Page 150 - SAMRC Annual Report 2024-2025

Platform for

Pharmacogenomics
Research and Translation
Research Unit

Unit director:
Prof. Collet Dandara
collet.dandara@uct.ac.za

Advancing Research Priorities: with HIV. Five members of the Unit presented their
Strategic Objectives and Impact research findings at the African Society for Human
Genetics Conference in Uganda (3-7 Feb 2025).
The SAMRC/UCT Pharmacogenomics Research and
Translation Unit (PREMED) strategic objective is to Building Capacity Through
bring the promise of pharmacogenomics (PGx), on
the use of a patient's genetic information to guide Training, Mentorship, and Support
optimal drug therapy and dose, which enables The research within the PREMED unit has resulted
prediction of drug response by translating known in capacity building at different levels. In terms of
findings among African patients. training students in the reporting period of 2024/25,
PREMED has trained and graduated 3 Honours
One of the objectives of PREMED is to catalyse the students (awaiting graduation), 4 MSc students
translation of research findings. The objective is to who graduated in September 2024, 4 current MSc
create awareness among the public and policymakers students, and 4 PhD students, and 1 Postdoc. Every
on the importance of pharmacogenomics for effort is being made to continue recruiting students
its eventual acceptance and uptake. Translating from disadvantaged backgrounds and female
pharmacogenomics research findings will lead students.
to better future outcomes for both patients and
healthcare providers through improved medication The proposed research under the pharmaco-
safety and efficacy. genomics platform, PREMED, brings together
researchers working on pharmacokinetics, pharma-
Key Milestones and Achievements cogenetics, pharmacogenomics, pharmacomicro-
biomics, and cell biology, to unleash this diverse
Dyslipidaemia results of over 1000 samples were expertise on research that will improve the use of
sequenced and analysed, currently the team is therapeutic drugs.
analysing and interpreting data. The unit successfully
received postdoctoral funding from SAMRC to host Navigating the Impact of US
one postdoc in our unit. The postdoctoral fellow
will work on translation, this will contribute to the Executive Orders on Funding.
genetic screening of key pharmacogenomics genes Has discouraged us from applying for NIH funding.
in the clinical settings. Ultimately it will contribute
toward better management of our patients. Research Translation

On a mentorship scale, one of the members Through Arts and Science
(Dr K Mnika) received the Africa Oxford Initiative The research findings are communicated to a
Fellowship for 2024/2025, this is key for the unit to bigger audience by providing the opportunity to
promote international collaboration. Dr N Soko students to present the research findings at local or
received a small grant, Pilot Funding for Research international conferences, and publication of articles
on Infection-Related Cancers among People Living in research journals. The work is also shared through

148 SAMRC ANNUAL REPOR T 2024-25