Objectives of the EPR-Network
Objectives of the European Network of Excellence in Pharmacogenetics and Genomics. The network would be the voice of the European science community in pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics, with the following objectives:
- Provide a platform of experts for gathering and disseminating knowledge, determining PGX-strategies, and would serve as a knowledge-bank for EU calls
- Provide a platform for collaborations between academic institutions and with Industry
- Provide a mechanism for set up and exchange of databases
- Enhance education through lectures and exchange of PhD students
- To provide a platform for gathering and promoting knowledge about pharmacogenetics in Europe.
This can be done with a web-based approach with the aim of making pharmacogenetic/genomic activities more visible both within the European community of scientists and internationally. Accordingly, the website would provide:
- Information on the location and expertise of different researchers in the field (network members), as a spur to encouraging collaboration;
- database for the EU to facilitate access to experts who could serve as reviewers for project calls.
- A focus for the organisation of workshops and conferences around specific areas, to encourage researchers to exchange ideas and initiate European collaborations.
- To provide a mechanism for sharing and extending existing databases and bio-banks within and outside Europe.
Specifically, this would include:
- Promoting the need for performing larger studies to provide evidence for the value of genotyping that stands up to both rigorous statistical and clinical scrutiny;
- Creating the opportunity to perform replication studies in different cohorts.
- Developing common quality controls and management structures at a European level;
- Encouraging the dissemination of pharmacogenetics research throughout Europe, by pairing leading groups with those with less infrastructure, expertise and equipment;
- Developing a link with the US PharmGKB database with the intention of providing added value to rather than competing with a well-established system – which would enhance the global profile of European research, while minimising unnecessary duplication of effort and expense.
- Possibly setting up a European Pharmacogenomic Tissue bank together with Pharmaceutical industry.
- To encourage and facilitate input from, and collaboration with, the pharmaceutical industry both within and outside Europe.
It is essential to integrate the efforts of academics, industry and regulators in Europe in order to address the common issues around pharmacogenetics. These include ethical as well as scientific aspects, and examination of ways in which information can be shared without compromising intellectual property and commercial sensitivity.
Specifically, we seek to:
- Extend inclusion of key individuals from industry and the regulatory authorities in the management of the Network;
- Explore ways of improving interactions at the level of exploratory and pre-competitive industrial research, which could lead to new and wider therapeutic opportunities and underpin developments in mechanistic toxicology;
- Establish the formation of focused consortia to study disease-specific topics in pharmacogenetics ·
- Establish a more formal framework for education and training in pharmacogenetics.
This is important at two levels – the development of a future European cadre of experts in pharmacogenetics, and the dissemination of information on the subject to users and beneficiaries of pharmacogenetic research at the level of clinical practice and utilisation. Specifically, we aim to:- Identify existing courses on pharmacogenetics/genomics within Europe on the website, with a view to publicising their availability throughout Europe
- Identification of centres and institutions with appropiate expertise to deliver courses and training in pharmacogenetics.
- Harmonise and improve education in pharmacogenetics at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, with an emphasis on the practical and clinical implications of the subject.
- Set up a postgraduate education program in Pharmacogenetics/genomics consisting of existing and possibly new courses throughout Europe
- Promoting exchange of researchers between labs in Europe
- Give grants to PhD students and postdocs to be able to attend meetings such as the Wellcome Trust/CSHL Pharmacogenetics/genomics meeting, and the ESF Pharmacogenetics/genomics meetings
