PGRN Election Candidates
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-August. If you are an active PGRN member and have not received a ballot by August 15th, 2025, please contact info@pgrn.org for help.
PRESIDENT-ELECT Chad Bousman, MPH, PhD  I would be honored to serve as a PGRN Councilor. I’m a Professor in the Department of Medical Genetics at the University of Calgary, where I lead the Psychiatric Pharmacogenomics Laboratory. My research spans basic science and clinical implementation, including discovery of novel PGx associations, nomenclature standardization, dosing guideline development, and real-world implementation of PGx-guided prescribing–particularly in youth mental health. I also lead initiatives to integrate PGx into electronic health systems and apply AI and software solutions to address gaps in access to PGx education and expertise. If elected, I will build on my past contributions to PGRN as Chair of the 2024 Scientific Program Committee and member of the Early Career Committee (2022–24). As Councilor, I will promote: (1) cross-disciplinary research to advance gene–drug interaction discovery; (2) implementation science to support clinical uptake; (3) policy engagement to address regulatory and reimbursement barriers; and (4) mentorship and training for future PGx leaders. I believe PGRN has a critical role to play in shaping the future of pharmacogenomics, and I am eager to contribute to its continued success through inclusive leadership and strategic growth. Sony Tuteja, PharmD, MS, BCPS, FAHA, FCCP
My career has been defined by a passion for bridging the gap between genomic science and clinical care. As Director of Pharmacogenomics at the Penn Medicine Center for Genomic Medicine, I have led multidisciplinary efforts to integrate pharmacogenetic testing into routine clinical workflows, including the development of a dedicated pharmacogenomics clinic and pragmatic implementation trials in oncology and cardiovascular medicine. These initiatives have not only improved patient outcomes but have also served as scalable models for other institutions. I have been privileged to contribute to national and international consortia such as CPIC, IGNITE, and the Veterans Affair Million Veterans Program, where I have led studies on CYP2C19-guided antiplatelet therapy, DPYD/UGT1A1 testing in cancer care, and the impact of pharmacogenomic variants on surgical outcomes. My work has resulted in over 90 peer-reviewed publications and numerous invited presentations, reflecting both scientific rigor and a commitment to dissemination. As Chair of the PGRN Implementation Working Group, I have fostered global collaboration to address barriers to adoption, standardize language using implementation science methods, and promote equity in pharmacogenomic research. I believe the next phase of PGRN’s evolution requires leadership that can unify stakeholders across academia, industry, and clinical care to accelerate the clinical utility of pharmacogenomics to deliver on its promise of genetically guided care for patients. If elected to serve, I will focus on:
I am deeply committed to the mission of PGRN and confident that my experience, collaborative spirit, and strategic vision will serve the network well. |
As a founding member of the Pharmacogenomics Global Research Network (PGRN) and current Chair of its Implementation Working Group, I am honored to be considered as a nominee for President of this transformative organization. With over two decades of experience in clinical pharmacology, translational research, and implementation science, I bring a deep commitment to advancing pharmacogenomics from discovery to clinical practice across diverse populations and healthcare settings.Treasurer (3-YEAR TERM)
Assaf Gottlieb ,PhD
Assistant Professor at McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics, USA
I am self-nominating Dr. Assaf Gottlieb, PhD, for Treasurer of the Pharmacogenomics Global Research Network (PGRN). I am a long-time PGRN member and have served as chair of the Communication and the newly-founded Membership committees.
My qualifications in PGx include research and teaching of drug models in academia and industry. My research involves computational models for inferring drug responses using AI models for cancer drug response and synergy, causal inference on electronic health records, computational molecular models for drug pathways and genomic inference leading to better dosage in warfarin across different populations. I have also been teaching foundations of pharmacogenomics to biomedical informatics students and mentored students on drug-related projects.
Among my qualifications for a PGRN Treasurer, I was involved in multiple preparation of budgets both in academic setting and also having worked in companies ranging from small startups to large corporations, allowing me to have broad view of financial constraints. My current position for increasing the membership in PGx also gives me a viewpoint on the finance of PGRN.
As a Treasurer, I will advance PGx by being involved with 1) the preparation of an operating budget and annual fiscal status report, 2) preparation of PGRN records for audits and maintaining tax-exempt status, and 3) help the board identify sources for increased revenue for PGRN.
Laura Ramsey,PhD
Professor at Children's Mercy Kansas City Hospital, USA
I am running for re-election for the position of Treasurer. Having held this position for the last three years, I have overseen a near doubling in the PGRN financial holdings, from ~$158k to $314k. I spearheaded the transfer of money to interest accruing accounts so we are generating passive income.
I also served on the board for the last three years and performed other tasks as necessary, such as participating in the website update (writing the RFP, selecting the web designer, and reviewing content). In the near future, I anticipate switching from our current bank, which has been difficult to work with, to a new bank that has lower fees and is easier to work with. The PGRN is an organization that I consider my professional home and would be honored to serve another term as treasurer.
COUNCILOR (3-YEAR TERM)
Daniel L Hertz ,PharmD, PhD
Associate Professor at University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, USA
I am self-nominating Dr. Daniel Hertz, PharmD, PhD, for Councilor of the Pharmacogenomics Global Research Network (PGRN). I am a founding PGRN member, served on the committee that established PGRN grants (2021), chaired PGRN grant reviews (2022-2023), was inaugural co-Chair of the Oncology Special Interest Group (2022-2025), and led PGRN Annual Meeting planning as Vice-Chair (2024) and Chair (2025) of the Scientific Program Committee.
In addition to my PGRN leadership, my qualifications include an NIH- and American Cancer Society-funded research program in oncology PGx. My leadership in DPYD PGx research and advocacy (e.g., AUDT) has resulted in updated FDA labeling and NCCN guidelines to “consider testing” before treatment. I also lead a STRIPE effort to establish consensus on demonstrating clinical utility of PGx testing (presented at PGRN 2024), which will define how to conduct PGx research that justifies PGx testing recommendations.
As PGRN Councilor, I will advance PGx by promoting 1) integration of pharmacokinetic modeling into PGx analysis and dosing recommendations (e.g., PK Modeling Pre-conference at PGRN 2025), 2) use of real-world evidence to demonstrate clinical utility of PGx testing (e.g., Oncology Pharmacogenetics Real-world Evidence Consortium), and 3) advocacy to obtain PGx testing recommendations in FDA labels and clinical guidelines.
Aniwaa Owusu Obeng, PharmD
Senior Director at Mount Sinai Health System, USA
I am truly honored to be considered for the role of Counselor within the Pharmacogenomics Global Research Network (PGRN). As a clinical implementation leader, educator, and active contributor to the pharmacogenomics (PGx) community, I am passionate about advancing pharmacogenomics from discovery to real-world application, with a strong emphasis on education, health equity, and sustainable systems integration.For more than a decade, I have led PGx implementation efforts at an academic health system, where I oversee a multidisciplinary clinical program. My work includes developing PGx clinical decision support tools, integrating them into electronic health records (EHR), engaging in translational research, and driving quality improvement initiatives. I have also served as a co- investigator on NIH-funded projects such as IGNITE and eMERGE-PGx, contributing to national strategies for scalable PGx implementation.
In addition to my implementation work, I direct two national PGx certification programs that empower pharmacists and other clinicians with the knowledge and confidence to advocate for and deliver pharmacogenomics-guided care.
Within PGRN, I have had the privilege of taking on several leadership roles. I previously served as Co-Chair and Chair of the Early Career Committee, where I helped develop initiatives such as the mentor-mentee program, Early Career Research-in-Progress meetings, and career panel discussions to support the next generation of PGx researchers and professionals. Currently, I serve as Co-Chair of the Membership Committee, where we are piloting the PGRN Liaison Program—an initiative designed to broaden global awareness of PGRN and attract new members through targeted outreach.
If elected as Counselor, I will be committed to representing the voices and needs of our members. My focus will be on enhancing member engagement, expanding professional development opportunities, and strengthening PGRN’s presence at the intersection of education, implementation science, informatics, and health equity.
I deeply value the mission of PGRN and would welcome the opportunity to contribute to its continued growth, impact, and leadership in the global pharmacogenomics landscape. Thank you for considering my nomination to serve this vibrant and essential community.
TRAINEE COUNCILOR (1-YEAR TERM)
Mona Alshahawey, PhD Postdoctoral Associate at University of Florida, USA |
I am a passionate academic and researcher pursuing a Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of Virginia (UVA), where I develop NIH-funded microfluidic platforms to detect pharmacogenetically relevant polymorphisms that influence drug response. My academic background spans a B.Sc. in Biochemistry (Abia State University), two M.Sc. degrees in Bioinformatics (Covenant University) and Biochemistry (University of Lagos), and an M.Sc. in Chemistry (UVA), where I consistently ranked top of my class.