Rapid Collection of Biospecimens by Automated Identification of Patients Eligible for Pharmacoepigenetic Studies

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Robert L. Davis, Kaiser Permanente Georgia; Yan Sun, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2013-09-26
• Publisher: MDPI
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2013 by the authors
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/jpm3040263
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Journal of Personalized Medicine
• ISSN: 2075-4426
• Volume: 3
• Issue: 4
• Start Page: 263
• End Page: 274
• Grant/Funding Information: This work is partially supported by the American Heart Association, Grant Number 13GRNT17060002
• Keywords: DNA methylation; pharmacogenomics; epigenetic epidemiology; epigenome; pharmacogenetics; electronic medical record; epigenetics; pharmacoepigenomics
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Public Health; Health Sciences, Epidemiology; Health Sciences, General

Abstract

Epigenetics plays an important role in regulating gene expression, and can be modified by environmental factors and physiological conditions. Studying epigenetics is a promising approach to potentially improving the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of human diseases, and to providing personalized medical care. However, the role of epigenetics in the development of diseases is not clear because epigenetic markers may be both mediators and outcomes of human diseases. It is particularly complicated to study pharmacoepigenetics, as medication use may modify the epigenetic profile. To address the challenges facing pharmacoepigenetic research of human diseases, we developed a novel design to rapidly identify, contact, and recruit participants and collect specimens for longitudinal studies of pharmacoepigenetics. Using data in real-time from electronic medical record systems, we can identify patients recently start on new medications and who also have a blood test. Prior to disposal of the leftover blood by the clinical laboratory, we are able to contact and recruit these patients, enabling us to use both their leftover baseline blood sample as well as leftover specimens at future tests. With treatment-naïve and follow-up specimens, this system is able to study both epigenetic markers associated with disease without treatment effect as well as treatment-related epigenetic changes.