Master of Science in Pharmacogenomics

Pharmacogenomics courses are offered in person. As a student in the MS in Pharmacogenomics program, you will complete as few as three semesters, including one summer, culminating in both an applied and clinical experiences, for a total of 41 credits.

Dr. Shannon Kinney, PhD

What is your related educational background and current research focus?

I earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Roswell Park Cancer Institute in association with the State University of New York at Buffalo. My thesis research focused on epigenetic changes in prostate cancer. I also completed a postdoctoral fellowship at New England Biolabs, where I continued to study epigenetic gene regulation. I now run a research lab where I study the roles of DNA modifications in gene expression in normal and cancer models. I also complete educational research on best practices for teaching pharmacogenomics.

What piqued your interest in pharmacogenomics?

When I was a first year graduate student, my father was diagnosed with leukemia. He was treated with chemotherapy and had very severe toxicities that resulted in him being admitted to the ICU. He eventually did recover, but dealt with long-term effects of the treatment. Although I am grateful for the years that I still had with him, as I learned more about the links between genetics and response to medication, I began to wonder if use of pharmacogenomic testing could have limited the toxicities that he experienced. Now, when I teach others about pharmacogenomics, I try to emphasize that genetics may only be one point to consider while treating a patient, but for some patients it could be the difference between life or death.

What is the best aspect of the WNE Masters of Pharmacogenomics program?

I learn from doing, so for me, the best part of this program is how hands on it is. Many courses are designed to be interactive and problem based. In addition, students get into the laboratory for a pharmaceutical techniques course during the spring semester and then spend the whole summer semester either in the lab or working with clinicians at their sites. Students apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to real life situations, and learn the skills they need to work in whatever area of pharmacogenomics best suits them.

Personalized or precision medicine refers to using patient specific information to optimize their treatment. Pharmacogenomics is one aspect of personalized medicine that evaluates a patient’s genetic makeup and determines how that may affect their response to medication therapy.

The fields of pharmacogenomics and personalized medicine are growing fast, with a number of traditional and innovative career opportunities rapidly expanding as the costs of genetic tests decrease and more knowledge is gained about the potential for pharmacogenomics to transform patient care. 

Career opportunities for graduates

Graduates from our program can expect to follow a number of different career paths once they complete our program. Our curriculum was designed to provide solid foundational knowledge, as well as build a broad range of skills, so alumni can enter the workforce in various areas within the field, or continue their education to expand upon their expertise.

• Laboratory researcher or technician – these types of positions could be at academic, government, or clinical institutions, as well as industrial pharmaceutical or genetic testing facilities to study how genetic variation effects response to medication, analyze genetic data, or to develop and perform genetic tests.
  
• Clinical research – these types of positions could be at academic institutions or health care systems, as well as insurance companies to study the benefits of using genetic testing to optimize patient care.
• Clinical implementation – these types of liaison or administrative positions, at clinical institutions that are implementing pharmacogenomics for their patients, serve as experts who are aware of all aspects of this process and can work closely with genetic counselors, physicians, and/or pharmacists.
• Education – these types of consulting or academic positions are needed to educate students currently in professional clinical programs, as well as active clinicians who may not have received education in this field as students in the past.

For more information on careers in Pharmacogenomics and average salaries, check out these articles:

• https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/careers-in-pharmacogenomics 
• https://www.scijournal.org/articles/highest-paying-genetics-jobs

You’ll learn from our experienced faculty who are dedicated to your success. They will guide you through coursework and laboratory and clinical research experiences, and help you align your studies with your career aspirations. The personal attention and support you’ll receive is unparalleled. All members of the full-time Pharmacy faculty have doctoral degrees and wide-ranging expertise. You will also learn from a Certified Genetic Counselor and an expert in the field of genetic data analysis.

Western New England University offers campus housing for students in our graduate programs as space allows.

Graduate Housing