024. https://www.pharmgkb.orgKeywords: #pharmacogenomics #ingeneiousrx #PGx #pharmacists #precisionhealthandpgxpodcast #pharmacypodcastnetwork #pharmacogenetics #genetics #sources #resources #FDA #CPIC #PharmGKB

Towny Robinson is the CEO of JayMac Pharmaceuticals and the inventor of EnLyte and EnBrace HR. He is a national expert on Methylation Biochemistry/Genetics and Psychiatric Disorders. Visit his website to learn more: www.enlyterx.com/about-enlytewww.enlyterx.com/about-enlyteBehnaz Disclaimer: These are my personal views and opinions, and I am not speaking on behalf of Castle Biosciences, Inc.  

Special Episode: Travel with us in this journey through the fascinating world of Medical Science Liaison (MSL), new career path for pharmacists! Get firsthand knowledge from the CEO of The MSL Society and how to break into the amazing career path.We are giving away a signed copy of the book "The Medical Science Liaison Career Guide: How to Break Into Your First Role". To the one lucky aspiring MSL, please share our podcast link, tag Becky, Behnaz, and Samuel Dyer and make sure to use the hashtag PGx4Rx to be entered into the contest. The winners will be announced in the first week of January 2024. Behnaz Disclaimer: These are my personal views and opinions, and I am not speaking on behalf of Castle Biosciences, Inc.  

Becky Winslow, BS, PharmD Host and Pharmacogenomics Medical Science Liaison; Behnaz Sarrami, MS, PharmD, Host and Pharmacogenomics Medical Science Liaison; Thierry Dervieux, PharmD, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer at Prometheus LaboratoriesDisclaimer:Behnaz Disclaimer: These are my personal views and opinions, and I am not speaking on behalf of Castle Biosciences, Inc. Becky Disclaimer: These are my personal views and opinions, and I am not speaking on behalf of any other entity.   Transcription:  100:00:06,190 --> 00:00:19,620You're listening to the Pharmacy podcast Network in a world where one size fits all medications dominate the pharmaceutical industry. 200:00:20,079 --> 00:00:24,750Precision medicine brings a ray of hope for those seeking customized health care. 300:00:25,350 --> 00:00:32,830Pharmacists have a unique opportunity to help people in need of specialized testing to ensure medications work as intended. 400:00:33,540 --> 00:00:44,680Welcome to PGX for pharmacists where we unravel the wonders of precision medicine and its potential to revolutionize the way we approach pharmacy care. 500:00:45,169 --> 00:00:52,790Get ready to uncover the secrets behind pharmacogenomics and how it's transforming lives one genome at a time. 600:00:52,799 --> 00:00:53,189Hello, 700:00:53,200 --> 00:00:53,950everyone. 800:00:54,159 --> 00:00:55,080I'm your host, 900:00:55,090 --> 00:00:56,389Doctor Becky Winslow. 1000:00:56,409 --> 00:01:09,860And you're listening to the PGX for Pharmacist podcast that we magazine recognized in 2021 as the ninth most listened to genetics podcasts in the world on the PGX for Pharmacist podcast. 1100:01:09,870 --> 00:01:16,690We explore all things pharmacogenomics related and our mission is to educate and advocate for PGX. 1200:01:16,769 --> 00:01:23,849We accomplish this mission through exclusive interviews with highly qualified and well experienced pharmacogenomics. 1300:01:23,860 --> 00:01:29,720Industry leaders such as today's special guest and my name is Baas Sami, 1400:01:29,730 --> 00:01:32,739the co-host of PGX for Pharms podcast, 1500:01:32,750 --> 00:01:33,860Pharmacogenomics, 1600:01:33,870 --> 00:01:36,819medical science liaison and a mentor to pharmacist. 1700:01:36,889 --> 00:01:40,239Connect with us on linkedin and let's get a conversation going. 1800:01:40,269 --> 00:01:46,720We want to hear from you and how you're impacting pharmacogenomic stakeholders and what you have learned throughout your journey. 1900:01:48,510 --> 00:01:49,010Ok. 2000:01:49,019 --> 00:01:50,819So without any further ado, 2100:01:50,839 --> 00:01:54,769I'm extremely pleased to introduce to our audience. 2200:01:54,919 --> 00:01:56,059Doctor Theory Devo, 2300:01:57,239 --> 00:02:01,129the Chief Scientific Officer at Prometheus Laboratories, 2400:02:01,139 --> 00:02:08,139and Perme Prometheus Laboratories is a reference clinical laboratory that's focused on the diagnosis, 2500:02:08,149 --> 00:02:13,330prognosis and monitoring of immune mediated inflammatory diseases. 2600:02:13,970 --> 00:02:14,229So, 2700:02:14,240 --> 00:02:14,649thank you, 2800:02:14,660 --> 00:02:17,759Doctor De for joining us on the podcast. 2900:02:17,770 --> 00:02:18,589Today. 3000:02:18,600 --> 00:02:23,190I'm excited to share your and Prometheus's story with our audience. 3100:02:23,649 --> 00:02:25,630Um in particular, 3200:02:25,639 --> 00:02:45,369I'm excited about you sharing your career journey as a farm D phd and Chief scientific officer and designer of the Predictor PK AD A which is a precision guided dosing test for the optimization of Humira Remicade and their bio cylinders. 3300:02:46,119 --> 00:02:46,449So, 3400:02:46,460 --> 00:03:04,220one of Bana's and my main goals for this episode of the PGX for Pharmacist podcast is to expand our audience's notion of what a PGX test looks like and to inspire them to think bigger

On this episode, Dr. Avni Santani, Chief Genomics Officer of Let's Get Checked, Dr. Behnaz Sarrami, and I discuss how Let's Get Checked solves several major barriers that have held pharmacogenomics back from becoming the standard of care in medication therapy management, pharmacists' critical and unique role in PGX at Let's Get Checked, and how nontraditional PGx payers are championing for PGx testing to decrease adverse drug events, increase therapeutic medication outcomes, and improve patient adherence to their medications.  https://www.letsgetchecked.com/mypgx/Becky Winslow, BS, PharmD and Behnaz Sarrami, MS, PharmD (Hosts) Avni A. Santani, PhD, FACMG, Chief Genomics Officer at LetsGetChecked New boost

Explore the realm of pharmacogenomic testing as patients open up about their experiences, sharing stories of both success and tragedy. These courageous guests provide insights into the power of personalized medicine and the crucial lessons learned along the way. A journey from medication struggles to success through pharmacogenomics. A heartbreaking tale of genetic-based medication complications. Navigating emotions while uncovering genetic insights. Triumphs of Personalization: Guests share uplifting accounts of renewed health and life improvements due to pharmacogenomic testing. Learning from Tragedy: Stories underscore the consequences of neglecting genetic factors, advocating for greater awareness. Emotional Resilience: Discussing the psychological challenges in the context of chronic conditions and medication adjustments. Empowering Patients and Providers: Guests stress education and dialogue between patients and medical professionals for informed decisions. Join us as we unravel narratives of strength, hope, and knowledge in pharmacogenomic testing. This episode provides a valuable perspective on the fusion of genetics and healthcare, whether you're a patient, healthcare provider, or simply intrigued by personalized medicine's evolution. Special interviews with Christina Delsoldato, Karen Merrit, Christine Von Raesfeld, and Joanne McIntyre. Behnaz Disclaimer: These are my personal views and opinions, and I am not speaking on behalf of Castle Biosciences, Inc.

Dr. Dave Kisor, a professor and director of pharmacogenomics at Manchester University. He graduated from The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy in 1986 and completed a two-year fellowship in therapeutic drug monitoring/pharmacokinetics at OSU. Before he joined Manchester, Dave was professor of pharmaceutical sciences at Ohio Northern University after being a research scientist at Burroughs Wellcome Co/GlaxoWellcome. Dave has over 80 peer-reviewed publications including being the lead author on two pharmacogenomics textbooks. He is a past chair of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Pharmacogenomics Special Interest Group. Dave was named a Fellow of the American College of Clinical Pharmacology in 2017, and in 2021, along with Dr. Tom Smith, he received an AACP Innovations in PGx Teaching Award. His current research is related to PGx and opioid use disorder. Dave currently serves as co-chair of the Pharmacogenomics Global Research Network (PGRN) Education Committee and is Editor-In-Chief of Pharmacogenomics: Foundations, Competencies, and the Pharmacists’ Patient Care Process.   Behnaz Disclaimer: These are my personal views and opinions, and I am not speaking on behalf of Castle Biosciences, Inc.

Few people with a cause walk the talk as boldly and graciously as Christine Von Raesfeld, founder and CEO of People with Empathy. Christine is a pillar of patient advocacy and allyship in the rare and chronic disease community. Through the lens of her lived experiences in healthcare, she has become a champion for patient voices, diversity and inclusion in clinical research, and equitable patient-sponsor partnerships. Christine has brought her unique perspective and honed expertise to countless roles as a featured speaker for numerous conferences on topics ranging from clinical trial recruitment to data & digital rights, from a true patient perspective. She serves as an e-patient scholar with Stanford MedicineX and a Technical Expert Panelist with CMS among other roles. Wherever possible, Christine generates momentum toward progress along her patient advocacy interests and has become a thought leader worldwide, stimulating dialog on a range of topics relevant to patients, clinicians, and industry. As a patient advisor, Christine has assisted several initiatives including the Stanford "Humanwide" Precision Medicine Program and the NIH All of Us Research Program and serves as a board member/advisor to multiple organizations and startups. For her many contributions to the field, she has been named one of the top 100 Women of Influence by Silicon Valley Business Journal, a member of the 2021 HIMSS Future50, and one of Medika Life's 50 most influential voices in healthcare among other distinctions. www.peoplewithempathy.org/ Behnaz Disclaimer: These are my personal views and opinions, and I am not speaking on behalf of Castle Biosciences, Inc.

Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) is a potentially life-threatening pregnancy disease that may cause weight loss, malnutrition, dehydration, and debility due to severe nausea and/or vomiting, and may cause long-term health issues for mother and baby(ies). It occurs in up to 3% of pregnant women and may last the entire pregnancy, which can lead to malnourished. Dr. Danielle Plummer has unfortunately been a three-time survivor of HG and she is the founder and CEO of HG clinical solutions (www.hgclinicalsolutions.com). Please visit that website and learn more. She offers personalized medication planning and patient advocacy in addition to educating providers on HG disease state. She has women around the world reaching out to her for advice and support, and she is looking forward to the day that PGx is utilized in all the countries that she is supporting. www.HGPharmacist.com is a link to Danielle's free ebook called "Dear ER doctor, Believe Us" There is also a FaceBook support group: www.facebook.com/groups/hgsolutions. "Coming Soon" is the course called "Preparing for a Hyperemesis Pregnancy". Connect with Danielle to sign up.   Behnaz Disclaimer: These are my personal views and opinions, and I am not speaking on behalf of Castle Biosciences, Inc.

DYPD is a gene that provides instructions for making an enzyme called dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD). This enzyme plays very important in breaking down a substance called uracil, which is found in our DNA and RNA. Mutations in the DYPD gene can lead to decreased or absent DPD activity, which if you think about it can cause a buildup of uracil in the body. If someone is DPD deficiency it can make it difficult for the body to process certain chemotherapy drugs and can lead to severe side effects, such as nerve damage, GI problems, and even death. Genetic testing before being placed on a chemo agent, to see if there is a DPD deficiency is vital. According to Advocates for Universal DPD/DPYD Testing (AUDT), Europe is becoming the standard of care for testing for this gene and only in some selected institutions in the US the testing it being done. AUDT is made up of a group of patient advocates and medical professionals who are seeking to improve treatment outcomes for patients that are preparing to receive chemotherapy based on fluoropyrimidine drugs. One of the founders of this non-profit organization, AUDT, Karen Merritt is our guest today. She lost her mother in 2014 due to being DPD deficient and after getting her first infusion of 5FU. Karen dedicated herself to advocating and raising awareness about pre-testing for DPD deficiency before fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy administration to reduce unnecessary suffering. Disclaimer: These are my personal views and opinions, and I am not speaking on behalf of Castle Biosciences, Inc.Resources: https://test4dpd.org/about-us/

Pharmacogenomics consulting isn't the glamorous and highly lucrative career path some voices in the pharmacogenomics industry portray it to be... In this episode, Behnaz and Becky dispel the "get rich quick" myth about PGx and discuss what pharmacists need to know “beyond the PGX certificate” to be successful creating a career in pharmacogenomics as they have. So, don't quit your full time pharmacist job to become a pharmacogenomics consultant until you listen to this enlightening episode of the PGx for Pharmacists Podcast! https://cpicpgx.org/ Disclaimer: These are my personal views and opinions, and I am not speaking on behalf of Castle Biosciences, Inc.

In this episode of the PGx for Pharmacists Podcast, Behnaz and Becky take a break from interviewing other pharmacogenomics experts and share their expert opinions on current pressing issues and future projections for the pharmacogenomics industry. In addition, Behnaz and Becky drop a few hints on what listeners can look forward to from the PGx for Pharmacists Podcast starting in 2023. www.stoplabcuts.org www.cap.org/member-resources/articles/message-from-the-cap-president-on-the-valid-act   Disclaimer: These are my personal views and opinions, and I am not speaking on behalf of Castle Biosciences, Inc.

Dr. Lucas Berenbrok is a pharmacist educator and researcher at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He co-led the implementation of outpatient pharmacogenomic services at University of Pittsburg Medical Center. This unique service, called Primary Care Precision Medicine, provides pharmacogenetic and genetic testing to patients in local and surrounding areas. With his colleagues at the University of Pittsburgh, Berenbrok co-created Test2LearnTM, a pharmacogenomics certificate program for pharmacists. Dr. Neda Leonard, CEO of Rx Gene IQ and she is a Dual Board-Certified Pharmacist in Pharmacotherapy and Geriatrics. She has experience in various setting such as Program for All-inclusive Care for Elderly (PACE) where she uses her expertise in medication management and PGx. She is a seasoned speaker locally and nationally on various subject matters such as pharmacogenomics and polypharmacy. She has published in Drug Metabolism Reviews and was featured in THE CONSULTANT PHARMCIST Journal. Currently she partners with a group of Geriatricians/Internal Medicine physicians using a collaborative practice agreement for patients living independently, in assisted living facilities or in skilled nursing facilities. She has many tools in her toolbox to use such as pharmacogenomics, deprescribing, geriatric medication optimization, Part D Comprehensive Medication Management (CMR) and Targeted Medication Review (TMR),and working with various private insurances such as United Healthcare and Optum. A Multidisciplinary Precision Medicine Service in Primary Care www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8786423/ 

Dr. Larry Shapiro is a clinical psychologist that started back in 1990 but quote on quote retired to become a financial advisor. He was having a discussion with his brother one day, who was a career officer in the Army, returning from Afghanistan. That make Dr. Shapiro to re-think about his contributions to his community, so he got his license back, trained in military trauma, and started again as a psychologist in 2014. He started at St. Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute specializing in treatment of OCD, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, simple phobias, depression, and combat trauma. Last year he attended the annual Boston Trauma Conference and heard for the first time about the use of psychedelic medicines for treatment of trauma. So after a 150 hour certification program at Integrative Psychiatry Institute he became certified in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy which now is part of his current practice. Just this year in January he went into private practice so he can focus more on psychedelics. He is also an adjunct instructor in the department of psychiatry at Washington University in St. Louis and a clinical consultant for psilocybin research at Healthy Minds Lab at Washington University. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which is one of the most common psychiatric disorders which affects about 8 million adults at some point in their lifetime in the United States. But it is not clear as to why only some people who experience a traumatic event develop PTSD. Some people say it’s a social construct but in the largest and most diverse genetic study of PTSD to date, scientists from University of California San Diego School of Medicine and more than 130 additional institutions participating in the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium found that PTSD has a strong genetic component similar to other psychiatric disorders. Genetics seem to accounts for between 5 and 20 percent of the variability in PTSD risk following a traumatic event. Resources: https://health.ucsd.edu/news/releases/Pages/2019-10-08-study-reveals-ptsd-has-strong-genetic-component.aspx