Overview

The research of Richard Weinshilboum, M.D., focuses on pharmacogenomics, which is the study of the role of inheritance in variations in drug response phenotypes. These phenotypes can vary from exhibiting life-threatening adverse drug reactions to showing a lack of the desired therapeutic effect of a drug. In recent years, pharmacogenomics has moved beyond genomics to incorporate other "omics" disciplines and become "pharmaco-omics."

This research uses techniques such as genome-wide association studies to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms and genes associated with variations in drug response phenotypes and pursue underlying mechanisms responsible for these associations. In addition, Dr. Weinshilboum's research incorporates machine learning and artificial intelligence to develop predictive algorithms to allow clinicians to anticipate which patients will respond to treatment with a specific drug.

This research ranges from the bedside to basic molecular mechanisms. The goal is to individualize therapy with the powerful but potentially dangerous drugs that are used to treat diseases ranging from breast cancer; major depressive disorder, also known as depression; and alcohol use disorder.

Affiliations

Dr. Weinshilboum's pharmacogenomics research program is affiliated with these research and training areas at Mayo Clinic:

• Center for Individualized Medicine
• Mayo Clinic Breast Cancer SPORE
• Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center — Research
• Ph.D. Program: Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Track
• Psychiatric Genomics and Pharmacogenomics Program
• Psychiatry and Psychology — Research