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Updated: May 20, 2026

Implementation of In Vitro Drug Resistance Assays: Maximizing the Potential for Uncovering Clinically Relevant Resistance Mechanisms
Published on: December 9, 2015
Relating human genetic variation to variation in drug responses
Ashraf G Madian1, Heather E Wheeler, Richard Baker Jones
1Committee on Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenomics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Abstract:
Although sequencing a single human genome was a monumental effort a decade ago, more than 1000 genomes have now been sequenced. The task ahead lies in transforming this information into personalized treatment strategies that are tailored to the unique genetics of each individual. One important aspect of personalized medicine is patient-to-patient variation in drug response. Pharmacogenomics addresses this issue by seeking to identify genetic contributors to human variation in drug efficacy and toxicity. Here, we present a summary of the current status of this field, which has evolved from studies of single candidate genes to comprehensive genome-wide analyses. Additionally, we discuss the major challenges in translating this knowledge into a systems-level understanding of drug physiology, with the ultimate goal of developing more effective personalized clinical treatment strategies.
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