Dr. Rania Abdel-latif

Translational genomics lead

Qatar Precision Health Institute

Strategic Considerations in the Return of Genetic Findings: Clinical Implementation: Pharmacogenomics 

Abstract:

Pharmacogenomics (PGx) holds the promise of precision medicine through elucidating the genetic determinants responsible for pharmacological outcomes and using them to guide drug selection and dosing. However, despite significant scientific and clinical advancements in PGx, its integration into routine healthcare practices remains limited. To address this gap, the Qatar Genome Program (QGP) has embarked on an ambitious initiative known as QPGx-CARES (Qatar Pharmacogenetics Clinical Applications and Research Enhancement Strategies), which aims to set a roadmap for optimizing PGx research and clinical implementation on a national scale. Here we will discuss QPGx-CARES effort is to integrate PGx testing into clinical settings with the aim of improving patient health outcomes we will also discuss summarize the obstacles that have hindered PGx implementation, and identify the critical knowledge gaps and possible studies needed to help to address them.

Biography:

Dr. Rania Abdel-latif is a translational genomic lead in QPHI leading ambitious initiatives focusing on pharmacogenomics implementation across clinical practice, and research settings. She has been instrumental in driving pharmacogenomics integration into clinical workflows, particularly in hospitals, where the translation of genetic data into actionable medication management strategies is transforming patient care. Dr. Rania Abdellatif has a BSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences, MSc, and PhD degree in Pharmacology. She is a professor of pharmacology with a comprehensive academic and clinical background. As a clinical pharmacist-scientist, her work focuses on understanding variability in drug response to enhance treatment outcomes, making pharmacogenomics a key part of personalized healthcare.