The British Pharmacological Society (BPS) and the University of Liverpool have been awarded funding by Innovate UK to build a network of experts from different sectors focusing on regulatory pathways for pharmacogenomics and its implementation in clinical practice.
Pharmacogenomics is a key thematic priority for the BPS, so this award is an important step in helping us realise our goal of bringing personalised medicine to as many people as possible.
The award from Innovate UK, which is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), will enable the team to organise a regulatory network and to develop guidance and tools to identify the regulatory hurdles that may be holding back pharmacogenomics from being fully embedded into the NHS.
Professor Sir Munir Pirmohamed, who is project lead and David Weatherall Chair of Medicine at the University of Liverpool, and former President of the BPS, said:
“The system of regulation for pharmacogenomics is highly complex and fragmented, which is hampering innovation and uptake into the NHS in all four nations. This award will allow us to work with the multiple stakeholders with the aim of developing regulatory pathways that are proportionate, agile and patient-focused, which ultimately will aid implementation of pharmacogenomics into the NHS, leading to better health outcome for patients.”
The project team have begun work with the MHRA, NICE, the NHS, diagnostics and genomics companies, patients, and others to address each challenge across four workshops. There will be one final multidisciplinary workshop to develop the work programme and funding proposal for the next phase of the project.
In addition, the team plans to finalise two publications on the differences in regulation of pharmacogenomic implementation worldwide, and on the key outcomes from the project.