Manchester University touts unique pharma offering

By Dan McGowan | Inside INdiana Business

The director of pharmacogenomics education at Manchester University says a first-of-its-kind in the nation offering could double or triple the number of pharmacists with pharmacogenomics expertise. In the most recent edition of our Life Sciences INdiana e-newsletter, David Kisor said the dual doctor of pharmacy and master of pharmacogenomics program could help reduce the occurrence of adverse drug reactions. The field involves prescribing medication based on a patient's unique genetic makeup.

Kisor said the program offers a more streamlined path than the current route. "Right now, the only avenue outside of our approach to get pharmacogenomics expertise is to complete your Pharm.D degree in four years, do a post-graduate, year-one residency -- a general residency -- so that would be your fifth year, and then pursue a post-graduate, second-year residency with a pharmacogenomics focus. But, there's only about five-seven slots for those kinds of residencies nationally," he said.

The university currently admits around 70 pharmacy students a year. Ten have recently applied for the dual degree program and that number could rise to about 15. Two pharmacy schools in Indiana -- Butler University and Purdue University -- offer pharmacogenomics courses, but not a master's program. Kisor calls Manchester's dual program a "differentiator." You can learn more about this unique program by clicking here.