Derry research helping to pioneer drug-gene testing to alleviate healthcare pressures

Pioneering new research into drug-gene testing by Derry's Ulster University could reduce the pressure on hard-pressed health services by reducing the likelihood of ineffective or inappropriate drug treatments being prescribed or unnecessary admissions to hospital.

In parallel, the testing would reduce the risk of serious side effects for patients on prescription medication.

Research underway in the Personalised Medicine Centre between the University's Derry campus and Altnagelvin Hospital will enable analysis of genetic code from blood samples to ensure prescribed drugs will provide benefit to patients.

Minor variations in DNA sequence determine the rate at which prescribed medicine is correctly processed/metabolised in the body to its active form and affect patients’ experience of medical benefits or unwanted side effects from the drug treatment.

Drug-gene testing can help alleviate some of the pressures for the NHS by reducing the frequency of admissions caused by treatment side effects and repeat visits to doctors when treatments don’t work.

It is believed that the safety and effectiveness of nearly one million prescriptions could be improved each year in Northern Ireland with drug-gene testing.

Outlining the significance of the drug-gene research, Dr David Gibson from Ulster University’s Personalised Medicine Centre explained: “Our genome is unique to each of us, and it shapes our development from embryo right through to old age. Along with our individual life experiences and exposures to chemicals, lifestyle, diet and other factors, our genes determine what diseases we may develop and how we respond to treatment.

"Most drug development assumes that all patients with a condition will respond in a similar way to a specific drug and they will generally receive the same first line treatment. This can be a waste of drugs and valuable time for both the patient and those treating them, where there is a limited or no response to that medication.

"The pain killer codeine illustrates just how variable the processing of a drug can be in the body, with only 42% of patients experiencing effective pain relief. Others may break down the drug slowly and experience little or no pain relief and up to 2% can convert codeine to morphine so quickly that it could become an overdose. 

"Armed with the knowledge of an individual patient’s drug converting genes, doctors can prescribe the drugs and doses best suited to each person.”

This is just one of the several research projects designed to improve healthcare which are currently ongoing at the Personalised Medicine Centre in the School of Medicine on the University’s Derry campus. Studies led by the team include research into multiple long-term conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, blood cancers, vision, neurodegenerative disorders and arthritis.

The Centre represents a £25million funding investment and since its establishment in 2013 it has been leading data driven research, innovation and education designed to improve healthcare provision and patient outcomes. Its expert team of almost 60 Ulster staff and PhD researchers and over 20 Western Trust clinical leads, conducts research studies for future implementation in clinical settings that tailor medical decisions and interventions to an individual.

Neil Guckian, Chief Executive of the Western Health and Social Care Trust said: “‘Sustained pressure on waiting lists and a health service stretched by the annual winter ailments have resulted in some very difficult decisions for NI’s healthcare leaders and clinicians.

"With transformation called for, Ulster University’s research in this field has the capacity to make a significant difference in primary, secondary and community care settings.

"The ability to tailor specific treatments to those most likely to respond and divert others to alternative drugs will maximise the use of healthcare resources and help individualise patient care. Drug-gene testing takes a personalised approach to make better use of valuable time in clinical practice, improve patient outcomes, reduce costs and match the needs of the patient to the clinical treatment and team best equipped to care for them.

"The WHSCT fully supports this priority project that will happen in partnership with the School of Medicine based at Magee and with C-TRIC clinical research facility based at Altnagelvin Hospital. ”