When it comes to personalized medicine, Christina Aquilante, PharmD, is helping redefine how medicine is prescribed – one genetic result at a time. As a Professor at the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Director of Pharmacogenomics for the Colorado Center for Personalized Medicine (CCPM), Dr. Aquilante is at the front of a field that uses genetic information to help guide drug therapy, leveraging her Doctor of Pharmacy degree to help tailor medications to a person's unique genetic makeup. Her work is strengthening the personal connection between patients; healthcare providers and the medications they rely on.
Her research focuses on how to implement pharmacogenomics into clinical practice. By identifying these pharmacogenetic determinants, Aquilante’s work aims to improve drug safety and effectiveness, ensuring patients get the right medication at the right dose the first time.
Aquilante’s leadership at CCPM includes overseeing the merging of genetic data into electronic health records, making it easier for clinicians to use pharmacogenomics in everyday practice. Her work with the Biobank – a partnership between UCHealth and the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus—recently surpassed one million pharmacogenetic results or drug-gene indicators. These indicators reveal how a person’s DNA can influence the way their body reacts and processes medications, explaining why some treatments work and some don’t.
"We’ve returned 1 million pharmacogenetics results back into the electronic health record at UCHealth. That information can be used to help improve medication dosing and drug selection," Aquilante said. "It really speaks to a future where genetic testing becomes more the norm — just another tool in our toolbox to help optimize medications for patients.”
Aquilante holds the Debra Devereaux Endowed Chair in Translational Pharmaceutical Sciences, a role that is a direct reflection of her commitment to bridging research and clinical care.
Aquilante’s work is bridging the gap between research and real-world care. Through her passion and dedication to creating more personalized experiences between patients and providers, she’s helping shape a future where individuals have a biological voice in the treatments they receive.
There are multiple ways to connect with Dr. Aquilante to learn more about her career in Pharmacogenomics:
- Oct 6: Follow @CUPharmacy Instagram account and submit your AMA questions to Dr. Aquilante.
- Oct 7: Watch for Dr. Aquilante's answers to your Instagram questions.
Pharmacogenomics is just one of the specialties that you can pursue with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree.