The Nominating Committee is pleased to announce the slate of nominees to serve on the PGRN Council. The selection process involved nominations by one or more members of the PGRN, followed by discussion and selection by the committee. The final slate of nominees have outstanding qualifications and experience for a leadership role. PGRN strives to provide an inclusive organization that is committed to diverse and equitable practices.
Electronic ballots go out to all PGRN members in mid-April. If you are an active PGRN member and have not recieved a ballot by April 26th 2023, please contact info@pgrn.org for help.
President-Elect
Erica Woodahl, PhD
Erica Woodahl, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Director of the L.S. Skaggs Institute for Health Innovation at the University of Montana. Erica Woodahl received a B.S. in Biochemistry at the University of Notre Dame and a Ph.D. from the Department of Pharmaceutics at the University of Washington.
She completed a postdoctoral fellowship in clinical pharmacokinetics at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. Dr. Woodahl’s research focuses on precision medicine and pharmacogenomics to identify sources of interindividual variability in disease treatment and prevention. Translation of pharmacogenomics into clinical practice requires genetic research with diverse patient populations to accurately predict drug response and toxicity for all people regardless of geographic location and ethnicity.
Towards this end, we focus on precision medicine and pharmacogenomics with rural and American Indian and Alaska Native populations. We use community-based participatory research to address complex and important challenges to conducting precision medicine research and aid in the translation of precision medicine research into the clinic. The laboratory is also focused on understanding the mechanisms by which pharmacogenomics alter the function of drug-metabolizing enzymes, drug transporters, and regulatory proteins that contribute to drug disposition.
Councilor (3-Year Term)
Ulrich Broeckel, MD
After medical school at the University Ulm and Heidelberg and a residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Regensburg, Germany, I joined the Medical College of Wisconsin for a post-doctoral fellowship in genetics. I joined the MCW faculty in 2000 and I’m currently a Professor of Pediatrics, Medicine and Physiology. My lab focuses on complex disease genetics and functional genome analysis. In addition, I’m also directing a clinical genetic testing laboratory.
My interest in pharmacogenetics started with the goal of building infrastructure and translate genetic knowledge to clinical care.
Seven years ago, I founded RPRD Diagnostics LLC as a PGx testing company to expand our efforts and currently also serve as its CEO. We focus on innovative PGx testing solutions and develop novel testing approaches for health care organizations, and the biotech industry. I’m a member of CPIC; we contribute to the CDCs GeT-RM initiative on PGx testing and as part of my membership in the PGRN, I serve on the scientific committee. I’m committed to further advance the mission of the PGRN with a particular emphasis on its international mission. With my experience in clinical molecular testing, I also want to further increase the representation of clinical testing laboratories as key partners advancing pharmacogenetics.
V.M. (Vicky) Pratt, PhD, FACMG
I am interested in the industry counselor position with PGRN. My current position is Director of Scientific Affairs for Agena Bioscience. I have over 20 years of experience in Molecular Genetic laboratory administration as having been the chief director of accredited clinical molecular genetic laboratories in large national reference laboratories as well as academic laboratories. I am qualified for this role as a board-certified clinical molecular geneticist who has implemented and performed clinical pharmagogenomic testing.
I have been an active advocate of quality in genetic testing as having served on the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health and Society for the Oversight of Genetic Testing. I also participated in the preparation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report for Best Practices in Molecular Genetic Testing. I continue to serve on the CDC’s GeT-RM program where we have characterized reference materials for many PGx genes that serve as the industry standard for assay validation. I am also interested in reimbursement. I have authored most CPT codes related for PGx. I have served on numerous national and international committees such as the Association of Molecular Pathology’s (AMP) of which I am the former President. I am a Board Member of the National Academy of Medicine [formerly Institute of Medicine (IOM)] Roundtable Genomics and Precision Health.
Secretary (1-year Term)
I appreciate your consideration for the position of Secretary of PGRN. I am a passionate advocate for the field of pharmacogenomics, as highlighted by funded work in implementation of PGx through clinical decision support and its impact on populations in the southwest. I collaborate with scientists from diverse backgrounds and disciplines and have contributed a number of publications and presentations.
I like to call what we do “Delivery with Discovery.” Our work in a regional healthcare system and the Phoenix VA has led to many thousands of individuals not only having pre-emptive PGx testing completed (with more every day!) but the decision support and infrastructure present to follow-up and evaluate how it impacts communities that are underrepresented in PGx studies. I direct our Precision Medicine theme which ensures our trainees understand and utilize best PGx practices.
As an assistant professor, tenure eligible, I plan to plan to be involved in pharmacogenomics discovery and implementation for many years to come. If elected, I will work to advance the mission of PGRN and promote collaboration, innovation, and diversity within the network. I look forward to this opportunity.
I am honored to be nominated for the office of PGRN Secretary and I am excited to support PGRN’s continued growth. I have been active in the PGRN since its inception, chairing the Early Career Committee for the past three years and leading initiatives such as the PGRN Mentoring Program, Travel Awards, and Early Career RIPS seminars. I have also chaired pharmacogenomics communities in multiple professional societies, including ASCPT and ACCP. I lead a research program focused on the pharmacogenomics of adverse drug reactions (ADRs).
My lab is dedicated to investigating the utility of genetic polymorphisms to predict ADRs and on combatting historical inequities in community representation in genomic and pharmacogenomic research. We have received funding for our work through AHA, ACCP, and NIH, including multiple R01s from the NHLBI. As an early adopter of the All of Us Research Program, I recognize the potential transformational impact of studies in diverse populations. As a PGRN leader, I plan to lead new initiatives that empower PGRN members to leverage All of Us. These initiatives include a fellows training program and seed grants as part of a national PGRN-All of Us partnership focused on researcher engagement.
Trainee Councilor (1-Year Term)
Mohammed Gbadamosi, PhD
Dr. Mohammed Gbadamosi is a cancer immunotherapy expert who employs computational and molecular approaches to optimize chemo-immunotherapeutic treatment strategies. Dr. Gbadamosi received his PhD from the University of Florida (UF) in 2021. Through his graduate training, he developed expertise in systems biology approaches for optimizing therapy, including proficiency in next-generation sequencing, big data analysis with machine-learning applications, and molecular and cellular techniques. Using these skills, Dr. Gbadamosi led projects focused on optimizing anti-leukemic immunotherapeutic treatment strategies. His work yielded multiple peerreviewed publications, a patent, and several local and national awards including selection as an American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education Fellow. Currently, Dr. Gbadamosi is an NIH T32 Postdoctoral Fellow under the mentorship of Dr. Duane Mitchell and his work focuses on leveraging his skills in the context of metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC). The goals of his research program center on two objectives: (1) establishing and leading a multidisciplinary team that optimizes mTNBC treatment strategies from a molecular perspective, and (2) serving the next generation of trainees as a mentor, providing advocacy, opportunities, and experiences that enable them to succeed. With a natural aptitude for leadership, Dr. Gbadamosi also served his community in various capacities including establishing the College of Pharmacy (COP) Graduate Student Organization and serving on the COP Dean’s Leadership Council. Dr. Gbadamosi has also mentored and currently mentors trainees toward a successful transition into post-graduation positions.
Vincent Aketch Nyangwara
I’m a young scientist with a keen interest in translation of genomics research into clinical space to help reduce the burden of genetic disorders in Africa and world at large. My interests include: Oncogenomics, Pharmacogenomics, Communicable and Non-communicable diseases, Rare & Heritable Genetic Disorders. I’m a pharmagenomic research scientist and a PhD student (Human genomics and pharmacogenomics), attached at the Genomic Medicine department, of the African Institute of Biomedical Science & Technology in Zimbabwe. My PhD program focuses to identifying genes and biological pathways involved in cancer prognosis that can support development of novel drugs, predictive and diagnostic tools which can be translated into clinics benefitting Africans and other populations.
After completion of my PhD, my goal is to pursue a postdoctoral degree, acquire my own laboratory, apply for grants to advance pharmacogenomics research, transferring skills and mentoring the next generation of scientists. This will set me for a position to influence policy and incorporate pharmagenomics research in Kenyan healthcare systems. My goal for becoming a trainee councilor for the PGRN is to acquire more in depth training on pharmacogenomics, to create a network for collaboration in pharmacogenomics between young scientists and have influence on the direction of the organization.
Amy Palubinsky, PhD
My name is Amy Palubinsky and I received my PhD in Neuroscience from Vanderbilt University in 2020. I am currently a Post-Doctoral Fellow in the lab of Dr. Elizabeth Phillips at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. My research focuses on understanding the role of Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) alleles in the development of Severe Cutaneous Adverse Drug Reactions (SCARs) with a particular interest in Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (SJS/TEN).
While new to the field of pharmacogenomics, I have always had an interest in connecting the gap between the bench and the bedside: First as a member of the inaugural class of Vanderbilt Brain Institute Clinical Research Scholars and now as a member of the PGRN.
The inclusion of any and all researchers interested in pharmacogenomics speaks to the collaborative environment of this network and is something that I believe is integral to the growth of not just the network itself, but of budding scientists and clinicians around the globe.
The PGRN has provided me with resources and opportunities within the past year that have been extremely helpful in orienting me within a new field and I would love to be able to provide this same support to future members. If elected by the PGRN membership for a trainee councilor position, it would be my honor and privilege to represent the voices of early career scientists and clinicians from diverse backgrounds and training programs.
