April 12, 2021 (Huntsville, Ala.) — The HudsonAlpha Health Alliance, LLC and Auburn University announced today a new collaboration to provide genomic health screening to Auburn employees through the Auburn Pharmaceutical Care Center (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 order to develop customized genomic health screening programs for their patients and employees.
The HudsonAlpha Health Alliance will work closely with the Auburn Pharmaceutical Care Center to provide genetic testing to hundreds of Auburn University employees enrolled in Auburn’s health insurance program who meet certain criteria. This new program is called “TigerMeds® Personalized Prescriptions.” Participation in the program is completely voluntary.
Through “TigerMeds® Personalized Prescriptions,” 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.” These data may be able to guide health care professionals in selecting the best medication and dosage, a “personalized prescription,” for the individual.
“This is a new field of science that is very promising. We are excited to conduct this pilot project for beneficiaries of our own health care plan,” said Kimberly Braxton Lloyd, Pharm.D., Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs and Outreach with 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 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. I am so pleased by 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,” said Dean Richard Hansen of the Harrison School of Pharmacy.
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. This collaboration is a natural fit for both institutions.
“Genomics is the future of medicine,” said Devin Absher, PhD, Director of Genomic Health at HudsonAlpha. “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 healthcare decisions.”
Integrated healthcare solutions offered include patient engagement and genetic education, physician education, genetic testing results interpretation, access to a medical geneticist, genetic counselors and more.
To learn more about the HudsonAlpha Health Alliance, visit https://hudsonalpha.org/alliance.
About HudsonAlpha: HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology is a nonprofit institute dedicated to developing and applying scientific advances to health, agriculture, learning, and commercialization. Opened in 2008, HudsonAlpha’s vision is to leverage the synergy between discovery, education, medicine, and economic development in genomic sciences to improve the human condition around the globe. The HudsonAlpha biotechnology campus consists of 152 acres nestled within Cummings Research Park, the nation’s second largest research park. The state-of-the-art facilities co-locate nonprofit scientific researchers with entrepreneurs and educators. HudsonAlpha has become a national and international leader in genetics and genomics research and biotech education and fosters more than 40 diverse biotech companies on campus. To learn more about HudsonAlpha, visit hudsonalpha.org.
About HudsonAlpha Health Alliance: By integrating our expertise in genomics, patient engagement and education, as well as clinical decision support, the HudsonAlpha Health Alliance, LLC works with groups such as health systems, physician networks, and self-insured employers to develop customized genomic health screening programs for their patient or employee populations.
About Auburn University: Auburn University is a nationally ranked land grant institution recognized for its commitment to world-class scholarship, interdisciplinary research with an elite, top-tier Carnegie R1 classification, life-changing outreach with Carnegie’s Community Engagement designation and an undergraduate education experience second to none. Auburn is home to more than 30,000 students, and its faculty and research partners collaborate to develop and deliver meaningful scholarship, science and technology-based advancements that meet pressing regional, national and global needs. Auburn’s commitment to active student engagement, professional success and public/private partnership drives a growing reputation for outreach and extension that delivers broad economic, health and societal impact.
