Track A1: Future of Pre-Emptive Pharmacogenomic Testing
Saturday, 27 September | 13:30–15:00 | Grand Ballroom (Level 4)
In Singapore, pre-emptive pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing is gaining traction as part of a broader push towards precision medicine. This approach involves testing patients for genetic variants before they require specific medications, storing the results in their electronic health records, and making them readily available to clinicians at the point of care. This proactive strategy aims to optimise drug selection and dosage, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes and reduced adverse reactions to medication.
This session will shed light on the current landscape of pre-emptive PGx testing locally, explore the similarities and differences compared with our neighbouring counterparts, and discuss the work being done in Singapore towards the advancement of pre-emptive PGx testing.
Participants will gain insights into the value of pre-emptive PGx testing. Through the stimulating discussions, they will also appreciate the importance of work in exploring the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of implementing pre-emptive PGx in routine clinical practice to ensure the long-term sustainability of pre-emptive PGx programs. Participants will also be able to witness the introduction of the PGx position paper that aims to define key drivers and actions to advance pre-emptive PGx testing in Singapore.
Presentations
The Role of PRECISE in Upscaling Pre-Emptive Pharmacogenomic Testing by Professor E Shyong TAI
The National Precision Medicine programme has just entered phase 3. Over the next 5 years, Precision Health Research Singapore (PRECISE) will work with various stakeholders in Singapore to transform healthcare by integrating genomics into mainstream care. Almost everybody in the population carries genetic variants that can inform prescribing practice. As such, pharmacogenomics represents a pathfinder pathway that will be used as an exemplar to build the infrastructure required to make this a reality.
Landscape of Pre-Emptive Pharmacogenomic Testing in Malaysia by Mr Jack Shen LIM
Synopsis
• Bulleted text
Landscape of Pre-Emptive Pharmacogenomic Testing in Neighbouring Countries by A/Prof Surakit NATHISUWAN
It is imperative for the pharmacy profession in every country to continually evolve and push the boundaries of practice in order to meet national healthcare needs. While many factors must be considered, five key elements – societal changes, economic status, legal framework, technological environment, and demographic changes – should always be taken into account when determining the future direction of the profession. In this talk, an example will be presented using recent progress and challenges within Thailand’s pharmacy system, which has undergone disruptive changes across three dimensions: education, practice, and research/innovation. Lessons learned from this transformative journey will be shared to illustrate how Thailand’s pharmacy system has adapted to meet the needs of the nation.
Sharing on the Implementation of Pre-Emptive Pharmacogenomic Testing: The Singapore Perspective by Dr Elaine Ah Gi LO
As Singapore incorporates precision medicine into routine clinical practice, pharmacogenomics (PGx) presents a valuable opportunity to improve patient health. This presentation will focus on the implementation of preemptive PGx (PPGx) to enhance its uptake in clinical practice. We will share findings from the PPGx pilot involving 2,000 patients as part of phase 2 of the National Precision Medicine Programme. As phase 3 unfolds, we expect an increase in the prevalence and accessibility of PGx data. Our discussion will outline strategies to leverage PGx test results for optimising patient care, including enhanced recruitment efforts, the configuration of the EPIC genomics module, and fostering cross-cluster collaboration and standardisation.
Sharing from Malaysia Practice by Dr Navin Kumar LOGANADAN
Synopsis
• Bulleted text
PSS Position Paper on Catalysing the Adoption of Pharmacogenomics in Clinical Practice by Dr Niron NAGANATHAR
The development of a national pharmacogenomics (PGx) position paper marks a pivotal step in catalysing PGx implementation across Singapore’s healthcare system. This talk provides an overview of the key objectives, guiding principles, and recommendations outlined in the paper, which was developed through a multidisciplinary workgroup aligned with phase 3 of the National Precision Medicine strategy. It will highlight drug–gene pairs of local relevance, current implementation efforts, and system-level enablers such as electronic health record integration, clinical decision support tools, and workforce training to drive adoption of PGx in clinical practice.
Panel Discussion moderated by A/Prof Doreen TAN
Synopsis
• Bulleted text
Speakers and Moderator
Professor E Shyong TAI
Professor
Department of Medicine
Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
National University of Singapore
Singapore
Professor E Shyong Tai is a Senior Consultant in Endocrinology at the National University Hospital and a professor of medicine at the National University of Singapore. He has an interest in human genetics and how it impacts human health and disease. In particular, he is interested in how we can leverage on genomic technologies in the healthcare system to optimise outcome in a sustainable and affordable manner.
Mr Jack Shen LIM
General Secretary
Secretariat
Malaysian Pharmacists Society
Malaysia
Mr Jack Shen Lim is a passionate advocate for the pharmacy profession, with over 18 years of experience across hospital, industry, medical affairs, and community pharmacy. He serves as General Secretary of the Malaysian Pharmacists Society (MPS), Vice President of the Federation of Asian Pharmaceutical Associations, and Vice President/Treasurer of the FIP Western Pacific Pharmaceutical Forum. Mr Lim also serves as Observer on the Executive Committee of the FIP Community Pharmacy Section.
He is a Consultant with Global Precision Diagnostics, driving regional pharmacogenomics initiatives that are focused on training, research, policy, and advocacy. He is also COO of Innergia Labs, a company specialising in retail data analytics.
A Monash pharmacy graduate, Mr Lim began his career in Melbourne before returning to Malaysia. He was active in young pharmacist advocacy, being the chairperson of the MPS Young Pharmacist Chapter and the first president of the Asian YPG.
A/Prof Surakit NATHISUWAN
Dean
Faculty of Pharmacy
Mahidol University
Thailand
A/Prof Surakit Nathisuwan received his bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from Mahidol University in 1994, a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Florida in 1999, and Specialized Residency in Pharmacotherapy from the University of Texas Health Science Center. He became a US board-certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist in 2001. He is currently working as an Associate Professor in Clinical Pharmacy and Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Thailand. His main area of teaching and research interest is cardiovascular pharmacotherapy. He has authored over 70 international publications, many of which are in high-impact journals. He has received a number of distinct research awards from the National Research Council of Thailand and the Nagai Foundation Tokyo. In addition, he has been actively working with professional organisations and government to advance pharmacy education, practice, and research in Thailand and the ASEAN region through various international leadership roles in the region.
Dr Elaine Ah Gi LO
Principal Clinical Pharmacist
Pharmacy
National University Hospital
Singapore
Dr Elaine Lo obtained her PharmD from the University of British Columbia. She is a Principal Clinical Pharmacist at National University Hospital and has an appointment at National University of Singapore as Adjunct Assistant Professor. Her clinical interests include pharmacogenomics, immunology, and gastroenterology. Other than patient care at the immunotherapeutics clinic and the secretariat role at the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, her focus is to facilitate the clinical implementation of pharmacogenomics within the National University Health System and across the nation.
Dr Navin Kumar LOGANADAN
Head of Ambulatory Pharmacy Section
Pharmacy
Putrajaya Hospital
Malaysia
Dr Navin Kumar Loganadan is Head of the Ambulatory Pharmacy Services Section of Putrajaya Hospital in Putrajaya, Malaysia, and of the Diabetes Medication Therapy Adherence Clinic Services in the Ministry of Health, Malaysia. Dr Loganadan has 17 years of experience as a Diabetes Clinical Pharmacist, managing medication-related problems of type 2 diabetes. He received the Next Generation Scientist Award in 2016 from the University of Basel, Switzerland, and trained in the Diabetes Research Program, New York University, USA. He was conferred the Young Investigator Award by the National Diabetes Institute of Malaysia in 2009. He has contributed as advisor for the Practice Transformation Programme – Diabetes by the International Pharmaceutical Federation in 2021. Dr Loganadan was also granted the Ishidate Award (Hospital and Clinical Pharmacy Section) 2024 by the Federation of Asian Pharmaceutical Associations in October 2024 at Seoul, Korea.
Dr Niron NAGANATHAR
Principal Clinical Pharmacist
Pharmacy
Changi General Hospital
Singapore
Dr Niron Naganathar is a Principal Clinical Pharmacist at Changi General Hospital, where he leads initiatives in pharmacogenomics (PGx), intensive care pharmacy, and clinical guideline development. With over 15 years of acute care experience, he has been at the forefront of PGx implementation in Singapore, serving on the SingHealth Pharmacogenomics Workgroup and chairing the national workgroup drafting the position paper on catalysing PGx adoption in clinical practice. His research focuses on PGx education, clinical uptake, and system-level enablers.
A/Prof Doreen TAN
Associate Professor & Cardiology Specialist Pharmacist
Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
National University of Singapore
Singapore
A/Prof Doreen Tan is an Associate Professor with the National University of Singapore (NUS) Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and a Cardiology Specialist Pharmacist practicing at the National University Heart Centre, Singapore. She previously headed Khoo Teck Puat Hospital Pharmacy Department, and then crossed to Corporate Development as Assistant Director of Value Office before joining NUS Department of Pharmacy full time.
Active with practice and precision medicine research, she wrote the grant for the implementation of individualisation of antiplatelets using CYP2C19 in clinical practice, fondly called “iRight4Me Antiplatelet Therapy”, which enrolled its 1007th patient in February 2024 before its conclusion. A/Prof Tan is also an enthusiast for translational research and digital health interventions. She has authored papers in the subject areas of cardiovascular medicine and pharmacogenomics. She has led three PSS position papers: Cardiology Pharmacy Practice, Pharmacist Response to Healthier SG, and the most recent, Catalysing Pharmacogenomics.
