NIH funds clinical trials to evaluate the applicability of genomics to chronic disease treatment

The National Institutes of Health will fund clinical trials to evaluate the benefits, applicability and effectiveness of genomic medicine interventions to improve the management of diseases such as hypertension, depression and stroke. Chronic Pain. The tests are part of the second phase of the IGNITE network with the implementation of a total investment of $ 42 million over five years, pending the availability of funds. Trials will begin in 2020.

The first trial will examine whether early access to genomic data from patients can help with the treatment of hypertension, hypertension, and chronic renal failure. Hypertension and high blood pressure exacerbate end-stage renal disease, and the three conditions are more common in people of African descent than people of European and Asian descent. Specific African populations exhibit two common mutations in the apolipoprotein L1 gene (APOL1) that multiply by 10 the risk of severe kidney disease. The researchers will compare whether a medical intervention is provided to those tested for the APOL1 variant immediately after recruitment compared to those tested for three months. later will have subsequent benefits.

The second trial will focus on pain and depression – two conditions for which it was difficult to find safe and effective drug treatments. Since there are few clinically useful predictors of whether a depression treatment will be effective, patients often find it difficult to find effective treatments. To address these issues, the study seeks to test whether the clinical outcomes of patients with acute post-surgical pain, chronic pain, and depression are better if pharmacogenomics guide prescriptions for opioids and antidepressants. In pharmacogenomics, information about the genetic make-up of a patient helps determine how he will respond to certain drug treatments.

These projects build on the first research phase of the IGNITE network, funded by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) in the spring of 2013, and focus on the challenges and possible solutions for integrating genomic information into the research community. electronic health records. With the start of these clinical trials, the network aims to develop and facilitate the application of genomics to a variety of clinical care settings.

Patients of African descent could benefit from better management of high blood pressure and improved prevention of kidney disease caused by high blood pressure. Treatment of depression and / or pain in patients irrespective of race or ethnicity may be more effective and have fewer side effects when used at a younger age. genomic approach to prescribing drugs for these conditions. "

Simona Volpi, program director of pragmatic clinical trials IGNITE