PIMMS
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Pharmacogenomics in patients taking Multiple MedicationS - PIMMS
IRAS ID
276999
Contact name
Munir Pirmohamed
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
6 years, 7 months, 31 days
Research summary
Most diseases or illnesses require treatment with medication which aims to cure the disease or control it's symptoms. However medications can sometimes come with side effects, some of which are serious. We all vary in how we respond to medications due to our individual genetics, which can change both how well some medications work as well as the risk that we will experience side effects. Pharmacogenetic (PGx) testing aims to clarify genes relevant to how the body and medications interact. There is evidence in the form of multiple randomised controlled trials which suggests that PGx testing prior to prescribing can improve patient outcomes by guiding drug and dose selection.
The purpose of this study is to assess the proportion of a group of patients who are taking 5 or more medications each that have actionable drug-gene pairs, these gene pairs could potentially be used by prescribers to guide drug choices and doses.
400 patients will be recruited from inpatient settings at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital. Half of those patients will have 5-8 long-term medications whereas the other half will have 9 or more.
All eligible patients will have a discussion with a member of the research team detailing their medications, consent and an assessment of adverse drug reactions (ADR's). Additionally they will have a blood sample taken to assess for actionable gene pairs and drug serum levels.
The interaction will consist of two-days minimimum where consent is asked on the first day, confirmed on the second and the relevant samples and discussions from above are had. Patients will also be asked for consent to allow members of the research team to assess their medical notes at yearly intervals for 5 years after the study .
REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/SW/0035
Date of REC Opinion
23 Mar 2021
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion