Pharmacogenomics Informed Prescribing
About
This course will examine the application of drug-gene testing to commonly prescribed medications. The potential of pharmacogenomic-led prescribing to enhance patient outcomes, reduce the incidence of adverse drug reactions and to provide economic savings to health services will be discussed. Practical, worked examples of changes in drug prescribing will be undertaken based on international best practice.
A large community pharmacy database study of 56 commonly used drugs in the UK with a known drug-gene interaction reports that approximately 5.8M new prescriptions have an actionable drug-gene relationship. Furthermore, an estimated 10% of these prescriptions would require an immediate reduction in dose or change of medication if pharmacogenomic testing was employed.
More information on pharmacogenomic testing
The NHS and health services globally are investing in genomics. This will dramatically change the way in which treatments are administered. This course will train prescribers and pharmacists on how to interpret pharmacogenomic data and the patient-centred and health economic benefits of this approach.
The course is relevant to all those with current prescribing responsibilities (primary and secondary care doctors, prescribing pharmacists, nurse prescribers).
Start date
Course Start Date: 11 March 2025 (2 day course). Please note the application deadline to apply for this course is 31 January 2025.
This course requires on-campus attendance, at our Derry~Londonderry campus, during Semester 2 in 2025 and is timetabled for the following days:
- Tuesday 11 March 2025, 10:00am - 4:00pm
- Wednesday 12 March 2025, 10:00am - 4:00pm
Dates may be subject to change.
Location
Derry~Londonderry Campus.
Teaching, learning and assessment
The course assessment is based 100% on coursework and participants will be guided through assignments by the teaching staff. Assessments will be based on the practical application of international guidance on actionable drug-gene interactions. Assignments will be an opportunity to actively learn how to interpret and act upon pharmacogenomic data.
Academic profile
Dr Catriona Kelly is a Senior Lecturer in Personalised Medicine with expertise in cellular biology, the study of multimorbidity and polypharmacy. Dr Sarah Atkinson is a Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences and experienced molecular biologist with extensive expertise in genomics. Collectively, the teaching staff have been awarded numerous international research awards and have received significant research support from a range of national and international organisations.
Further Information
Modules
Upon completion of this course, participants will have developed knowledge on the application of pharmacogenomic-based approaches to the prescription of commonly administered drugs.
Participants will learn to critically appraise information from a variety of resources and prepare evidence-based reports.
Entry requirements
Academic qualifications
At least an undergraduate degree in a science or medicine-related subject.
Eligibility
Places are limited and open to applicants who:
- are over 18 years of age;
- are eligible to work in Northern Ireland;
- are ‘settled’ in Northern Ireland, and has been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least three years; or
- are a person who has indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK.
- meet the course specific entry requirements. See course pages for requirements.
- meet the Ulster University general entry requirements
Apply now - limited places available
There are a limited number of places for this course. Offers will be extended to those applicants who meet the entry requirements following successful completion of the application process. Applications will no longer be accepted or processed once all offers are extended. Applications will no longer be accepted or processed once all places are filled. Applications can not be considered once a course has started.
Please note you can only be funded by DfE for a maximum of two courses at any one time (including modules to a total of 45 credits per semester - if studying part-time).
- Click on the Apply Now button.
- This will take you to the online application system – if you have never used this before please click on First Time user account creation and create an account.
- Log into the system and click on New – create a new application.
- Choose Professional Develop Postgrad as the Application Type
- Choose Admission Term Academic Year 2024-2025 and complete your details.
- Click the Fill Out Application button.
- Click on Programme Selection.
- In the programme choice dropdown please choose: PG Cred Upskilling SKILLS PT Derry~Londonderry.
- Please type the title of the short course you wish to study in the box below the programme choice: Pharmacogenomics Informed Prescribing.
- For the question, Are you applying for a funded place on one of the DfE Skills programmes?, select Yes.
- Please complete all required application sections.
- Ensure your application is complete and then submit.
- You will receive a confirmation email that the application has been submitted, please ensure you check your junk mail as well as the inbox of the e-mail address listed on your application.
- If you have sent all required information and you have been successful, you will receive an unconditional offer. You must accept this offer via email and confirm acceptance online to secure your place.
- If you have not sent all required information, you will be asked to send outstanding items. If a place is still available and you have met all requirements, you will receive an unconditional offer. You must accept this offer via email and confirm acceptance online to secure your place.
IMPORTANT: If we have requested additional items, you do not have a guaranteed place. You may lose your space if you do not provide any required information by the deadline supplied in the Request for documentation Email - Once your place is accepted, you will receive an enrolment email. You must complete the online enrolment to confirm your place and start your course.