Welcome Iris Cohn, the Centre’s New Innovator in Genomic Translation

The Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research is delighted to welcome Iris Cohn as the new Innovator in Genomic Translation – also recently promoted to Director of the Pharmacogenetics (PGx) Program at The Hospital for Sick Children. A trained pharmacist, Iris established the PGx clinic research program within the Division of Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, with the goal to integrate pharmacogenomics into routine pediatric care.

Unlocking the Power of Pharmacogenomics (PGx) through Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS)

PGx is an essential part of precision medicine, allowing health care professionals to individualize medication therapy, based on each patient’s genetic makeup. By extracting PGx insights from research-based whole genome sequencing (WGS), we can go beyond commercial panels to identify clinically significant genetic variants across diverse ancestries—variants that might otherwise be overlooked in certain patient population.

This approach is particularly valuable for cardiac patients, where PGx guidance already exists for key heart medications. By incorporating genetic insights into our clinical care within the Cardiac Genome Clinic, we improve medication response, reduce adverse effects, and may open doors to better outcomes in cardiac care.

Looking to the next steps in PGx guided research, we are focusing on genetic variants, pathways and polygenic risk factors by reinterrogating WGS data. These advancements will help create a more precise framework for treating complex cardiac conditions and pave the way for innovative, patient-centered care.