Linked to EAHP Statements

Section 2 - Selection, Procurement and Distribution: Statement 2.3
Section 4 - Clinical Pharmacy Services: Statements 4.6, 4.7
Section 5 - Patient Safety and Quality Assurance: Statement 5.9
Section 6 - Education and Research: Statement 6.5

ACPE UAN: 0475-0000-19-001-L04-P. A knowledge based activity.

Abstract

In the last decades, biomedical research has seen many innovations.
The publication of the full human genome sequence in 2003 lead the way for “genome” and “genomics” research. In the now so-called “post-genomic” research period, the focus shifted on the role of the genes, biochemical functions of gene products, the control of cellular biochemistry and metabolism. These new research areas are described by a variety of “omic”-terms, for example transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics or lipidomics.

The development of these omics technologies vastly impacts on pharmaceutical research, especially when it comes to drug target discovery and validation, drug toxicity assessment and the ever more important personalised medicine. Single omics technologies yield enormous amounts of data that have to be processed and analysed in networks and databases with the help of bioinformatic tools. Together they form the systems biology concept.

Hospital pharmacists need to have a thorough understanding of these technologies, its possibilities and limitations. They furthermore need to be aware of how omics technologies will influence the disciplines of medicine and pharmacy in the future.

Learning Objectives

After the keynote, participants should be able to:
• describe basic principles of omics technologies and the relation to advancements in medicine and pharmacy;
• list examples where omics technologies are applied in drug development and research.

Educational need addressed

Omics technologies significantly changed drug research and development. Hospital pharmacists need to be aware of these changes, especially in the light of personalised therapies arriving in everyday medicine.

Keywords: proteomics, drug discovery, targeted therapies, bioinformatics.