PGRN Membership Spotlight
March Member Spotlight - Amy Bower
How long have you been a member of PGRN, and how did you first join PGRN?2005. I was leading the development of a molecular device to detect variants in the UGT1A1 gene in individuals receiving Irinotecan for colon cancer. I was also part of the International Haplotype Map Project and interested in variants in genes involved in drug response. I utilized the PharmGKB in my work and attended a meeting in Hawaii.
What is your current position/role, and what do you enjoy most about it?
For the past 15 years I have led a research program funded by NICHD at the ACMG focused on accelerating the discovery of novel technologies for screening, diagnosis, treatment, and management of disease in newborns and children. That effort is ending this year but it has been especially rewarding since I have a son with a condition that is now part of newborn screening around the world, Severe Combined Immunodeficiency.
How has PGRN helped your career in pharmacogenomics?
For almost twenty years, PGRN has provided amazing case studies for the application of genetics and genomics to improve outcomes in individuals across the lifespan. I think that pharmacogenomics has always been the most practical and useful application of genomics to individualize treatment and management of disease. For my next chapter, I am especially interested in adding pharmacogenomic variants to newborns and age-based screening panels to help inform parents and families.
What do you see as the most exciting advances in pharmacogenomics over the next 2-5 years?
The continued awareness of the importance of pharmacogenomics to optimize the use of lifesaving therapies. I think that it will be especially important in combination with gene and molecular therapies as we learn more about the outcomes after presymptomatic treatment of genetic disease.
Personal questionsIf there are no restrictions to travel, where would you like to go in the next 3-6 months?
Ireland
When you’re not working, how do you enjoy spending your time?
Gardening and spending time with my twins.
March Trainee Member Spotlight - Maud Maillard
How long have you been a member of PGRN, and how did you first join PGRN?I have been a member of PGRN for two years, now. I joined the network when I started my postdoc at St. Jude.
What is your current position/role, and what do you enjoy most about it?
I am a PharmD, PhD, currently working as a postdoctoral associate in Dr. Jun J. Yang’s lab at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
I have always known I wanted to be a researcher, and I got interested in pharmacogenomics during my PhD. Thus, I could not have dreamt of a better place than St. Jude and especially Dr. Yang’s lab to pursue my early academic career in the field of pharmacogenomics of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In only two years, I significantly developed my scientific skills, built strong connections with colleagues worldwide and I have learned a lot about myself, thanks to this always positive and very dynamic environment. What I enjoy most is that we never get bored of (re)searching!
How has PGRN helped your career in pharmacogenomics?
As a foreigner, PGRN has significantly helped me to expand my network overseas. The PGRN annual meeting is a key for young researchers who want to connect with significant people in the field.
What do you see as the most exciting advances in pharmacogenomics over the next 2-5 years?
I wish we could implement more pharmacogenes and convince more people about the importance of pharmacogenomics in all therapeutic areas. I am really excited about the future large-scale studies involving databases like AllOfUs and the fact that we will include more individuals from different ancestries in the cohorts for genetic association studies.
Personal questions
If there are no restrictions to travel, where would you like to go in the next 3-6 months?
I plan to explore the Northwest part of the country, go hiking in Yellowstone, and drive all the way up to Glacier National Park.
When you’re not working, how do you enjoy spending your time?
I really enjoy running and hiking!
