Genetic testing and personalized medicine

CAMH and the Thornhill Medical Centre are leading the way for personalized medicine. For the first time in Canada, a family practice clinic will offer genetic testing to see how patents will respond to psychiatric medication.

Last week at a launch event at the Thornhill Medical Centre, neighbours, patients and media were shown just how easy the testing is. Using a saliva sample, gene variations are analyzed to predict a patient's response to common antidepressant and antipsychotic medications. Medications that will work get a green light to prescribe, a yellow light signals caution. Medications in the red light category should be used with caution and more frequent monitoring, due to side effects or lack of response.

This initiative is part of the larger IMPACT study (Individualized Medicine: Pharmacogenetic Assessment & Clinical Treatment). Funded in part by the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Innovation, IMPACT researchers aim to look at the impact of genetic testing over seven years in 20,000 patients.

Dr. James Kennedy, head of CAMH's Neuroscience Research Department and Dr. Nick Voudouris family physician at the Thornhill Medical Centre hosted the event and answered questions from those in attendance.

[jacquelinex]

This is a great thing!! A fabulous advancement in medicine!! Just as long as its accurate, and patients are not being turned to zombies from being prescribed so many meds. We all know that patients need to help themselves more than anyone else, and they cant do that if they are walking dead, I see way too many CAMH patients that are like this!! Even still, CAMH is still doing great things and seriously changing lives. Keep up the great work!!! It really means a lot!

[Toplinestables]

Excellent presentation and Natural Molecular Testing Canada is offering this testing service in Canada to physicians and the general public. Our service does not require a research trial and is available on a private pay basis as provincial health care systems are not currently paying for the testing.

[soniatoronto]

I am under some pain medicine ( for chronic neuropathic pain following mastectomy, or so called post mastectomy pain PMPS)  and I would like to know how I can get to this program, since the side effects are sometimes unbearable. I live in Toronto area.