April 11, 2021
AUBURN, Alabama - Auburn University and the HudsonAlpha Health Alliance, LLC in Huntsville, Alabama, are collaborating to provide genomic health screening to Auburn employees through the Auburn Pharmaceutical Care Center, or AUPCC.
The HudsonAlpha Health Alliance provides opportunities for groups such as academic institutions, health systems, physician networks and self-insured employers to access the genomics expertise at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology in Huntsville in order to develop customized genomic health screening programs for their employees and patients.
The alliance will work closely with the AUPCC to provide genetic testing to hundreds of university employees enrolled in Auburn’s health insurance program who meet certain criteria. Participation in “TigerMeds® Personalized Prescriptions” is voluntary.
Through TigerMeds®, AUPCC pharmacists will collect saliva which will be analyzed for genetic markers that provide information on how medications interact with the body. This is often referred to as “pharmacogenomic testing.” This data will allow AUPCC pharmacists to provide pharmacogenomic consultation to each individual and to work collaboratively with the prescriber to select the best medication and dosage—a personalized prescription—for them.
“This is an exciting new field of science, and we are pleased to introduce this clinical program on campus,” said Kimberly Braxton-Lloyd, associate dean for clinical affairs and outreach in Auburn’s Harrison School of Pharmacy. “This innovative service not only enhances the health care benefit that we offer to our employees, but also allows us to provide pharmacogenomics training for health care students. This prepares our students to integrate this science into the care of their patients upon graduation.”
“Pharmacogenomics can help clinicians to be more precise in selecting the right drug at the right dose for individual patients, thereby maximizing therapeutic benefits and minimizing the potential for harmful side effects,” added Richard Hansen, dean of the pharmacy school. “I am so pleased with the Auburn University and HudsonAlpha Health Alliance partnership and the opportunity to bring this service to our community. This collaboration will directly benefit the Auburn Family and will serve as a model for expanding such programs to other Alabama communities and beyond.”
The AUPCC and the Harrison School of Pharmacy, or HSOP, serve the Auburn community by sharing medication expertise in a variety of areas including operating multiple clinics and pharmacies.
“Our pharmacists provide individualized care for patients with a focus on maximizing the efficacy and safety of medication use, improving disease control, identifying health risks and providing preventative care,” said Greg Peden, executive director of clinical health services in HSOP. “The collaboration with HudsonAlpha will allow Auburn to utilize cutting-edge technology to personalize medication therapy and improve patient outcomes.”
For more than a decade, the scientists, geneticists and physicians at HudsonAlpha have been applying the power of genomics to make advances in research and medicine to improve the human condition around the globe. The collaboration is a natural fit for both institutions.
“Genomics is the future of medicine,” said Devin Absher, HudsonAlpha’s director of genomic health. “By collaborating with groups and institutions like Auburn, we have the opportunity to help individuals learn valuable genomic information that will lead to more informed health care decisions.”
Integrated health care solutions offered through the HudsonAlpha Health Alliance include patient engagement and genetic education, physician education, genetic testing results interpretation, access to a medical geneticist, genetic counselors and more.
To participate in TigerMeds®, email the AUPCC at aupcc4u@auburn.edu or call 334-844-4099.
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Auburn University’s Harrison School of Pharmacy is ranked among the top 25 percent of all pharmacy schools in the United States, according to U.S. News & World Report. Fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the School offers doctoral degrees in pharmacy (Pharm.D.) and pharmaceutical sciences (Ph.D.) while also offering a master’s in pharmaceutical sciences. The School's commitment to world-class scholarship and interdisciplinary research speaks to Auburn's overarching Carnegie R1 designation that places Auburn among the top 100 doctoral research universities in the nation. For more information about the School, please call 334.844.8348 or visit http://pharmacy.auburn.edu.